Energy catalyst round 11 – late stage

Who can apply

Your project must:

• have total costs between £50,000 and £5 million

• last between 6 and 36 months

• start from 1 August 2026

• end by 31 March 2030

• help deliver clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America

• involve at least one partner with a legal entity in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific region or Latin America, this can include in-country offices

• include a UK registered administrative lead

• partner with a UK administrative lead if you are an international organisation

• involve at least one micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME), from anywhere in the world

• involve testing or demonstration work in an eligible ODA country for this competition

• involve at least one legally separate collaborator

Your project can also involve any organisation from any country, with the exception of Russian and Belarusian entities.

Under current restrictions, this competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian and Belarusian entity as lead, partner or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian and Belarusian source.

Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.

You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs. For specific guidance, see the eligibility section in this competition.

If your project’s total costs or duration falls outside of our eligibility criteria, you must provide justification by email to support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes. We will decide whether to approve your request.

If you have not requested approval or your application has not been approved by us, you will be made ineligible. Your application will then not be sent for assessment.

Lead organisation

There are two types of leads in the Energy Catalyst programme, an administrative lead, who will complete the application and a technology lead.

There must be at least two legally separate organisations in the consortium.

An administrative lead is there to act as the recipient of the award and will distribute funding to all other partners. This is known as a ‘hub and spoke’ model. The administrative lead will manage and be accountable for the finances of the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award.

The administrative lead must:

• be a UK registered business of any size

• claim grant funding through this competition

The administrative lead organisation must be or involve at least one eligible grant claiming micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

A technology lead will lead on the development of the scope, work packages and any other technical work.

The technology lead:

• can be a business of any size

• can be an RTO or academic institution

• can be from anywhere in the world

• must claim grant funding through this competition

UK registered organisations can be both the administrative and technology lead if the criteria is met for both types of leads.

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Project team

The project team must include at least one eligible grant claiming micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME). 

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following:

• business of any size

• academic institution

• charity

• not for profit

• non-government organisation (NGO)

• research and technology organisation (RTO)

Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once partners have accepted the invitation, they will be asked to login or to create an account in IFS. They are responsible for entering their own project costs in the application.

International Partners

We require the inclusion of meaningful and equitable collaborations between the UK organisation and organisations from an ODA recipient country or territory.

Non-funded partners

Your project can include organisations who do not claim any funding for their work on the project. 

Where non-funded partners have been invited to the application on IFS, their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the world and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total project costs.

Number of applications

All eligible organisations can lead or collaborate on any number of applications.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both that in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

Previous applications

You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

We will not award you funding if you have:

• failed to complete a previously funded project

• an overdue independent accountant’s report

• failed to comply with grant terms and conditions

Innovate UK may withhold a grant payment at any time if you have any outstanding sums due to us in relation to other projects.

Subsidy control (and State aid where applicable)

This competition provides funding in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk).

Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty. We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage.

EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.

Further Information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must not do anything which could cause a breach of Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.

This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries.

This award is classified as a Subsidy which does not form part of your Minimal Financial Assistance or De Minimis allowance.

Funding

Up to £7 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects across the three strands of this competition. This is subject to us receiving a sufficient number of high quality applications. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

We reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions under exceptional circumstances, for example, in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations, or broader government funding decisions.

If your organisation’s work on the project is commercial or economic, your funding request must not exceed the limits below. These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically but for the purpose of this project will be undertaking commercial or economic activity.

The balance between your total eligible project costs and the amount of grant awarded must be funded by the organisation receiving the grant.

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 35% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 25% if you are a large organisation

For more information on company sizes, refer to the company accounts guidance.

If you are applying for an award funded under State aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.

Innovate UK may revoke our decision to provide funding without notice if government commitment for this initiative is withdrawn.

