Efficiency for Access Coalition: Inviting Applicants for Research & Development (R&D) Fund

Deadline: 16 January 2019

Efficiency for Access Coalition (EforA) is currently inviting applicants for its research and development fund to accelerate innovation in off-grid and weak grid appliance technologies.

The Efficiency for Access Coalition, with funding from UK Aid, will invest into Research and Development (R&D) projects that lead to the acceleration of availability, affordability, efficiency and performance of a range of Low Energy Inclusive Appliances that are particularly suited to developing country contexts and promote social inclusion.

This is part of the Efficiency for Access Coalition’s programme of activities to support and accelerate innovation in off-grid and weak grid appliance technologies and markets. Coalition members currently have programmes and initiatives spanning three different continents, 26 countries and 19 key technologies.

Research & Development projects must focus on developing an innovative appliance technology or product for use in off-grid and weak-grid settings, which has both a strong potential to positively benefit targeted users and to scale. Research & Development projects must also take into account gender equality and social inclusion issues.

Project Stages

There are 3 options to apply for a grant, depending on the stage of the R&D project:

• Early stage for feasibility studies (lasting 6 to 12 months)
• Mid-stage for industrial research (lasting 12 to 24 months)
• Late stage for experimental development (lasting 12 to 30 months)

Grant Information

The first round of the grant fund is worth at least £1 million, with available grants ranging from £50,000 to £200,000 per project.

Eligibility Criteria

The minimum eligibility criteria are:

• Applicants must be a legally registered and physically established business, academic organisation, non-profit, public sector organisation, or research and technology organisation from anywhere in the world. Applicants for funding may also form partnerships (such as between academics and businesses, or between entrepreneurs and established businesses).
• Applications must demonstrate outcomes linked to both the EforA Coalition’s overall objective of accelerating energy access via improved availability, affordability, efficiency and performance of a range of Low Energy Inclusive Appliances particularly suited to developing country contexts, and the R&D scope for this round.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient match funding for project costs.
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record in research and innovation, and/or provide strong evidence of their capacity to successfully implement the R&D project.

How to Apply

Applicants can register themselves via given website.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2SW3Z1k