Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3
- Funding
- £500,000 – £4,000,000
- Deadline
- 2 December 2026
- Location
- England
- Applications
- Deadline: 2 December 2026
Overview
Innovate UK funds collaborative battery manufacturing projects led by UK registered businesses, with grant requests of £500,000 to £4 million per project. The competition is round 3 of the Concept Development strand of the Battery Innovation Programme, delivered for the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. The programme will invest up to £25 million across this strand and a feasibility strand. Applications close at 11:00am on 2 December 2026. Projects must pick one group: cell manufacturing, module manufacturing, or pack manufacturing and battery management systems. Each consortium needs at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding. Grant can cover up to 70% of total project costs, depending on business size. Projects run 12 to 36 months, start no earlier than 1 May 2027 and end by 31 March 2031. Examples the funder lists include dry coating methods, end of line testing technologies and structural battery packs. Work must be carried out in the UK. Submit to the correct strand, as applications cannot be transferred.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Projects must be collaborative, business-led and include at least one UK SME claiming grant funding
- Grant can cover up to 70% of total project costs, depending on business size
- Projects must last 12 to 36 months, start no earlier than 1 May 2027 and end by 31 March 2031
- No single organisation can claim more than 70% of total project costs
- Applications must go to the correct strand and cannot be transferred
- Project work must be carried out in the UK and results exploited in the UK
Who it is for
- UK registered businesses of any size, to lead a collaborative project
- Consortia with at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding
- Collaborators that are UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not for profits, public sector organisations or RTOs
- Projects in cell, module, or pack and battery management systems manufacturing
- Projects lasting 12 to 36 months, starting no earlier than 1 May 2027 and ending by 31 March 2031
- Projects carrying out work in the UK and spending most of the funding in the UK
Who it is not for
- Single applicants, as the competition is for collaborations only
- Projects where one organisation claims more than 70% of total project costs
- Personal mobility and consumer electronics projects
- Early stage discovery research
- Projects focused mainly on battery second life use
- Projects focused on material extraction and refining
To lead a project, you must be a UK registered business of any size. Your consortium must include at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding. Collaborators can be UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profits, public sector organisations or research and technology organisations. No single organisation can claim more than 70% of total project costs. All funded work must be carried out in the UK, with results exploited in the UK and most funding spent in the UK.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
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Start freeWho is this for?
UK registered businesses leading collaborative battery manufacturing R&D projects, with at least one UK SME in the consortium and optional partners from academia, charities, the public sector or research organisations.
Regions
No published award history for Innovate UK. Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from Innovate UK
This competition is open to collaborations only.To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application.
How to apply
Apply through the "Find out more and apply" link on the Innovate UK Business Connect page. Make sure you pick the right strand, because applications cannot be moved. For questions about scope, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357, 9am to 5pm on weekdays. The Energy team can help with partners and strand advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I get from the Battery Innovation Concept Development round 3 competition?
Your grant request must be between £500,000 and £4 million. The grant can cover up to 70% of total project costs, depending on business size.
When is the Battery Innovation Concept Development round 3 deadline?
The competition closes at 11:00am on 2 December 2026. It opened on 11 September 2026.
Can a charity or university apply to the Innovate UK Battery Innovation Concept Development competition?
Not as lead. A lead must be a UK registered business of any size. Charities, academic institutions, not for profits, public sector bodies and RTOs can join as collaborators.
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Create free accountLast updated: 9 November 2026