DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund

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

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the DBT and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) to invest up to £150 million as part of the DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund.

The aim of the Scale-up Fund is to support manufacturing facility and process development at the pilot or demonstration scale. These projects will enable businesses to validate manufacturing capability and commercial viability, achieving market entry at the targeted production volume from the project outcomes.

Your proposal must justify the funding required with a case for government intervention and matched by substantial private investment.

Your project must:

• Support the growth, transition, and resilience 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 Industrial Strategy and the Automotive Council’s roadmaps and strategic technology areas for eligible on-vehicle technologies, including zero-emission vehicle assembly and the associated supply chain
• Undertake a scale-up project to engineer, create (or convert), and validate process development and manufacturing capability at the pilot or demonstration scale

Technology scope

This competition fund aims to support the manufacturing development of strategically important technologies for onboard vehicle applications in one or more of the following areas:

• Electrical energy storage: development of batteries, supercapacitors, their components, management, and integrated systems
• Electric machines and associated driveline
• Power electronics, including vehicle to everything (V2X)
• Internal combustion engine (ICE) for off-road applications; project proposals that support a transition to zero emissions, utilising non-fossil fuels, will be funded
• Lightweighting materials and manufacturing processes
• Fuel cell systems and associated balance of plant
• Hydrogen storage and management systems
• Zero-emission vehicle assembly

You must describe how your project will enable you to unlock substantial private investment of at least twice your grant request. This is to enable you to complete your wider business expansion objectives, including where appropriate the commercialisation of your technology.