The UK is a world leader in developing the power
electronics, electric machines and drives that are
fundamental to a global shift to clean technologies and
electrification.
These technologies are taken to concept level in the
UK, but new products are usually manufactured
elsewhere.
The UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge is an £80
million investment in the development of supply chains
in the UK that support manufacturing in these new
technologies.
The aim is to build supply chains across 7 key areas of
the economy and help contribute to UK carbon reduction
targets:
- automotive
- aerospace
- energy
- industrial
- marine
- off highway
- rail
Developing the UK’s ability to manufacture in this
field is expected to create £5 billion of new business
by 2025 and up to £80 billion by 2050.
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has
up to £30 million from the fund to invest in a series
of flagship regional centres to develop, prototype and
scale up power electronics, machines and drives
technologies.
Funding will support 2-4 centres
The funding will support 2-4 regional centres led by 1
organisation and based around existing clusters of
activity.
The winning consortium is expected to raise a further
£82 million in industry investment and maintain the
centres for 10 years.
Centres must focus on all 7 key areas in the challenge
and help SMEs to develop and scale power electronics,
machines and drives technologies
They should have the equipment and staff expertise to
undertake projects.
- the competition is open and the deadline for
registration is at midday on 27 November 2019
- it is open to businesses and research organisations
- we expect to support a single project with a grant
of up to £30 million
- a briefing
event takes place on 29 October 2019
