APC 19: Developing automotive technologies and growing capability

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) provides funding, support and insight, in developing automotive technologies. It aims to grow capability to support the UK’s transition towards net zero product manufacturing and supply chain in the UK automotive sector.

In this competition round APC is investing up to £25 million.

We are looking for collaborative, pre-production research and development (R&D) projects that:

• support the UK’s long-term capabilities through securing long term R&D investment
• can be achieved through its associated supply chain in the design, build and manufacture of zero carbon tailpipe emission vehicles

Projects must look to fulfil both these criteria, to ensure the UK meets the future demand of vehicle-makers.

Your project must:

• have total eligible costs between £5 million and £40 million
• be a minimum of 50% match funded
• start by 1 April 2022
• last between 18 and 42 months
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

We suggest projects contain a maximum of 6 project partners.

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered business of any size
• have an active registered business base in the UK
• be a grant recipient
• involve at least one SME if the lead is not one
• include in your consortium a vehicle manufacturer or tier 1 supplier who supplies parts directly to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
• collaborate with others

Academic institutions and research organisations cannot lead projects.

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be a UK registered:

• business of any size
• academic institution
• charity
• not-for-profit
• public sector organisation
• research organisation
• research and technology organisation (RTO)

Non-UK registered or based businesses and research organisations are only eligible to apply for funding if they:

• set up an active UK registered business base, where the funded project work will be carried out, before starting the project
• provide evidence of an intention to expand their R&D activity in the UK after the project

The aim of this competition is to seek proposals for collaborative R&D projects. These must demonstrate the development of on-vehicle technologies, (including material, product and manufacturing processes) for on or off-road vehicles.

Your project must address one of the following:

• accelerate the development of technologies capable of low and zero tailpipe emissions, considering their associated ‘cradle to grave’ supply chains, up to and including end of life
• demonstrate a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions leading to air quality improvements

Your proposal must clearly align with the UK’s Green Industrial Strategy and must demonstrate how high value R&D will take place in the UK as a result of this funding.

APC is particularly looking for projects that support the UK’s long-term supply chain, associated capabilities and growth aspirations. This includes improving productivity and competitiveness in the design, build and manufacture of vehicles that are capable of low and zero tailpipe emissions.

In aligning with the UK’s Green Industrial Strategy, projects must advance technologies in the following areas:

• battery cell components or systems
• fuel cell and associated balance of plant
• electric machines and power electronics

Your project must support the growth of these technologies at scale, creating more jobs and capability throughout the UK supply chain.