Energy Catalyst (Round 8) Briefing Event

Apply for funding to address the need for clean, affordable and secure energy in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for International Development (DFID) will invest up to £20m in innovation projects as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and Transforming Energy Access (TEA) Programme. These must encourage products and services that will help countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia access secure, low cost and low carbon energy.

To be in scope for this round your project must meet the needs of poor households, businesses and services in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. Projects should focus on demonstrating innovative products and services targeted at those people who are unable to afford or access existing solutions, or who lack the time or expertise to successfully use those solutions.

Proposals must also address all 3 elements of the energy ‘trilemma’:

• cost
• emissions
• security of supply and energy access

There are 3 options to apply into this competition. These are referred to as strands and will be run in parallel. The strands are dependent on the stage your project is at:

• early stage for feasibility studies
• mid-stage for industrial research
• late stage for experimental development

To be eligible for funding you must be a UK or international:

• business
• research technology organisation (RTO)
• academic organisation
• charity
• public sector organisation

To be eligible for funding for mid and late stage, at least some of the research and development, testing or demonstration activities must be carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia or South East Asia. This can be done by either a UK or international partner.

More information on the competition’s scope, key dates and details of how to apply can be found here.