Scaling Interoperable V2X: bidirectional charging

Who can apply

Your project

Your project must:

• have a total grant funding request of between £2 million and £7.5 million

• last between 18 and 31 months duration

• start by 1 June 2027

• end by 31 December 2029

Any organisation receiving funding must carry out its project work in the UK, intend to exploit the results in the UK, and spend most of the funding within the UK.

Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.

You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs.

We encourage all technical consortium partners to become active participants in Task 53 to continue the UK’s leading role in this space. To enable this, membership and participation costs can be included as eligible project costs.

You can read the Background Information section for more information on Task 53 and the benefits of membership.

If your project’s total grant funding request or duration falls outside of our eligibility criteria, you must provide justification by email to support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes. We will then decide whether to approve your request.

If your project does not meet our criteria and you have not requested justification approval, your application will be made ineligible and it will not be sent for assessment.

Lead organisation

To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size or a research and technology organisation (RTO).

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Academic institutions cannot lead.

Project team

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:

• business of any size

• academic institution

• charity

• not for profit

• public sector organisation

• research and technology organisation (RTO)

Participation from multiple organisations across the V2X value chain is encouraged. Applicants should consider how their consortium composition will maximise impact by 2030.

Collaborative projects must also include, or clearly demonstrate access to, appropriate energy system expertise. Without this capability, it is unlikely that projects will be able to deliver the real world impact by 2030 required within the scope of this competition.

Project participants may include, but are not limited to:

• transport sector stakeholders such as vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers and operators, technology providers

• energy sector stakeholders such as distribution network operators (DNOs), distribution system operators (DSOs), energy suppliers, flexibility system operators, equipment or system developers

• IT, digital and cyber security stakeholders, for example, mobility as a service, or home and building energy management system providers

• end users such as domestic energy users, local authorities and fleet operators both public and private

Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once partners have accepted the invitation, they will be asked to login or to create an account in IFS. They are responsible for entering their own project costs and completing their Project Impact questions in the application.

To be an eligible collaboration:

• the lead and at least two other organisations must be part of the consortium

• the consortium must include multiple consortia partners and linked stakeholders from across the V2X value chain, ideally involving DNOs and EV manufacturers working closely with V2X solutions providers to deliver and scale multiparty interoperable V2X

• you must explain why you’re collaborating and how the collaboration will work

• at least one consortium technical partner must be, or become, an active participant in International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 53: Interoperability of Bidirectional Charging

Non-funded partners

Your project can include organisations who do not claim any funding for their work on the project. Their costs will be covered from their own resources. These can include UK, EU and other non-UK organisations. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work from within their home countries and exploit the results outside the UK.

Where non-funded partners have been invited to the application on IFS, their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in your application as to why you cannot use subcontractors from the UK.

You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total project costs.

Number of applications

An eligible organisation can only lead on one application. Any further applications by the same organisation as lead will be made ineligible.

An eligible organisation that is leading an application can be included as a collaborator in any number of applications.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

Previous applications

You cannot use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

We will not award you funding if you have:

• failed to exploit a previously funded project

• an overdue independent accountant’s report

• failed to comply with grant terms and conditions

Innovate UK may withhold a grant payment at any time if you have any outstanding sums due to us in relation to other projects.

Subsidy control (and State aid where applicable)

This competition provides funding to enterprises using the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme.

The Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Scheme can be viewed on the subsidy database here: SC10780.

This is in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty. We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage.

EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.

Further Information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must not do anything which could cause a breach of Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.

This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries.

This award is classified as a Subsidy which does not form part of your Minimal Financial Assistance or de minimis allowance.

Funding

Up to £15 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. This is subject to us receiving a sufficient number of high quality applications. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

We reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions under exceptional circumstances, for example, in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations, or broader government funding decisions.

Under the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Route rules, no more than £3 million can be awarded in the form of a grant to any one enterprise in any one competition.

If your organisation’s work on the project is commercial or economic, your funding request must not exceed the limits below. These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically but for the purpose of this project will be undertaking commercial or economic activity.

Category 2: Industrial research projects

Funding available for your eligible project costs of:

• 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

Category 2: Experimental development projects which are nearer to market

Funding available for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation

• up to 35% if you are a medium sized organisation

• up to 25% if you are a large organisation

For more information on company sizes, refer to the company accounts guidance.

