Automotive Transformation Fund Expression of Interest: Round 12

The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is a new 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 eligible project costs and project duration must be strongly aligned to the Automotive Transformation Fund.

To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

• be a 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.

We have allocated a share of up to £1 billion to fund capital focused projects in this competition.

Funding available

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. Further information on the process will be provided at the full stage.

Industry led research projects

For industry led projects, your total grant funding must not exceed 50% of your total eligible project costs. This is regardless of the individual partners’ grant claims. Of that 50%, you could get funding for your eligible project costs up to:

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
• up to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them.

Of that 30%, research and technology organisations in the consortium could get funding for their eligible project costs of up to:

• 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if they are an academic institution
• 100% of their eligible project costs if they are an RTO

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

Batteries

• cathode materials and manufacturing
• anode materials and manufacturing
• electrolyte
• cell assembly components (including separators)
• cell or module assembly
• cell testing
• battery pack components
• battery pack assembly and test

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 cell

• MEA
• catalysts
• bipolar plates
• gas diffusion layer
• air handling systems
• balance of plant
• fuel cell stack assembly
• storage tanks
• fuel delivery (where specifically required for development purposes)

Recycling

• e-motors
• batteries
• fuel cells
• power electronics

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

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