Investor Partnerships - Battery Innovation Programme

Innovate UK, for DBIST, pairs grant funding with private investment for single UK SMEs working on battery innovation, with a minimum GBP 5M allocated to this round. Three project types are funded: feasibility studies at GBP 50K-GBP 300K total cost over 6-12 months and industrial research at GBP 100K-GBP 1M over 6-24 months, both at up to 70% for micro and small and 60% for medium businesses; and experimental development at GBP 250K-GBP 2M over 12-24 months at up to 45% and 35%. Eligibility is a single UK-registered micro, small or medium business doing the work in the UK, with no collaborative projects accepted, and the SME must be invited by one of Innovate UK's selected investor partners, who submits the expression of interest directly. Aligned investor funding must at least match the grant, or double it for experimental development, and must close before the project starts; the round opened 5 October 2026 and closes 25 November 2026.