EV purchase and lease costs will not be considered as eligible expenditure for this programme.

If you are applying for an award funded under State aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.

Innovate UK may revoke our decision to provide funding without notice if government commitment for this initiative is withdrawn.

Research participation

The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 50% 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 50% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:

• 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not for profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation

• 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are an academic institution

Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding

1. Research organisations must use the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) method as the Je-S form has now been decommissioned.

2. We pay 100% of the 80% Full Economic Cost (FEC). On IFS only enter the 80% being claimed.

To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics.

Text update 11 November 2026: We have expanded the aim of the competition requirements (first bullet point).

Your proposal

This competition is part of the Consumer Led Flexibility (CLF) Challenge within the Clean Energy Superpower Mission (CESM), which is part of the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.

The aims of this competition are to:

• develop reliable, reproducible, cybersecure, multiparty interoperable domestic and non-domestic V2X products and propositions that will maximise the delivery of EV flexibility by 2030 and beyond

• bring together diverse stakeholders across the V2X value chain, spanning the energy and transport sectors, to tackle barriers to the scale up of V2X bidirectional charging

• increase grid operators’, users, investors and wider sector confidence in V2X

• accelerate market adoption of interoperable V2X through evidence, education and knowledge sharing

Your project must :

• develop multiparty interoperability solutions to ensure that EV flexibility can be delivered equitably and for the long term

• evidence those multiparty interoperable V2X solutions at an impactful scale, in a multi-seasonal, real world context, to build an understanding of reliable flexibility under varying demand, generation and market conditions.

• increase grid operators’ confidence in V2X

• deliver evidence of the energy flexibility generated by that solution

• share lessons learnt and disseminate widely to build sector capability, increase market confidence and accelerate adoption of V2X

• test and evidence multiparty interoperable solutions with relevant V2X standards

All bidirectional V2X charging technology solutions are in scope for this competition, provided they can demonstrate multi-party interoperability at scale, This includes: AC, DC, low and high power, wired and wireless V2X solutions.

Any in-front-of or behind-the-meter V2X solution is in scope for this competition provided it can demonstrate and evidence customer led flexibility (CLF) at scale. This includes:

• vehicle to grid (V2G), vehicle to home (V2H), vehicle to building (V2B), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to load (V2L)

• solutions providing resilience to the energy system

Both domestic and non-domestic use cases are in scope for this competition, provided that EV’s are used to provide customer led flexibility at scale. This includes:

• private and public use

• private and public spaces

• private and publicly accessible charging locations

Users of EV’s of any size are in scope for this competition, provided they can participate in the required demonstration of multiparty interoperability and evidence the flexibility provided. This includes:

• on road electric vehicles

• agricultural and construction road-going electric motor vehicles, which can provide scalable flexibility and resilience

All projects must provide evidence to support market growth and encourage adoption of V2X. This includes but is not limited to:

• quantifiable real world flexibility data

• qualitative results regarding user experience and wider energy system benefits

• modelling to provide confidence that the solution can scale beyond the funded project

• battery state of health monitoring for the EV’s within the funded solution

Your project must:

• align with relevant international standards and specifications, including ISO 15118-20, to support interoperability and scalability of V2X solution

• make substantive contributions to International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 53: We encourage all technical consortium partners to become active participants in Task 53 to continue the UK’s leading role in this space (to enable this, membership and participation costs can be included as eligible project costs)

• provide a Benefits Realisation Plan at month three

• report against UKRI-defined impact metrics and key performance indicators, provide project data including flexibility evidence, participate in monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, and submit a final project report upon project completion

• disseminate lessons learned and non-confidential project findings throughout the project and beyond funding to support wider sector capability, interoperability and market adoption of V2X technologies

Your project application must:

• evidence a credible whole systems approach to addressing the competition’s aims

• explain how the proposed project will provide evidence at a suitable scale to meet the competition’s aims

• describe the use case, or use cases, to be targeted: the vehicles and readiness for real world use, their profiles of use and flexibility potential

• provide a timing plan summarising all development and deployment activities, identifying the critical path and the planned evidence generating start and end dates

You may also attach Letters of support to demonstrate that key stakeholders have been consulted and support the project, without wishing to be a partner in the Consortium. Where you have consulted with DNO(s) but they are not part of your consortium, we strongly recommend that a Letter of Support is attached to your application.

