Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Discovery C6

Key Features

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £30 million exclusive of VAT, for collaborative Discovery Phase Projects that meet the Innovation Challenges. This funding is from the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £30 million

Opens: 27th May 2026

Closes: 24th Jun 2026

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Grant Overview

Innovate UK in partnership with Ofgem are funding up to £30 million for collaborative Discovery Phase Projects. This funding is from the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund.

Grant Scope

The aim of this competition is to deliver net zero at the lowest cost to consumers and support innovative businesses to grow and scale. Projects must focus on one of the following Innovation Challenge areas.

  • Challenge 1: Industrial and business connection acceleration
  • Challenge 2: Faster build and maintenance
  • Challenge 3: Instant use domestic energy devices
  • Challenge 4: Eliminating energy outages
  • Challenge 5: Decentralised system balancing

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this competition, your project must have eligible Strategic Innovation Fund requested funding of no more than £200,000 (including VAT). Provide a minimum of 10% of total project costs as a compulsory contribution from private funds. Projects must start after 1st September 2026 and end by 31st January 2027 and be completed in the five month window.

Lead Organisation: To lead a Discovery Phase Project you must be an Ofgem licensed gas distribution network, gas transmission, electricity transmission, electricity distribution or National Energy System Operator with at least one other organisation as a Project Partner.

Project Partners: There are no specific Project partner requirements in addition to the lead network licensee. Project partners are encouraged and can include third party innovators such as: start-ups, SMEs, academics, independent researchers

Non-funded Partners: Projects can include organisations who do not claim funding for their work on the project. These costs must be covered from their own resources and can include UK, EU and other non-UK organisations. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work from within their home countries so long as results are exploited outside the UK.

Previous Applications: If you are resubmitting a previously unsuccessful SIF Project, you must contact Innovate UK and Ofgem for approval as soon as possible prior to resubmission.

Grant Exclusions

Ofgem will not fund Projects that do not meet the requirements of the SIF Governance Document.

Grant Funding

Innovate UK and Ofgem have allocated up to £30 million in SIF funding for the Discovery Phase across five challenges.

At the end of Discovery Phase all milestones detailed in the Project Direction must be fulfilled. The successful organisation will be invited to submit an application into the Alpha phase and a further assessment will take place.

For further information on this competition, please see full details.

Full competition details

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