Automotive Transformation Fund Expression of Interest: Round 29

The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is an Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) programme that aims to establish a competitive and sustainable UK supply chain.

It offers a share of up to £1 billion of funding for capital and associated industrial research projects. This will be to support the industrialisation of a high value, electrified automotive supply at scale in the UK.

This is an expression of interest (EoI) competition, which is the first stage in a two stage process. Your EoI application outlines your proposal and potential benefits to the UK. If your application is successful, you will be invited to progress to a full application for the ATF competition.

Eligibility

Lead organisation

To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

• be a UK registered business of any size
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• address the requirements of the Automotive Transformation Fund

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Non-UK businesses can apply to this expression of interest (EoI) competition in reference to activities they are considering undertaking in the UK. The business must be registered in the UK before any funding can be awarded.

Project team

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be a UK registered organisation. Non-UK businesses can be invited to partner in this expression of interest (EoI) competition in reference to activities they are considering undertaking in the UK. The business must be registered in the UK before any funding can be awarded.

Scope

Your project must support the industrialisation at scale of an electrified automotive supply chain. It must be appropriate and in proportion to the planned objectives and prioritisation of the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF).

You should be looking to transform the automotive industry through significant business or production expansion. We expect your project to be centred around a product, process or technology that you have already demonstrated and have confirmed as technically and economically feasible.

Your application can be for:

• capital investment only
• capital and associated R&D activity

Your proposal must prioritise the scale up in areas mentioned in the Automotive Transformation Strategy for an electrified supply chain. Your project must prioritise scale up and focus on one or more of the following:

• batteries including cells (’gigafactories’)
• electric motors and drives
• power electronics
• fuel cells
• upstream supply chain for, batteries including cells, electric motors and drives, power electronics or fuel cells

Your project must:

• fit with the overall strategy of the ATF
• offer value for money for the UK
• have an ongoing benefit to the UK from the exploitation of your project
• include deliverables such as time, cost and quality (including risks)

Only projects which score well against these criteria will receive funding from the ATF.

The ATF will prioritise support to projects that:

• can act as anchors to their respective supply chains
• are likely to lead to further investments while creating a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the future

The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) will fund a portfolio of projects, across the technologies listed in the specific themes section. This portfolio and the technologies within are designed to be complimentary to the overall aim of the ATF. There may be occasions where a lower scoring project is supported, superseding a higher scoring application.

The APC can help you check whether your project fits the Automotive Transformation Fund. Contact the APC team at ATF@apcuk.co.uk to find out more.

Specific themes

Your project must focus on one or more of the following:

Batteries including cells (’gigafactories’)

• cathode materials and manufacturing
• anode materials and manufacturing
• electrolyte
• cell assembly components (including separators)

Electric motors and drives

• magnet materials and manufacturing
• electrical steel materials and manufacturing
• electrical machine assembly
• drive line components
• assembly and test into complete drive unit

Power electronics

• wide band gap semi-conductors
• sensors
• passives
• power electronics assembly

Fuel cells

• Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)
• fuel cell stack assembly
• storage tanks

Upstream Supply Chain including:

• raw materials
• component manufacturing
• sub-assembly manufacturing

The Automotive Transformation Fund provides detailed information on the specific themes of this competition.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK KTN’s Transport team.