Stage gates

This competition will be grant funded with additional conditions around stage gates and monitoring added to the standard Innovate UK T&Cs.

These stage gates will focus on examining your programme’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and milestone ambitions. The KPI’s and milestones should be set at the beginning of the project and developed throughout, incorporating both commercial and technical aspects.

Stage gates will allow the programme the opportunity to pivot in response to steers from UKRI and in some cases external assessors, to ensure the focus on achieving outcomes by 2030 is maintained.

In some instances, stage gates may result in the end of a project or programme where UKRI feels that progress and expectations are not being effectively met. They may also enable UKRI and the consortia to build in additional aspects in response to regulatory, policy or other landscape changes.

You will be invited to suggest what would be appropriate to include in stage gate points for your project within your programme planning. For example, you could suggest particular sequencing for single or multiple stage gate points throughout your programme’s duration. You could also suggest what milestones you expect to meet by certain points and therefore what conditions the stage gate should be based on.

This conversation will be further developed with successful applicants at the project set up phase to agree appropriate stage gates.

Portfolio approach

We want to fund a variety of projects across different V2X technologies, domestic and non-domestic use cases, broad use cases, UK regions, technological maturity, and market opportunities. We call this a portfolio approach.

Specific themes

Your project must focus on the following:

• multiparty interoperable V2X bidirectional charging solutions

• market readiness by 2030

• high flexibility potential V2X use cases

• demonstrating at a scale to evidence significant contribution to the 2GW programme target

Your project can also include activities which result in:

• improving V2X grid connection processes

• improving network flex opportunities

Research categories

We will fund industrial research projects and experimental development projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research.

Projects we will not fund

We are not funding projects that are:

• feasibility studies

• fundamental research

• small scale pilots

• focussing on only one element of the V2X value chain

• focussing on unidirectional charging solutions

• focussing solely on battery degradation research

• exclusively acting in non-real world conditions

• not evidencing multiparty interoperability

• non-road-going vehicles, maritime or rail use cases

• existing commercial V2X development and operations

We cannot fund projects that are:

• dependent on export performance: giving a subsidy to an organisation on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of its products to another country

• dependent on domestic inputs usage: giving a subsidy to an organisation on the condition that it uses a set percentage of UK components in their product

16 November 2026

Online briefing event: register to attend

Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event

2 March 2027

Invite to interview

22 March 2027

Interview panel starts

24 March 2027

Interview panel ends

2 April 2027

Applicants notified

1 June 2027

Project start by

Before you start

You must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start:

Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure:

• that all the information provided in the application is correct

• your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria

• all sections of the application are marked as complete

• that all partners have completed all assigned sections and accepted the terms and conditions (T&Cs)

You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline. You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline.

What we ask you

The application is split into four sections:

1. Project details.

2. Application questions.

3. Finances.

4. Project Impact.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We 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.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

This competition is open during the Christmas holiday period. However, UKRI and Innovate UK will have limited capacity to respond to queries.

We will not respond to queries received between 23 December 2026 and 4 January 2027. Responses may also be delayed after 18 December 2026.

Submit any queries well in advance of this period to allow sufficient time for a response.

1. Project details

This section provides background for your application and is not scored.

Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.

Application team

Decide which organisations will work with you on your project and invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.

Application details

Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Research category

Select the type of research you will undertake.

Project summary

Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Public description

Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This can happen before you start your project.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Scope

Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be sent for assessment. We will tell you the reason why.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score all your answers apart from questions 1 to 6. You will receive feedback for each scored question. Find out more about how our assessors assess and how we select applications for funding.

Each application will be scored against a set of assessment criteria. Every criterion for the scored questions carries a percentage weighting, totaling 100%. The higher the weighting, the greater the impact that criterion will have on the overall score.You must answer all questions.

You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. Any website addresses or URLs included, will not be viewed or opened.

Question 1. Applicant location (not scored)

You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation, all partners and any subcontractors working on your project.

