Energy Catalyst Round 11 – Mid

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service (IFS).

Application Sections: Project details, application questions and financial information.

Assessment Process: Applications are assessed competitively based on eligibility, project quality and alignment with programme objectives.

Co-Funders: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Collaboration Rules: Collaborative projects only. Projects must involve at least one legally separate collaborator.

Competitiveness: Approximately 15% chance of success based on previous rounds.

Consortium Requirements: The consortium must include at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they do not meet eligibility requirements, do not demonstrate ODA compliance or fail financial or administrative checks.

Decision Timeline: Not specified.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs related to innovation development, testing and demonstration activities.

Eligible Scope: Projects must create or improve energy access using technologies or business models that are affordable, reliable and low carbon.

Funding Intensity: Industrial research projects may receive up to 70% funding for micro or small organisations, 60% for medium organisations and 50% for large organisations.

Important Notes: Successful technology leads will be enrolled in the Energy Access Accelerator programme for additional support under minimal financial assistance rules.

Ineligible Projects: Projects that do not support energy access in eligible ODA countries or fail to meet project size, duration or collaboration requirements.

International Collaboration Requirement: Projects must include at least one partner with a legal entity in an ODA eligible country in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region or Latin America.

Interview Stage: Not specified.

Key Requirements: Projects must demonstrate clear economic and social benefits for targeted ODA countries and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals relating to clean energy and climate action.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The administrative lead must be a UK registered business claiming grant funding.

Match Funding Requirement: Organisations must fund the remaining portion of project costs not covered by the grant.

Project Duration: 6 to 24 months

Project End Date: By 31 March 2030

Project Start Date: From 1 August 2026

Publication Date: 2026-01-06 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Organisations can lead or collaborate on multiple applications.

Research Category: Innovation and technology development for energy access.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity may share up to 30% of total eligible project costs.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed and can be from any country if procurement requirements are followed and costs are justified.

Total Fund Available: £7,000,000