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DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund

DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five

Build the UK plant that makes zero emission vehicle technology at real volume.

OpenInnovate UKUnited Kingdom

The DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund pays for manufacturing capability, not research. Drawdown five shares up to £150 million across projects that engineer, build or convert a facility and prove it can make the thing at pilot or demonstration scale.

Grants run from £2.5 million to £20 million, and your project must have total eligible costs of at least £5 million. The government expects that matched by subs…

In scope: manufacturing facility and process development at pilot or demonstration scale for zero emission vehicle technologies — assembly, batteries and the wider supply chain. Your project must support growth, transition and resilience of the UK automotive supply chain and contribute to the UK's strategic aims, including the Industrial Strategy and the Automotive Council's roadmaps. The aim is to validate manufacturing capability and commercial viability and reach market entry at the targeted production volume.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.4 Nov 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.12–34 months
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.£150M

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Guides for this application

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Advanced Propulsion Centre UK logo
Scheduled

DRIVE35 Collaborate

🇬🇧APC UK · United Kingdom

Supports industry consortia advancing zero-emission vehicle technologies toward manufacturing commercialization.

MobilityAdvanced Manufacturing+1
£2.5M – £25MApr'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Horizon Tandem PV Manufacturing Scale-Up

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

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Energy TechAdvanced Materials+1
€9.5MDec'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Decarbonisation of Energy-Intensive Industries

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Funds €15–25M industrial demonstrators that make Europe’s energy-intensive production cleaner and commercially ready.

Energy TechAdvanced Manufacturing+1
€15M – €25MSep'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Horizon Beyond-State-of-the-Art Solar PV

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds three €12M innovation projects that scale efficient, reliable and resilient solar-PV manufacturing beyond today’s commercial technologies.

Energy TechAdvanced Materials+1
€12MMar'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Horizon Flexible Battery Cell Manufacturing

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €18.9M projects to make lithium-ion and sodium-ion cell production cheaper, cleaner, flexible and ready for industrial scale-up.

Energy TechAdvanced Materials+1
€18.9MMar'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Clean Technologies for Climate Action

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds eight €15–25M Innovation Actions that deploy clean technologies for a competitive, climate-neutral European industry.

Climate TechEnergy Tech+2
€15M – €25MSep'27