We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

Your answer can be up to 100 words long.

Question 2. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 3. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

• In the process of being applied for

• Not applicable

Question 4. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement.

You must include a list of the names and the countries any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in.

You must also include details of any international subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

Question 5. Export licence (not scored)

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

Question 6. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

• a list of any dual use (both military and non-military) applications to your research

• a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act

• whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications

• a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 7. Idea

This question is weighted at 25% of the total score.

Provide a detailed description of your idea. Do not consider market sizing, project management or risks in your answer.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix to support your answer. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 8. Route to market

This question is weighted at 20% of the total score.

Outline the key steps and timeline for bringing your innovation to market.

In your response, include detailed information on the following areas where relevant:

• technical development milestones

• supply chain and manufacturing

• sales channels and commercial partnerships

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

Question 9. Delivery

This question is weighted at 15% of the total score.

How will you ensure successful delivery of the programme?

Your response must consist of two parts:

1. Explain what steps you will be taking to ensure successful delivery of your milestones? Your response must consider how you will achieve the key milestones. 

2. Upload a delivery plan for the programme in the form of a Gantt chart which includes the key programme milestones

Your answer can be up to 600 words long

You must submit your Gantt chart as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom

Question 10. Skills

This question is weighted at 20% of the total score.

What skills, capabilities or experience do you and your partner organisations hold that will help deliver your programme?

You must outline:

• the skills, knowledge, or experiences that are applicable

• why the partner organisations have been chosen, and the value they bring

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

You may include an appendix to provide letters of support only.

You can include multiple letters of support in this single appendix. Each letter should be no more than one A4 page and should confirm the commitment or support of the organisation providing it.

Letters of support must not introduce substantive new information not included elsewhere in your application.

Assessors will not use letters of support as part of their assessment, other than to confirm support or commitment from any organisations referenced.

The total appendix must be a PDF no larger than 10MB.

Question 11. Risks

This question is weighted at 10% of the total score.

You must outline the top three risks in detail.

For each identified risk, explain what actions you will take to mitigate its impact.

Recognising and acknowledging potential risks is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

You must submit one appendix to support your answer with a full risk register. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 12. Benefits

This question is weighted at 10% of the total score.

Outline the benefits and wider impacts you expect to result from your programme in more detail.

In your explanation, include specific metrics or indicators that you intend to use to measure these benefits.

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

3. Finances

Each organisation in your project must complete their own project costs, organisation details and funding details in the application. Academic institutions must use the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) method to calculate their costs and then upload their breakdown to IFS as a supporting document.

EV purchase and lease costs will not be considered as eligible expenditure for this programme.

For an overview on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance. Note this is general guidance, for specific guidance see the eligibility section in this competition.

4. Project impact

This section is not scored but will provide background to your project.

Each partner must complete the Project Impact questions before being able to submit the application.

More information can be found in our Project Impact guidance and by viewing our Impact Management Framework video.

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

Assessment

Your application will be reviewed by three independent assessors based on the content of your application and their skills or expertise relevant to your project. All of the scores awarded will count towards the total score used to make the funding decision unless you are notified otherwise.

You can find out more about our assessment process in the General Guidance.

Your submitted application will be assessed against these criteria:

V2X - Assessor guidance for applicants .pdf (opens in a new window)

Interviews

If your application passes the first stage of assessment, you may be invited to attend an interview, where you must give a presentation. Your interview will take place at a designated location. The interviews will be held between 22 March 2027 and 24 March 2027.

If you require reasonable adjustments for your interview, we recommend you contact us within three working days of receiving your invite to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the interview.

Before the interview and by the deadline stated in the invitation email, you:

• must send a list of who will attend the interview

• must send your interview presentation slides

• can send a written response to the assessors’ feedback

List of attendees

Agree the list with your consortium. Up to nine people from your project can attend, ideally one person from each organisation. They must all be available on all published interview dates. We are unable to reschedule slots once allocated.

Presentation slides

Your interview presentation must:

• use Microsoft PowerPoint

• be no longer than 30 minutes

• have no more than 31 slides

• not include any video or embedded web links

You cannot change the presentation after you submit it or bring any additional materials to the interview.

