APC Funding

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) partner with Innovate UK 3 times a year to fund collaborative R&D projects in the Automotive sector. Their aim is to encourage UK businesses to develop on-vehicle technologies to support growth in advanced low carbon propulsion capability.

The APC funding competitions are primarily focused on the late-stage development of low carbon propulsion technology, for both on and off-road vehicles. They’re particularly interested in projects that are in the following technology areas:

• alternative propulsion systems
• electric machines and power electronics
• energy storage and energy management
• lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
• thermal propulsion systems that deliver substantial improvements

With ~£30 million available each round of funding, they’re expecting to fund projects that clearly align with the UK’s Industrial Strategy and that will support the UK’s long-term supply chain, resulting in a positive impact on the UK economy.

Project costs should be between £5 million and £40 million and must be 50% match-funded by the industrial partners. Projects must be carried out in the UK, and intend to exploit results from or in the UK.

Some examples of previously funded APC projects are:

• Ford Motor Company’s – EPRIME
• Williams Advanced Engineering’s – H1PERBAT
• Jaguar Land Rover’s – HVEMS-UK

Our Expertise

Typically, we see successful APC applications involving collaborations between multiple partners, which bring together OEMs, Universities or Research Organisations, and SME’s. The collaborative nature of the projects is crucial to secure funding, as this demonstrates you have all the resource required, at all stages of the supply chain, to deliver the objectives.

APC competitions fund late-stage research and development, and this is further defined as Industrial Research and Experimental Development projects. Whilst there is a degree of flexibility, successful projects commonly enter the process at TRL6 (Technology Readiness Level) and MRL (Manufacturing Readiness Level) 4, bridging the gap between prototype development and commercialisation.

A key aspect of your project must focus on either directly improving your MRL, or creating manufacturing processes or supply chain enhancements that will lead to an improved MRL within the broader automotive value chain.

More generally, the programme must demonstrate that it delivers value-for-money to the UK government, in terms of economic uplift, employment, environmental impacts and strengthening the UK’s global position within the low carbon vehicle domain.

Over the past 5 years, we’ve built an incredible track-record by working closely with businesses in the Automotive industry, from SMEs to OEM’s.

We’ve helped our clients to secure over £62.5 million from various funding opportunities, including the Innovate UK Smart (formally known as the Open Competition), Faraday Battery Challenge, IDP, APC and CAV competitions.

Most recently, our Grant Bid Writers have had 100% success in the latest round of results from the Innovate UK Smart competitions.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the APC competitions, and would like to discuss whether your project would fit the scope and eligibility criteria, get in touch with our team today.