Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £7 million in projects which create new or improved energy access in ODA-eligible countries. These countries are in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific regions and Latin America. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received.
This funding is part of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and provided by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This is part of the UK’s Ayrton Fund commitment.
The aim of this competition is to accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America. This is to create a just and inclusive energy transition and extend the benefits of clean energy for all to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13.
Your proposal must :
- create or improve energy access for eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific regions and Latin America
- have a technology or business model which is affordable, reliable and low carbon
This competition is split into three strands:
- Energy Catalyst Round 11: early stage / feasibility studies (total costs £50k-£300k, duration 3-12 months)
- Energy Catalyst Round 11: mid stage / industrial research (total costs £50k-£1.5m, duration 6-24 months)
- Energy Catalyst Round 11: late stage / experimental development (total costs £50k-£5m, duration 6-36 months)
Up to 70% of costs can be covered for early and mid stage projects, depending on business size. For late stage projects the upper limit is 45%.
Mid and late stage projects must include testing or demonstration work in an eligible ODA country, and must involve at least one partner with a legal entity in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region or Latin America (this can include in-country offices).
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There are two types of leads in the Energy Catalyst programme, an administrative lead, who will complete the application, and a technology lead.
The administrative lead must be a UK registered business, and must be or involve an SME.
The technology lead:
- can be a business of any size
- can be an RTO or academic institution
- can be from anywhere in the world
- must claim grant funding through this competition
UK registered organisations can be both the administrative and technology lead if the criteria is met for both types of leads.
The project team must include at least one eligible grant claiming micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME). This can be the administrative or technology lead.
There must be at least two legally separate organisations in the consortium for mid and late stage projects.
The inclusion of meaningful and equitable collaborations between the UK organisation and organisations from an ODA recipient country or territory is encouraged for early stage projects, and required for mid and late stage projects.
All eligible organisations can lead or collaborate on any number of applications.
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Your project must:
- have total costs of:
- between £50,000 and £300,000 for early stage
- between £50,000 and £1.5m for mid stage
- between £50,000 and £5m for late stage
- have a duration of:
- between 3 and 12 months for early stage
- between 6 and 24 months for mid stage
- between 6 and 36 months for late stage
- start from 1 August 2026
- end by 31 March 2030
- help deliver clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America
- include a UK registered administrative lead
- partner with a UK administrative lead if you are an international organisation
- involve at least one micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME), from anywhere in the world
For mid and late stage projects, you must also:
- involve at least one partner with a legal entity in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific region, or Latin America, this can include in-country offices
- involve testing or demonstration work in an eligible ODA country for this competition
- involve at least one legally separate collaborator
Your project can also include any organisation from any country apart from these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.
- have total costs of:
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The aim of this competition is to accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America. This is to create a just and inclusive energy transition and extend the benefits of clean energy for all to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) 7 and 13.
Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
To be in scope for Energy Catalyst round 11 your project must address both energy access and clean energy.
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Your project must aim to accelerate access to affordable, clean energy services for low income households, enterprises and social institutions in eligible official development assistance (ODA) countries. These countries are in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.
It must do this by supporting the development, testing or scale up of innovative technologies or business models.
A clear social or economic benefit in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America is required.
This can include:
- creating new clean energy access in unserved regions
- improving existing access to provide a more clean and reliable service
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Your project must target one or more of the following eligible countries:
Sub-Saharan Africa:
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
South Asia:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- India (only as part of multi country projects)
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Indo Pacific (ODA eligible ASEAN):
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Timor Leste (not officially part of ASEAN)
- Vietnam
Indo Pacific (Pacific Islands):
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Latin America:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Venezuela
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Your technology or business model must create clean energy which is:
- affordable
- reliable
- low carbon
While any technology which meets the above criteria is in scope, priority will be given to the following Ayrton Challenge areas:
- Next Generation Solar
- Sustainable Cooling for all
- Modern Cooking Services
- Energy Efficiency
- Industrial Decarbonisation
- Clean Transport
- Smart Energy Systems
- Energy Storage
- Clean Hydrogen
- Critical Minerals
- Inclusive Energy and leave no one behind
- Zero Emissions generators
Over 50% of your project must focus on clean energy access and energy innovation to be in scope. This is determined from your project costing and work packages.
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Your project must focus on all of the following:
- innovations that improve or create clean energy access in ODA eligible countries in either sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America.
- innovations that contribute significantly to energy affordability, security and reduced carbon emissions
- addressing clean energy requirements
- being Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliant
- managing Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) issues
- energy access as the primary focus (at least 50% of your project must be focussed on energy access innovation)
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An online briefing event will be held on Wednesday 14 January at 11am UK time: register to attend. A briefing recording and slides will be available after the event.
If you would like help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Global Alliance team or Energy team.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.