Funding is available for businesses and research organisations, from anywhere in the world, to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific regions.

Innovate UK (IUK) has announced a call for applications to Round 9 of its Energy Catalyst Competitions. The objective of these competitions is to accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or Indo-Pacific regions. 

Proposals must:

• Improve 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).

IUK has allocated up to £20 million to fund innovation projects across the programme's three competition strands, which will run in parallel.

• Early Stage competition: Each project’s total costs must be between £50,000 and £300,000.
• Mid Stage competition: Each project’s total costs must be between £50,000 and £1.5 million.
• Late Stage competition: Each project’s total costs must be between £50,000 and £5 million.

To be eligible for funding, applicants can be from any country, and must be a business of any size, research organisation, research and technology organisation (RTO), charity, or non-governmental organisation (NGO). Applications must involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).

The Early Stage competition is open to single applicants or collaborations. The Mid and Late Stage competitions are open to collaborative applications only.

All three competition strands open on 18 May 2022. The deadline for applications is 10 August 2022 (11:00 BST).

 

How To Apply

Competition dates:

• Open: 18 May 2022
• Competition closing date: 10 August 2022 (11:00 BST)

Applicants are encouraged to read the general guidance for applicants to help their chances of submitting a quality application.

Those requiring more information should contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email [email protected]

More details can be accessed at the Innovate UK website.