Developing new battery technologies: apply for business funding

There is a growing global demand for new and more efficient batteries to support the switch to electric transport.

This demand is driven by plans by the UK and other governments to ban the sale of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles within the next two decades.

The battery supply chain could be worth £12 billion to the UK economy by 2025 if the country can establish itself as a global leader in battery technology.

The UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Faraday Battery Challenge has up to £317 million to help businesses and researchers to develop market-leading battery technologies.

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £10 million from the fund to invest in feasibility studies and in research and development into promising and innovative battery technologies.

Find out more about the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Faraday Battery Challenge

Work could include battery cost, efficiency, and recycling

Projects can focus on a variety of improvements to battery technologies for the propulsion of electric vehicles. They could look at automotive applications or other sectors such as rail, marine, aerospace, defence, or off-highway vehicles where innovation could meet challenging performance requirements or enable electrification.

Areas of work could include:

cost reduction at the cell and pack level and in manufacturing

increasing energy density of battery cells

increasing the power density of battery packs

eliminating thermal runaway risks

lengthening cell and pack life

broadening the temperature ranges for efficient operation of a pack

new models to better predict range and battery health

recyclability, including second life, design for end of life, reuse, or recycling

technologies enabling the efficient design, development, or manufacture of batteries

next-generation battery technologies

Find out more about applying for Innovate UK funding.

Competition information for feasibility studies

the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is at 11am on 9 December 2020

projects can be led by a business of any size working with other businesses or researchers

projects could range in size between £100,000 and £1 million and last between 3 and 12 months

Find out more about this competition and apply.

Competition information for research and development

the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is at 11am on 9 December 2020

projects can be led by a business of any size working with other businesses or researchers

projects could range in size between £300,000 and £1.5 million and last between 3 and 12 months

Find out more about this competition and apply.