Official development assistance budget

This funding is part of the UK government’s official development assistance budget (ODA). You must be able to demonstrate that there is a clear economic and social benefit to one or more of the targeted countries. This includes a need to outline how your project and innovation will positively impact Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).

If projects are judged to be non-compliant with ODA, Innovate UK will not submit the application for assessment.

Capital expenditure

If you plan to leave capital equipment in the ODA eligible country you can, in principle, fully depreciate the costs.

Assets can be transferred but before Innovate UK can agree to this, you must provide evidence that:

• the asset will be put to a good developmental purpose

• the recipient has adequate resources to maintain and operate the asset, including purchase of any consumables

• the item will not be sold or disposed of, or diverted for another purpose, within a reasonable time period

• the recipient has adequate controls in place to ensure that the assets are used as intended

• any local requirements, regarding duties and taxes, or any other formalities, on transfer will be met

• IT Equipment is disposed of in line with EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations and all personal data will be removed

This evidence should take the form of an end of life plan. If you are successful in being awarded funding, our project finance team will ask for this evidence to sign off your finances as part of project set up.

Expenditure on capital is eligible for funding. All materials must be directly related to and essential to the goals of the project.

Research participation

The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them. Of that 30% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:

• 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not for profit organisation, non-government organisation (NGO) or research organisation

• 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are a Je-S registered institution such as an academic

Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding

1. Research organisations using the Je-S system must submit their costs through the Je-S system which calculates the 80% FEC figure.

2. On IFS, only the 80% FEC output should be entered at 100% funding.

3. Applicants do not need to show the remaining 20% on the finance table.

To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics.

Energy Access Accelerator Programme: Minimal Financial Assistance

The technology leads of successful Energy Catalyst applications will be enrolled in the Energy Access Accelerator. One to one support for this programme will be provided through minimal financial assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to £315,000 to an enterprise in a three year rolling financial period.

You will be contacted if you are successful and will be provided instruction on how to obtain this support.

Before receiving the support, you will be asked to declare previous funding received by you. To establish your eligibility, we need to check that our support added to the amount you have previously received does not exceed the limit of £315,000 in the ‘applicable period’.

The applicable period is made up of:

(a) the elapsed part of the current financial year, and

(b) the two financial years immediately preceding the current financial year.

You must include any funding which you have received during the applicable period under:

• Minimal Financial Assistance (previously referred to as Special Drawing Rights)

• de minimis Regulation

You do not need to include aid or subsidies which have been granted on a different basis, for example, an aid award granted under the General Block Exemption Regulation.

Further information about the Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements can be found in the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk).

EU Commission rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.

Further information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, you should take independent legal advice. We cannot advise on individual eligibility or your legal obligations.

Text update 9 January 2026: Wording amended in the Clean Hydrogen bullet point.

Your proposal

The aim of this competition is to accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America. This is to create a just and inclusive energy transition and extend the benefits of clean energy for all to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) 7 and 13.

Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

To be in scope for Energy Catalyst round 11 your project must address both energy access and clean energy.

1.Energy access

Your project must aim to accelerate access to affordable, clean energy services for low income households, enterprises and social institutions in eligible official development assistance (ODA) countries. These countries are in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.

It must do this by supporting the development, testing or scale up of innovative technologies or business models.

A clear social or economic benefit in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America is required.

This can include:

• creating new clean energy access in unserved regions

• improving existing access to provide a more clean and reliable service

Your project must target one or more of the following eligible countries:

Sub-Saharan Africa:

• Angola

• Benin

• Botswana

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cabo Verde

• Cameroon

• Central African Republic

• Chad

• Comoros

• Congo

• Côte d'Ivoire

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Djibouti

• Eritrea

• Eswatini (Swaziland)

• Ethiopia

• Equatorial Guinea

• Gabon

• Gambia

• Ghana

• Guinea

• Guinea-Bissau

• Kenya

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Mali

• Mauritania

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Rwanda

• Sao Tome and Principe

• Senegal

• Sierra Leone

• Somalia

• South Africa

• South Sudan

• Sudan

• Tanzania

• Togo

• Uganda

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

South Asia:

