Key Features
Introducing Mobilise, an accelerator programme designed for SMEs, start-ups and university spinouts developing early-stage, zero-emission technologies or Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) products, services and solutions.
Programme: APC
Award: Share of up to £180,000
Opens: 9th Jan 2025
Closes: 19th Mar 2025
The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Zenzic are joining forces to offer the UK’s innovative start-ups, spinouts and SMEs a brand-new funding opportunity, the Mobilise accelerator.
Mobilise combines all the familiar award-winning features of the APC’s Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP), with the additional benefits of enhanced technical validation and corporate partner network opportunities currently provided by Zenzic’s CAM Scale-Up UK initiative.
This unique combination of business mentoring, networking, investor-readiness training, and enhanced technical validation, makes Mobilise the leading accelerator programme for the mobility sector, unlocking the growth potential of ambitious UK businesses and accelerating our journey to a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future for all.
Mobilise is a structured early-stage accelerator programme designed to support ambitious businesses developing early-stage, zero-emission technology products or Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) services or solutions become investment and market-ready. We do this through a combination of grant funding, strategy guidance, technical validation and mentoring.
Fresh perspectives
Together with our hand-picked mentors, we assist small and medium-sized businesses on their journey to commercialisation, through a programme that is designed to encourage participants to challenge their thinking and gain fresh perspectives. APC help to mature and validate strategies and technologies to identify the right target markets, customers, channels, and product to ensure participants finish the programme:
• Better prepared
• Focussed
• Agile
• Investible
• Able to demonstrate technology development progress with a tested and validated product
This 18 month programme helps companies develop a robust strategy and business model, focused on commercial pathways, to accelerate route to market.
Mobilise works for ambitious SMEs, whether start-ups or university spinouts. APC also support more mature SME organisations that can benefit from the programmes’s business strategy and development mentoring.
APC are looking for
• Ambitious UK-based micro, small and medium sized businesses
• You must be able to demonstrate the feasibility of our technology concept through modelling or initial prototyping.
• You should be open to exploring routes to market for your solution and be able to benefit from programme activities and APC and Zenzic engagement to support this.
Our objectives
• Enable participants to accelerate their strategy, business case and technology development
• Anchor UK innovation, research and development and economic impact
• Support applicants from across all nations and regions in the UK
Technologies we support
On or off-vehicle technology eligible:
• Software or hardware technologies
• Full vehicles (including L Category) are in scope, however the technology deployed within the vehicle must be innovative of itself and the application would need to show how the vehicle supports or accelerates the move to zero emission transport
Zero-emission enabling
• Innovative automotive technology, products and services which accelerate the transition to zero-emission technologies and solutions.
• Aligns with one or more of the UK Automotive Strategic technologies (see below); or if outside of these areas you should be able to demonstrate a strong automotive impact potential.
Example technology areas include (non-exhaustive list):
• Batteries, their components, management and integration systems
• Fuel cell and associated balance of plant
• Electric machines and power electronics
• Hydrogen storage and management systems
• Lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
• Manufacturing processes associated with industrialising relevant zero-emission technologies
• Direct recycling methods resulting in recovery of critical materials
• Significant reduction in vehicle development timescales
• Digitalisation leveraged during the design, development, testing, production or in-service phases
Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM)
• Innovative products services and solutions which can accelerate the transition to self-driving transportation.
• Technologies which support Zenzic’s commitment to ensure a safer, more inclusive, and productive future.
While we’re interested in advancing any technology and solutions that will advance CAM, we’re particularly interested in:
• Simulation and Digital Twins: tools, processes and methods for the development of simulation to support the development and deployment of CAM services.
• Cyber Security and Resilience: solutions that enhance security and resilience to cyber-physical threats
• Vehicle Hardware: solutions to ‘drive-by-wire’ systems that can support safety and security requirements for CAM
• Connectivity and Data: solutions that develop the enabling connectivity and data required in deploying CAM services at scale, this includes approaches to mapping.
• Testing and Assurance: novel solutions to the complex task of verifying, validating and assuring (VVA) CAM solutions.
• Software and Automation: novel solutions in the development of automation and integration with vehicle systems.
• Other key CAM enablers: finance, insurance and legal
Through two sequential phases, you’ll advance your market positioning, business strategy and technology towards becoming a commercial proposition.
Phase 1 – Market Focus
The Market Focus phase is all about the business, specifically helping identify market opportunities for the technology, solution or service, developing a commercialisation strategy and auditing internal capabilities. Our mentors work with you to help shape, develop and refine strategies so that you finish the programme market-ready.
Phase 2 – Technology Validation
The Technology Validation phase is an entirely bespoke approach that helps to validate your technology, whether that is through prototype design or testing and validating your concept at one of the UK Testbed facilities.
For more information on each phase, see guidance notes here
Mobilise provides up to £180,000 in grant funding and expert mentor support. Each phase has a specific grant amount, and grant intensity is maintained at 60%.
Grant details
• Grant funding allocation can be matched with the allocation of time and resources dedicated to completing the programme and any related technical development (contribution in kind).
• At the start of the programme, we’ll work with participants to assign an appropriate day rate to each employee and a business overhead rate.
• The grant is paid in arrears against incurred staff costs and invoiced external costs.
• During both phases, the grant is claimed monthly through the submission of a breakdown of monthly project-related spend incurred.
• The grant falls under the UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 2020 and the ‘Small Amounts of Financial Assistance’ provision (SAFA).
• Any award is subject to Ministerial and His Majesty’s Treasury (HM Treasury) approval.
Booster fund
During Phase 2, an additional £75,000 booster fund is available to help the most ambitious businesses progress further. This could be through hiring more people, building a larger demonstrator or carry out a life-cycle assessment etc. Businesses interested in being considered for the booster fund will need to demonstrate ambition, capability and growth mindset throughout Phase 1.
Eligible costs include
• Labour costs
• Overheads
• Materials consumed
• Intellectual Property Protection (within reason)
• Sub-contractors (should be essential to the success of your project)
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.
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