Automotive Transformation Fund Expression of Interest: Round 26

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.

Your total project costs and project duration must be strongly aligned to the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF). To be eligible your project must request a minimum of £1 million in grant against your total eligible project costs.

Eligibility

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

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.

You can make more than one application. There are no restrictions on the number of applications a business can lead or collaborate on.

Up to £1 billion has been allocated to fund capital focused projects in this competition.

No funding is awarded at this EoI stage. Successful applicants from this EoI stage will be invited to a second full stage ATF competition. Funding for the full stage will be in the form of a grant.

Capital investment projects

Capital investment projects will be managed through the BEIS Central Grants & Loans Team. For capital investment projects the grant available is dependent on the proposed project and will be determined during the second stage of the application process.

The grant requested should be the minimum required to ensure sustainability of the investment. Funding levels for associated R&D costs are dependent on the size of your organisation. Further information on the process will be provided at the full stage.

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

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

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 would like help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK KTN’s Transport team.