• Afghanistan

• Bangladesh

• India (only as part of multi country projects)

• Maldives

• Nepal

• Pakistan

• Sri Lanka

Indo Pacific (ODA eligible ASEAN):

• Cambodia

• Indonesia

• Laos

• Malaysia

• Myanmar

• Philippines

• Thailand

• Timor Leste (not officially part of ASEAN)

• Vietnam

Indo Pacific (Pacific Islands):

• Federated States of Micronesia

• Fiji

• Kiribati

• Marshall Islands

• Papua New Guinea (PNG)

• Samoa

• Solomon Islands

• Tuvalu

• Vanuatu

Latin America:

• Argentina

• Bolivia

• Brazil

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Ecuador

• El Salvador

• Guatemala

• Honduras

• Mexico

• Nicaragua

• Panama

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Venezuela

2.Clean Energy

Your technology or business model must create clean energy which is:

• affordable

• reliable

• low carbon

While any technology which meets the above criteria is in scope, priority will be given to the following Ayrton Challenge areas:

• Next Generation Solar: enable new, sustainable, locally manufacturable solar PV supplies, reducing the emissions and transport costs of solar expansion

• Sustainable Cooling for all: help to meet growing global cooling demand in a warming world, in a sustainable way

• Modern Cooking Services: unlock the transition from biomass to genuinely clean cooking, delivering major health and environmental benefits

• Energy Efficiency: improve the efficiency, performance, availability, and affordability of a range of appliances and productive equipment for some of the worlds’ lowest income people

• Industrial Decarbonisation: support industrial decarbonisation technology innovation in developing countries to accelerate the pilot testing of innovative clean technologies towards commercialisation

• Clean Transport: support innovative clean transport solutions in developing countries by accelerating readiness for wide uptake (attractive, affordable, accessible options), as part of the global clean energy transition

• Smart Energy Systems: accelerate a series of related technologies which enable more efficient and effective network delivery of energy

• Energy Storage: create and commercialise innovative battery technologies and associated business models for generator displacement and mobility applications in developing countries and emerging economies

• Clean Hydrogen: scaling zero carbon thermal gas production and uses, reducing remaining need for fossil fuels in hard to abate sectors

• Critical Minerals: address critical minerals as a key enabler in clean energy transitions and the high political or commercial interest on supply chain sustainability for clean energy technologies

• Inclusive Energy and leave no one behind: ensure that the benefits of the clean energy revolution reach the most marginalised

• Zero Emissions Generators: replace fossil fuelled generators in an increasing number of use cases with zero emissions alternatives

Over 50% of your project must focus on clean energy access and energy innovation to be in scope. This is determined from your project costing and work packages.

If your project falls out of scope, you must provide justification by email to support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes. We will decide whether to approve your request. If you have not requested approval or your application has not been approved by us, you will be made ineligible. Your application will then not be sent for assessment.

Portfolio approach

We want to fund a variety of projects across the three strands of the competition, different technologies, markets, technological maturities, geographical regions and research categories. We call this a portfolio approach.

This is to make sure that the strategic criteria for the competition brief is met by successful projects considered to be above the quality threshold. This will be as a result of independent expert assessment.

Specific themes

Your project must focus on all of the following:

• innovations that improve or create clean energy access in ODA eligible countries in either sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America.

• innovations that contribute significantly to energy affordability, security and reduced carbon emissions

• addressing clean energy requirements

• being Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliant

• managing Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) issues

• energy access as the primary focus (at least 50% of your project must be focussed on energy access innovation)

Research categories

We will fund experimental development projects as defined in the guidance on categories of research.