Written response to assessor feedback

This is optional and is an opportunity to answer the assessors’ concerns. It can:

• be up to two A4 pages in a single PDF or Word document

• include charts or diagrams

Interview

After your presentation the panel will spend up to 45 minutes asking questions. You will be expected to answer based on the information you provided in your application form, presentation and the response to feedback.

After your allocated question session you may be invited back to answer further questions.

After your interview

The panellists will individually score your application and then enter into a moderation discussion to get your final interview score. This score will replace the one you received from initial assessment unless stated otherwise in this competition brief. We may use portfolio balancing considerations in our final funding decisions, as discussed earlier in this brief. We will notify you whether you have been successful or not by email and you will receive feedback on your interview within a week of notification.

Background and supporting information

The Clean Energy Superpower Mission (CESM) is part of the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme (RDMAP). This flagship new mission led approach is backed through to 2030 by at least £500 million of funding provided by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (previously coming under Department of Science, Innovation and Technology).

The programme will catalyse cutting edge research, technology and service solutions aligned to the UK Government’s five National Missions.​ It will launch Research & Innovation (R&I) Challenges inviting co-investment from industry and third sector to leverage a further £1.5 billion investment.​UKRI’s CESM has launched two research and innovation (R&I) challenges covering:

• consumer led flexibility (CLF)

• ultra long duration energy storage (ULDES)

The CLF challenge is a core component of the UKRI CESM. Achieving the Clean power 2030 Action plan of 95% clean generation by 2030 will require significant flexibility to integrate high renewable generation, reduce constraint costs and maintain security of supply.

Targeted research and innovation is essential for unlocking latent supply and reduce system costs, alongside widespread market and regulatory reform. The programme of work will focus on technology and business model innovation investment alongside removing market access barriers. The outcomes together will aim to unlock at least two gigawatts (GW) of CLF by 2030.

V2X has huge potential to benefit both EV owners and the flexibility of the UK energy grid, and therefore all UK energy users.

V2X services enable EVs to act as intermittent energy storage devices, reducing grid congestion and fossil fuel reliance, whilst enabling greater utilisation of green energy to drive the growing EV fleet.

This can provide financial reward for EV users and lower system costs for all electricity consumers. Leveraging the abundant energy storage capacity of EV batteries therefore helps to address the energy trilemma of sustainability, affordability and security of supply.

The UK’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) have projected that in some future energy scenarios, V2X could be delivering as much as 41GW of flexibility by 2050. This figure illustrates the potential large scale benefits V2X can provide if innovation and regulatory barriers can be solved in parallel.

The UK Government and UKRI have recognised the benefits of V2X for several years and have invested in previous activities. This has contributed to some great steps in proving the technological and commercial feasibility of this technology.

This, along with the investment and hard work from the UK’s V2X community has so far established the UK as a global leader in this space. This new funding activity will support the industry to remain in that position as V2X accelerates towards the next stage in its evolution.

With V2X technically possible and the EV transition continuing at pace, this is a crucial time to ensure interoperable V2X solutions can move from small scale trials to scaled up commercially viable propositions.

Interoperability must enable consumers to be able to switch providers and assets easily and to have a simple, user centred and hassle free experience.

The EU is leading the way on making sure interoperability standards are established and supported, with the UK expected to follow closely. Now is an important time for the V2X supply chain to come together to ensure the UK secures a world leading approach to interoperable V2X scale up.

Task 53

Task 53 of the International Energy Agency is a non-profit international consortia with partners from across industry and government.

It is dedicated to overcoming the hurdles of multiparty bidirectional charging, to enable international interoperability between bidirectional charging stations, vehicles, and grids.

Its activities include:

• lab testing of multiparty interoperable V2X solutions

• testing conformance to ISO15118-20 and its evolving bidirectional amendments

• developing ‘Golden Guidelines’ for both AC and DC V2X implementation

There is an opportunity for UK projects to benefit by participating in these activities, to ensure that the UK’s requirements and evidence are considered. This will enable the UK to become one of the earliest large scale V2X adopters.

Any UK consortium partners looking to join Task 53 should read through these resources, and reach out to the Task 53 team directly with any questions.

Further information can be accessed regarding Task 53’s Terms of Reference.

