Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Discovery C7

This competition funds collaborative Discovery Phase projects through the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund. It is delivered by Innovate UK with Ofgem. Discovery is the first of four phases, followed by Alpha, Beta and Deployment. Up to £30 million is available across the Discovery Phase.

Your project must address one of five challenge areas: industrial and business connection acceleration, faster build and maintenance, instant use domestic energy devices, eliminating energy outages, or decentralised system balancing. The Discovery Phase defines the problem and the value in solving it, and builds a shared understanding of what consumers and network users need.

Each project can request up to £200,000, exclusive of VAT. You must also provide at least 10% of total project costs from private funds. Projects must start after 1 January 2027 and finish by 31 May 2027, within a five month window.

This is not open to every organisation as lead. The lead must be an Ofgem licensed gas or electricity network, or the National Energy System Operator, and must work with at least one other organisation. Partners can include start-ups, SMEs, suppliers and academics.

Applications close at 11am UK time on 21 October 2026. Applicants will be told the outcome on 17 November 2026. Successful projects will be invited to apply for the Alpha Phase.

One caveat: any later adoption of a solution would be subject to a separate procurement exercise, so a Discovery award does not guarantee a contract.

Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/ofgem-strategic-innovation-fund-discovery-c7-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.