Projects we will not fund

We are not funding projects:

• that are unlikely to contribute significantly to clean energy affordability, security and reduced carbon emissions

• that do not improve clean energy access in either sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America

• that do not address clean energy requirements

• that are not Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliant

• that do not take into account and plan to manage Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) issues

• where energy innovation and energy access are not the primary focus (if more than 50% project is focussed on other innovations)

We cannot fund projects that are:

• dependent on export performance, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of bread to another country

• dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it uses 50% UK flour in their product

14 January 2026

Online briefing event: register to attend

Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event.

19 January 2026

Successful applicant briefing

18 May 2026

Applicants notified

1 August 2026

Project start from

Before you start

You must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start.

The UK administrative lead is responsible for:

• starting the application on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS)

• collecting the information for the application

• submitting the finished application

• representing the consortium if your application is successful

• distributing funding if there are international partners as part of the consortium

Before submitting, it is the UK administrative lead’s responsibility to make sure:

• that all the information provided in the application is correct

• your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria

• all sections of the application are marked as complete

• that all partners have completed all assigned sections and accepted the terms and conditions (T&Cs)

You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline. You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline.

What we ask you

The application is split into three sections:

1. Project details.

2. Application questions.

3. Finances.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

1. Project details

This section provides background for your application and is not scored.

Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.

Application team

Decide which organisations will work with you on your project and invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.

Application details

Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Research category

Select the type of research you will undertake.

Project summary

Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Public description

Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This can happen before you start your project.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Scope

Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be sent for assessment. We will tell you the reason why.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score all your answers apart from questions 1 to 11. You will receive feedback for each scored question. Find out more about how our assessors assess and how we select applications for funding.

Questions 1 to 11, although not scored, provide background for the assessors to make sure your project is eligible and complies with Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the competition scope. These questions will be scored on a pass or fail basis.

If your project does not pass all these criteria, it will not be sent for a full assessment. We will tell you the reason why.

You must answer all questions.

You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. If you do, your application will be made ineligible.

Question 1. Applicant location (not scored)

You must state the name and full registered address of the UK administrative lead organisation, all partners and any subcontractors working on your project.

We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

Your answer can be 400 words long.

Question 2. Technology lead (not scored)

You must state the name and full registered address of the organisation which will act as the technology lead for the project.

A technology lead will be responsible for the development of the scope, work packages within the project and other work from a technical perspective.

They can be from anywhere in the world. If they are registered in the UK, they can be the same organisation as the administrative lead.

Your answer can be 100 words long.

Question 3. Target Country (eligibility criteria - not scored)

Which ODA eligible country is the main target of your project?

Your answer can be up to 10 words long.

Question 4. Technology area (eligibility criteria - not scored)

Confirm which primary technology area your project falls into:

• next generation solar

• sustainable cooling for all

• modern cooking services

• energy efficiency

• industrial decarbonisation

• clean transport

• smart energy systems

• energy storage

• clean hydrogen

• critical minerals

• inclusive energy and leave no one behind

• zero emissions generators

• other in scope technologies

Question 5. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 6. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

• In the process of being applied for

• Not applicable

Question 7. In country entity (eligibility criteria - not scored)

You can involve partners with a legal entity in one of the focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Indo-Pacific region or Latin America. This could include in-country offices.

You must state which one of your partners is the in-country entity and confirm their eligible office.

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 8. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement.

You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in.

You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 9. Export licence (not scored)

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

Question 10. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

• a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research

• a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act

• whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications

• a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 11. Official Development Assistance (ODA) (not scored)

To be eligible for Energy Catalyst grant funding, you must clearly explain and provide evidence for your projects eligibility for Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding.

Details on ODA eligibility and conditions are provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Review the ODA eligibility and conditions guidance before responding to this question.

You must answer the questions below and complete the ODA template.

