Niche Vehicle Feasibility Competition: NOW OPEN
Sponsored by Innovate UK and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) the annual Niche Vehicle Feasibility Competition is providing SMEs and micro companies active in the low carbon vehicle technology sector with grant funding of up £25,000 to undertake desk-top research activities aimed at catalysing innovative vehicle technologies applicable to non-human powered road-going and off-highway vehicles within the following categories:
- Lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
- Electric machines and power electronics
- Energy storage and energy management
- Disruptive low emission vehicle technologies
- Reduced emissions from internal combustion engines
- Aerodynamics development
- Digital innovation in low volume manufacturing
Eligible projects under this competition are not required to be collaborative.
Funding Eligibility
- Only 1 application per company
- The applicant must be a UK SME or Micro Business active in the UK low carbon vehicle technology sector
- The applicant must submit the bid and manage the project
- Projects must be business-led and address the specific requirements of the competition
- Projects need not be collaborative
- All R&D must be undertaken in the UK
- A clear ‘route to market’ for the end-product must be identified, with a focus on the UK niche vehicle sector
- Eligible costs include labour, overheads (at 85%), materials, capital depreciation, subcontracting, consumables
- All grant claims must be submitted within FY 2017-18
- Project duration: up to 3 months
Grant Funding Metrics
- Maximum grant per project: £25,000
- Maximum grant intervention rate: 75%
Application Process
The call for bids opened on the 1st September 2017 and closes at noon on the 30th September 2017.
To request on application pack, please email nvn@cenex.co.uk