Available support

We will be working with Innovate UK Business Connect (IUKBC), who will deliver and manage an online matchmaking tool to be open throughout the duration of the competition. This tool can help you connect with potential partners and share ideas to build effective consortia.

IUKBC will also host a series of surgery sessions for potential applicants to sign up to. These will offer applicants the opportunity to network with others and ask further questions on the competition.

Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Scheme Information

This award is being offered under the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme in accordance with section 10(4) of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Projects funded must meet the following definition(s):

Category 2: Industrial research​

​The planned research or critical investigation that is aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services. It can also be for projects that are aimed at bringing about a significant improvement in existing products, processes or services. ​

This would include digital products, processes or services, in any technology, industry or sector, including, but not limited to: digital industries and technologies, such as supercomputing, quantum technologies, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, cyber security, big data and cloud technologies. ​

Industrial research comprises the creation of component parts of complex systems. It may include the construction of prototypes in a laboratory environment or in an environment with simulated interfaces to existing systems as well as of pilot lines. Where necessary, this would be for the industrial research and notably for generic technology validation.​

Category 2: Experimental development

Means acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing new or improved products, processes or services. ​

This includes:

• digital products

• processes or services in any technology, industry or sector, including but not limited to, digital industries and technologies, for example, supercomputing

• quantum technologies

• blockchain technologies

• artificial intelligence

• cyber security

• big data

• cloud or edge technologies ​

This may also encompass, for example, activities aimed at the conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services.​

Experimental development may comprise prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real-life operating conditions. This would be where the primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set. ​

This may include the development of a commercially usable prototype or pilot which is necessary for the final commercial product and which is too expensive to produce for it to be used only for demonstration and validation purposes. ​

Experimental development does not include routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress, even if those changes may represent improvements.

Briefing recording and slides

Briefing recording and slides will be available to download here after the briefing event.

What happens if you receive a grant offer

If you have passed your initial assessment and have received an email with a grant offer, you will be asked to complete the project setup process on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Watch our video on what steps are there before a project starts.

We will ask for information that will allow us to undertake mandatory checks on your organisation and the eligibility of your costs, as well as review the documentation for your project.

You must follow the unique link embedded in your email notification. This takes you to your project's dedicated IFS Set Up portal, where we gather the information required to set up your project, for example, your bank details. Watch our video on how successful applicants receive their funding.

If your application is unsuccessful

If you are unsuccessful with your application this time, you can view feedback from the assessors. This will be available to you on your IFS portal following notification.

Sometimes your application will have scored well, and you will receive positive comments from the assessors. You may be unsuccessful as your average score was not above the funding threshold or your project has not been selected under the portfolio approach if this is applied for this competition.

Find a project partner

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect.

Support for SMEs from Innovate UK Business Growth service

Innovate UK Business Growth helps innovation focused businesses make the best strategic choices and access the right resources, in order to grow and ultimately achieve scale.

Visit the service’s website to learn about how you might benefit as a winner.

Protecting your innovation

A Secure Innovation campaign has been developed to help founders and leaders of innovative startups protect their technology, competitive advantage, and reputation.

This was developed by UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (each an ‘agency’).

Any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to UKRI and vice versa. This would include, but is not restricted to:

• the information stated on the application, including the personal details of all applicants

• scoring and feedback on the application

• information received during the management and administration of the grant, such as Monitoring Service Provider reports and Independent Accountant Reports

Innovate UK may also share any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application with Innovate UK’s national and regional UK third parties and partners who may contact you. For more information see how we handle grant applicant and grant holder data.

Innovate UK and UKRI are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect and UKRI will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK’s Privacy Policy

Innovate UK Business Connect Privacy Policy

UKRI Privacy Policy

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

Contact us

If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

This competition is open during the Christmas holiday period. However, UKRI and Innovate UK will have limited capacity to respond to queries.

We will not respond to queries received between 23 December 2026 and 4 January 2027. Responses may also be delayed after 18 December 2026.

Submit any queries well in advance of this period to allow sufficient time for a response.

Innovate UK or any of our partners will not tolerate abusive language in any written or verbal correspondence, applications, social media or any other form that might affect staff.