DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Demonstrate 2

DRIVE35 (Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification) is a programme led by the Department for Business and Trade aimed at transforming the UK's automotive industry. This is achieved by supporting research and development (R&D) and the commercial scaleup of innovative zero-emission vehicle technologies and unlocking capital investment in zero-emission vehicles, batteries, and their wider supply chain.

Your proposal must:

• Support growth, transition, and security of the UK’s automotive supply chain, increasing capability whilst improving productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness
• Contribute to the UK’s strategic aims and priorities, such as the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy as well as the Automotive Council’s roadmaps and strategic technology areas
• Deliver on-vehicle technologies or enable manufacturing capabilities that support the transition to zero-emission vehicles
• Target post-project commercialisation with clear articulation on how the innovation will be brought to market or used in an industrial setting
• Create and safeguard high-value jobs during the project and through post-project impact that generate a lasting economic benefit to the UK
• Support securing long-term R&D investment

Your proposal must fall within one or more of the following themes:

• Theme 1: Promote Zero-Emission Vehicle Technologies
• Theme 2: Enhance Manufacturing Competitiveness
• Theme 3: Future Vehicle Innovation—Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) and Electrical/Electronic (E/E) Architectures

To be eligible for this competition, you must:

• Deliver your demonstrator within a 9–12-month period
• Request grant funding between £500,000 and £1.5 million, with the project being a minimum of 50% match-funded
• Achieve TRL5-6 or MRL4-5 on completion
• Be either a single applicant or a collaborative team
• Showcase your demonstrator and your company at Cenex Expo 2027