Description

This competition, delivered by Innovate UK and funded through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), supports late‑stage innovation projects focused on clean energy access and climate‑resilient energy solutions in Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries. It forms a strand of the Energy Catalyst Round 11 programme, with the aim to accelerate new or improved clean energy services for underserved or low‑income populations, helping deliver energy access and support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Funding amount

• Total funding available: Up to £7 million across the Energy Catalyst Round 11 late‑stage strand.
• Per project:
  • Projects must have total eligible costs between £50,000 and £5 million.
  • Grant awards are provided on a sliding funding rate basis depending on organisation size and project scale (e.g., up to ~45 % of eligible costs for small organisations, lower percentages for larger organisations).

Submission deadlines

• Competition opens: Monday 5 January 2026.
• Competition closes: Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 11:00 am UK time.
• Applicants notified: Dates vary by panel, typically in mid‑May 2026.
• Project start date: Earliest from 1 August 2026; projects must complete by 31 March 2030.

Submission conditions

Applicants must:

• submit through the Innovation Funding Service by the deadline;
• ensure projects comply with ODA eligibility and impact criteria, demonstrating clear benefit in the chosen ODA country(ies);
• include at least two legally separate organisations in the consortium;
• involve in‑country partners or meaningful collaborations with organisations in ODA regions;
• indicate relevant compliance (e.g., export controls, research ethics) as part of the application.

Eligible types of organisations

This competition supports collaborative projects only. Eligible participants include:

• businesses of any size (lead must be UK registered);
• research organisations and higher‑education institutions;
• research and technology organisations (RTOs);
• charities and not‑for‑profit organisations;
• non‑governmental organisations (NGOs).

Project consortia must include:

• a UK registered administrative lead to claim grant funding and manage finances;
• at least one micro, small or medium‑sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding (from anywhere in the world);
• partners from eligible ODA regions with tangible roles in implementation or demonstration.

Eligible countries

Projects must deliver activities and demonstrate impact in ODA‑eligible countries in:

• sub‑Saharan Africa
• South Asia
• Indo‑Pacific region
• Latin America.

UK organisations must act as the administrative lead; international partners can participate and claim funding (subject to eligibility criteria).