Describe: 

• how your project will promote the social welfare and economic development of an ODA eligible country by addressing a development need

• how the project will deliver outcomes and impacts on businesses, services and low income households and over what timescale 

• the benefits to any project partners based in an ODA eligible country

• which stakeholder groups based in an ODA eligible country, outside the consortium, you expect to benefit from this project; particularly focus on people in poverty and underserved groups

• any potentially negative impacts in the short and long term, that this project may have, and which stakeholders could be impacted

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must download, complete and upload the ODA template provided as an appendix to support your answer. It includes a logic model which must outline your rationale of the expected outputs and impacts. It must be a PDF and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom. 

Question 12. Need or challenge

What is the business need, technological challenge, or market opportunity behind your innovation?

Explain:

• the main motivation for the project

• the business need, technological challenge or market opportunity

• whether you have identified any similar innovation and its current limitations, including those close to market or in development

• any work you have already done to respond to this need, for example, if the project focuses on developing an existing capability or building a new one

• the wider economic, social, environmental, cultural or political challenges which are influential in creating the opportunity, such as incoming regulations

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 13. Approach and innovation

What approach will you take and where will the focus of the innovation be?

Explain:

• what is your innovation and what is innovative about your project

• how you will respond to the need, challenge or opportunity identified

• whether the innovation will focus on existing technologies in new areas, new technologies for existing areas, or a totally disruptive approach

• the freedom you have to operate

• how this project fits with your current product, service lines or offerings

• how it will make you more competitive

• the outputs you expect from the project, for example, reports, demonstrators, know-how, new processes, products or service designs

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix to support your answer. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 14. Creating equitable partnerships

How will you ensure sustained, meaningful, and equitable partnerships with in-country communities and end users?

Explain:

• how community perspectives will be integrated across all stages of the project cycle, including design, implementation, and post project longevity

• how you will ensure that your innovation is designed for end users, encompassing inclusivity and relevance with local traditions, cultural practices and social norms

• how your participatory approach will support the long term impact of the solution post project so it continues to benefit the community and encourage widespread adoption, ownership and understanding

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 15. Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)

How will your project and innovation help enable greater support for gender equality, disability and social inclusion?

You must outline:

• your understanding of the relationship between energy access and GEDSI and how your energy innovation will enable this

• the barriers to gender equality, disability and social inclusion in your chosen regions

• what actions will be taken through your project to address the identified barriers

• the specific disadvantaged groups your project and innovation will support and how they will be engaged

• how your GEDSI activities are being resourced through the project

• any potentially negative impacts your project could have and how you will mitigate against these

Your answer is a mandatory requirement under the International Development (Gender Equality) Act, 2014. You can read further guidance on UKRI’s approach to the Gender Equality Act.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 16. Circularity

How will you incorporate circular economy principles in your project?

Outline:

• how you will improve the circularity of your innovation

• what action will be taken to prevent the unnecessary generation of waste related to your innovation

• how the lifetime of your product can be extended

• how you will manage the end of life reuse or dispose of your innovation

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 17. Market awareness

What does the market or markets you are targeting look like?

Describe:

• the target markets for the project outcomes and any other potential markets, either domestic, international or both

• the size of the target markets for the project outcomes, backed up by references where available

• the structure and dynamics of the target markets, including customer segmentation and predicted growth rates with clear timeframes

• the target markets’ main supply or value chains and business models, and any barriers to entry that exist

• your current position in targeting these markets

• the size and main features of any other markets not already listed

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 18. Team and resources

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Explain:

• the roles, skills and experience of all members of the project team that are relevant to the approach you will be taking

• the resources, equipment and facilities needed for the project and how you will access them

• the details of any vital external parties, including subcontractors, who you will need to work with to successfully carry out the project

• if your project is collaborative, the current relationships between project partners and how these will change as a result of the project

• any roles you will need to recruit for

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix, with a short summary of the main people working on the project to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 19. Outcomes and route to market

How are you going to grow your business and increase long term productivity as a result of the project?

