Deadline: 10-Aug-22
The Innovate UK is seeking applications for its Energy Catalyst Round 9 – Early Stage.
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 or Indo-Pacific regions. This will create a just and inclusive energy transition and extend the benefits of clean energy to all to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) 7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’ and 13 ‘Climate action.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of the Ayrton Fund to invest up to £20 million in innovation projects.
Focus
- Your proposal must focus on:
- improving energy access in official development assistance (ODA) eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Indo-Pacific regions
- have a technology or business model which is affordable, reliable and low carbon
- consider the role of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI)
Funding Information
- Your project’s total costs must be between £50,000 and £300,000.
- start by 1 April 2023
- end by 31 March 2026
- last between 3 months and 12 months
Eligibility Criteria
Your project
- Your project must:
- intend to use the results to help deliver clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or the Indo-Pacific
- include a UK registered administrative lead
- if you are an international organisation, partner with a UK administrative lead
- involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) from anywhere in the world
- Your project can also involve organisations from any country.
- You must only include eligible project costs in your application.
Lead organisation
- There are two types of leads in energy catalyst, an administrative lead, who will start the application and a technology lead.
- 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 when there is an international partner in the consortium. 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 registered in the UK
- claim grant funding through this competition
- A technology lead will lead on the development of the scope, work packages within the project and other work from a technical perspective.
- The technology lead:
- can be from anywhere in the world
- must claim grant funding through this competition
- can be an SME, RTO or academic institution
- UK registered organisations can be both the administrative and technical lead if the criteria is met for both types of leads.
For more information, visit https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/1173/overview#summary