Battery Innovation Programme

Overview
The Battery Innovation Programme is a major UK initiative aimed at accelerating the development, scale-up and commercialisation of advanced battery technologies. Delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade, the programme focuses on strengthening the UK’s position across the battery value chain, from raw materials to recycling and reuse.

This competition is split into two strands, allowing organisations at different stages of innovation to participate:

• Feasibility studies, supporting early-stage technical validation
• Concept development, supporting larger collaborative R&D and scale-up activities

Both strands aim to address critical challenges in battery materials, manufacturing and circular economy solutions, helping the UK build a more resilient and competitive battery ecosystem.

Scope of the Competition
Projects must focus on advancing battery technologies that support electrification and strengthen UK supply chains.

Your project should:

• Address key challenges in battery material supply, processing or recycling
• Demonstrate strong alignment with market demand and industry needs
• Improve UK competitiveness across the battery value chain
• Contribute to scaling technologies from lab to pilot or pre-commercial stages

For concept development projects, there is a strong emphasis on collaborative R&D and industrial scale-up, ensuring innovations are ready for real-world deployment and manufacturing.

Key Focus Areas
Projects can target a range of areas within the battery ecosystem, including:

• Material extraction, including sustainable sourcing and refining of critical minerals
• Material processing, such as development of advanced cathode, anode or electrolyte materials
• Recycling and circular economy, including recovery and reuse of battery materials

Projects should demonstrate how they:

• Enable high-quality battery-grade materials for manufacturing
• Reduce reliance on overseas supply chains
• Improve sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness
• Support circularity and long-term resource security

Applications can also target multiple sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy storage, rail and maritime.