Explain:

• how this project fits into your wider route to market

• your current position in the markets and supply or value chains outlined, and whether you will be extending or establishing your market position

• your target customers or end users, and the value to them, for example, why they would use or buy your product

• how you are going to profit from the innovation, including increased revenues, cost reduction and the effect on your productivity and growth, in both the short and the long term

• how you will protect and realise the outputs of the project, for example, through know-how, patenting, designs or changes to your business model

• your strategy for targeting the other markets you have identified during or after the project

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 20. Wider impacts

What impact might this project have outside the project team?

Describe and, where possible, measure the economic benefits from the project such as productivity increases and import substitution, to:

• external parties

• customers

• others in the supply chain

• broader industry

• the local economy

Describe and, where possible, measure:

• any expected impact on government priorities

• any expected environmental impacts, either positive or negative

• any expected regional impacts of the project

Describe any expected social impacts, positive and negative, on, for example:

• quality of life and lives transformed

• social inclusion or exclusion

• jobs, such as safeguarding, creating, changing or displacing them

• education

• public empowerment

• health and safety

• regulations

• diversity

• CO2 avoidance

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 21. Project management

How will you manage your project effectively?

Explain:

• the main work packages of your project, indicating the lead partner assigned to each and the total cost of each one

• your approach to project management, identifying any major tools and mechanisms you will use to get a successful and innovative project outcome

• the management reporting lines

• your project plan in enough detail to identify any links or dependencies between work packages or milestones

You must detail your GEDSI work package in this question. You must also ensure that your GEDSI activities are interwoven throughout your project.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must submit a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 22. Risks

What are the main risks for this project?

Explain:

• the main risks and uncertainties of the project, including the technical, commercial, managerial and environmental risks

• how you will mitigate these risks

• any project inputs that are critical to completion, such as resources, expertise, and data sets

• any output likely to be subject to regulatory requirements, certification, ethical issues and other requirements identified, and how you will manage this

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must submit a risk register as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 23. Added value

How will this public funding help you to accelerate or enhance your approach to developing your project towards commercialisation? What impact would this award have on the organisations involved?

Explain:

• what advantages public funding would offer your project, for example: appeal to investors, more partners, reduced risk or a faster route to market

• the likely impact of the project outcomes on the organisations involved

• what other routes of investment or means of support you have already engaged with and why they were not suitable

• how any existing or potential investment or support will be used in conjunction with the grant funding

• what your project would look like without public funding

• how this project would change the R&D activities of all the organisations involved

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 24. Costs and value for money

How much will the project cost and how does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?

In terms of your project goals, explain:

• your total eligible project costs

• the grant you are requesting

• how each partner will finance their contributions to your project

• how this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayer

• how it compares to what you would spend your money on otherwise

• the balance of costs and grant across the project partners

• any subcontractor costs and why they are critical to your project

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

3. Finances

Each organisation in your project must complete their own project costs, organisation details and funding details in the application. Academic institutions must complete and upload a Je-S form.

For an overview on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance. Note this is general guidance, for specific guidance see the eligibility section in this competition. You can also view our application finances video.

Assessment

Your application will be reviewed by five independent assessors based on the content of your application and their skills or expertise relevant to your project. All of the scores awarded will count towards the total score used to make the funding decision unless you are notified otherwise.

You can find out more about our assessment process in the General Guidance.

Your submitted application will be assessed against these criteria:

Energy catalyst round 11 Mid and Late_ Assessor Guidance for applicants.pdf

Background and further information

Up to £7 million will be invested by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The Energy Catalyst’s mission is to fund the critical innovation needed to create jobs, spur economic growth and drive an inclusive clean energy transition across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific and Latin America. By providing financial and advisory support to innovators we help create strategic partnerships, uncover insights and develop business models to improve lives.

Monitoring

Your project manager, and others as may be agreed from time to time, will meet with your Monitoring Service Provider (MSP) once a calendar quarter to review your written report for the period since the last monitoring meeting. You should deliver this report to your MSP no later than 14 days before the scheduled monitoring meeting. Overseas partners are required to dial into these meetings every quarter.

