Competition Overview & Strategic Aims

This competition supports collaborative R&D designed to address critical capability gaps and capture greater economic value across the UK battery value chain. By scaling up domestic capacity in cell and module production, high-performance battery packs, and advanced battery management systems (BMS), funded projects will significantly boost the nation’s manufacturing strength. This initiative drives supply chain localisation to build long-term resilience, reduce overseas dependencies, and ensure alignment with UK Rules of Origin requirements. To maximise impact, all proposals must demonstrate a credible pathway for transitioning these innovations from laboratory and pilot stages into full commercial production.

Core Technology Groups

Projects must state alignment with at least one of the following groups:

Cell manufacturing

• Innovations should scale up production from laboratory to gigafactory levels through advanced digital tools, in-line diagnostics, and digital twin optimisations.
• Focus areas include advancing electrode fabrication, high-speed tab joining, dry coating methods, new cell formats, and reduced conditioning times to minimise waste and energy demand.

Module manufacturing

• Proposals should advance automated cell-to-module assembly, high-performance busbar configurations, and precision laser welding.
• Work should focus on improving the consistency of Thermal Interface Material (TIM) application at high production speeds alongside novel end-of-line electrical testing.

Pack manufacturing & BMS

• Projects must innovate structural pack designs, lightweight materials, and fast-assembly techniques to improve overall performance and circularity.
• Focus areas include state-of-health algorithms, fault-tolerant safety systems, advanced thermal management, and data-driven simulation for real-world reliability.

B2Match Networking Platform

To support the competition, we have an online networking platform, B2Match, to help innovators connect with like-minded individuals and form collaborative partnerships to achieve their goals. We strongly encourage you to create a B2Match profile to enable you to meet with other collaborative innovators.

What can you do on the platform?

• Post on the marketplace: Share information about your project, outline what you need help with, or describe the types of connections you’re hoping to make.
• Message individuals directly: Prefer one-to-one contact? No problem! Reach out to people directly to see if you’d be a good match to work together.
• Book a meeting with a potential collaborator: These sessions are designed to help you quickly assess each other’s interests and expertise, identify common goals, and uncover synergies.

The platform will remain open throughout the competition period.

Key Dates

• Competition opens: 11 September 2026
• Online briefing: 16 September 2026 | 10am to noon
• Online surgery: 29 September 2026 | 10am to 11am
• Competition closes: 2 December 2026