Additional reporting is required to comply with the funder’s requests surrounding key performance indicators (KPIs) and data capture for impact analysis. Your MSP will discuss the extra requirements at your initial meeting and a plan will be put in place to capture this information quarterly.

The project will also be required to complete a survey one to two times a year to support annual reporting. Quarterly claims are not approved until reporting is completed to a satisfactory level.

Your obligations: Energy Access Accelerator

All successful projects will be enrolled onto Innovate UK’s Energy Access Accelerator. The technical lead on each project, and where relevant their project partners, will need to engage with this accelerator. Accelerator support aims to improve the likelihood of successfully commercialising these innovative solutions for clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific and Latin America.

The Energy Access Accelerator one to one support for this programme will be provided through Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA). Companies in receipt of this support will be required to provide an MFA declaration before receiving this support.

Payment of grant

If a project has an international partner, then all partners will receive their grants through a hub and spoke model. This means grant payments to partners are paid through the administrative lead organisation.

Business support is offered to projects where available through the Energy Access Accelerator and will be fulfilled under MFA. Projects can opt out if they have already reached their MFA limit.

Financial support for the project forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment. This is monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Briefing recording and slides

Briefing recording and slides will be available to download here after the briefing event.

What happens if you receive a grant offer

If you have passed your initial assessment and have received an email with a grant offer, you will be asked to complete the project setup process on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Watch our video on what steps are there before a project starts.

We will ask for information that will allow us to undertake mandatory checks on your organisation and the eligibility of your costs, as well as review the documentation for your project.

You must follow the unique link embedded in your email notification. This takes you to your project's dedicated IFS Set Up portal, where we gather the information required to set up your project, for example your bank details. Watch our video on how successful applicants receive their funding.

If your application is unsuccessful

If you are unsuccessful with your application this time, you can view feedback from the assessors. This will be available to you on your IFS portal following notification.

Sometimes your application will have scored well, and you will receive positive comments from the assessors. You may be unsuccessful as your average score was not above the funding threshold or your project has not been selected under the portfolio approach if this is applied for this competition.

We would like to remind you that eligible non-funded business can still benefit from fully funded and bespoke support from the Innovate UK Business Growth service.

Find a project partner

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect.

Support for SMEs from Innovate UK Business Growth service

Innovate UK Business Growth helps innovation focused businesses make the best strategic choices and access the right resources, in order to grow and ultimately achieve scale.

Our innovation and growth specialists provide our fully funded and bespoke support to clients nationwide. Visit the service’s website to discover whether you could benefit from this advisory support, which is available to Innovate UK funded and non-funded businesses alike.

Protecting your innovation

A Secure Innovation campaign has been developed to help founders and leaders of innovative startups protect their technology, competitive advantage, and reputation.

This was developed by UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK and The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) (each an ‘agency’).

We will share your data with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), who jointly manage the Ayrton Fund with DSIT.

We will also share your data with the Energy Access Accelerator Programme delivery partners.

Any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to DSIT, FCDO and DESNZ and vice versa. This would include, but is not restricted to:

• the information stated on the application, including the personal details of all applicants

• scoring and feedback on the application

• information received during the management and administration of the grant, such as Monitoring Service Provider reports and Independent Accountant Reports

Innovate UK may also share any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application with Innovate UK’s national and regional UK third parties and partners who may contact you. For more information see how we handle grant applicant and grant holder data.

Innovate UK and DSIT are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect and DSIT Funding rules – UKRI will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK’s Privacy Policy

Innovate UK Business Connect Privacy Policy

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Privacy Policy

Department for Science Innovation and Technology Personal information charter

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Privacy Policy

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ Privacy Policy

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

Contact us

If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Innovate UK or any of our partners will not tolerate abusive language in any written or verbal correspondence, applications, social media or any other form that might affect staff.