AUTOMOTIVE TRANSFORMATION FUND: ROUND 8

1. Title: AUTOMOTIVE TRANSFORMATION FUND: ROUND 82. Awarding Authority: Innovate UK, GB Tel: 0300 321 4357. Email: support@innovateuk.ukri.org.3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 billion for capital centric investment projects that help industrialise the electrified automotive supply chain at scale in the specified location.The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is a new programme that aims to establish a competitive and sustainable UK supply chain.It offers a share of up to £1 billion of funding for capital and associated industrial research projects. This will be to support the industrialisation of a high value, electrified automotive supply at scale in the UK.This is an expression of interest (EoI) competition. If your application is successful you will be invited to apply to a full stage competition strand when it is published.In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.5. CPV Code(s): 73110000, 73100000, 79400000, 732200006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: UK8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Project size: Total eligible project costs and project duration must be appropriate and in proportion to the planned objectives and prioritisation of the Automotive Transformation Fund.FundingWe have allocated up to £1billion to fund capital focused projects in this competition.Capital investment projectsCapital investment projects will be managed through the BEIS Central Grants & Loans Team. For capital investment projects the grant available is dependent on the proposed project and will be determined during the second stage of the application process.The grant requested should be the minimum required to ensure sustainability of the investment. Further information on the process will be provided at the full stage.Industry led research projectsFor industry led projects, your total grant funding must not exceed 50% of your total eligible project costs. This is regardless of the individual partners’ grant claims. Of that 50%, you could get funding for your eligible project costs up to:up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisationup to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisationup to 50% if you are a large organisationThe research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them.Of that 30%, research and technology organisations in the consortium could get funding for their eligible project costs of up to:80% of full economic costs (FEC) if they are an academic institution100% of their eligible project costs if they are an RTO10. Competition closes: 24.3.2021 (11:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Funding type GrantWho can applyLead organisationTo lead a project or work alone your organisation must:be a UK registered business of any sizecarry out its project work in the UKintend to exploit the results from or in the UKaddress the requirements of the Automotive Transformation FundFor more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.Project teamTo collaborate with the lead, your organisation must:be a UK registered business, academic institution, charity, not-for-profit, public sector organisation or research and technology organisation (RTO)carry out its project work in the UKintend to exploit the results from or in the UKbe invited by the lead organisationIf you are working in a collaboration the lead and at least one other organisation must claim funding through the BEIS Central Grants and Loans team.If you are a collaboration the lead and at least one other organisation must claim funding by entering their costs during the application.Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once accepted, partners will be asked to login or create an account and enter their own project costs into the Innovation Funding Service.Your project can include partners that do not receive any of this competition’s funding, for example non-UK businesses. Their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.SubcontractorsSubcontractors are allowed in this competition.Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in question 6 for why you could not use suppliers from the UK.You must also provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you.We expect all subcontractor costs to be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.Number of applicationsYou can make more than one application.There are no restrictions on the number of applications a business can lead or collaborate on.There are no restrictions on the number of applications a partner can collaborate on.Previous applicationsYou can use apreviously submitted application to apply for this competition.We will not award you funding if you have:failed to exploit a previously funded projectan overdue independent accountant’s reportfailed to comply with grant terms and conditionsSubsidy control (and State aid where applicable)This competition provides funding in line with the UK’s obligations and commitments to Subsidy Control. Further information about the UK Subsidy Control requirements can be found within the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement and the subsequent guidance from the department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty. We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage.European Commission State aidYou must apply under European Commission State aid rules if you are an applicant who is conducting activities that will affect trade of goods and electricity between Northern Ireland and the EU as envisaged by Article 10 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.In certain limited circumstances, the European Commission State aid rules may also apply if you are an organisation located in England, Wales, or Scotland and conduct activities that affect the trade of goods and electricity between Northern Ireland and the EU. For further information, please see section 7 of the BEIS technical guidance.For further information see our general guidance on state aid and BEIS guidance on the Northern Ireland Protocol.For applicants subject to the European Commission State aid rules, applicants will be required to prove that they were not an “Undertaking in Difficulty” on the date of 31 December 2019 but became a UID between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021. We will ask for evidence of this.Further InformationIf you are unsure about your obligations under the UK Subsidy Control regime or the State aid rules, please take independent legal advice.You must make sure at all times that the funding awarded to you is compliant with all current Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to or actually distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries.If there are any changes to the above requirements that mean we need to change the terms of this competition, we will tell you as soon as possible.Your proposalThis is an expression of interest (EoI) competition. You must have a successful application in this competition before you can be invited to apply to the full stage competition.Your projectYour project must have an automotive application.Your total eligible project costs and project duration must be appropriate and in proportion to the planned objectives and prioritisation within the Automotive Transformation Fund.To discuss if your project falls outside of our eligibility criteria, you must contact the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) directly at ATF@apcuk.co.uk at least 10 days before the competition closes. APC will decide whether to approve your request.Your application can focus on one of these:capital investment onlycapital and associated R&D activityYour proposal must prioritise the scale up in areas mentioned in the Automotive Transformation Strategy. This includes but is not limited to:batteriesmotors and drivespower electronicsfuel cellrecycling of any of the aboveOnly projects which score well against these criteria will receive funding from the Automotive Transformation Fund:fit with the overall aims of the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF)value for money for the UKongoing benefit to the UK from the exploitation of your projectproject deliverables such as time, cost and quality (including risks)The ATF will prioritise support to projects that:can act as anchors to their respective supply chainsare likely to lead to further investments while creating a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the futureThe Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) will fund a portfolio of projects, across the technologies listed in the specific themes section. This portfolio and the technologies within are designed to be complimentary to the overall aim of the ATF. There may be occasion where a lower scoring project is supported, superseding a higher scoring application.The APC can help you check whether your project fits the Automotive Transformation Fund. Contact the APC team at ATF@apcuk.co.uk to find out more.Specific themesYour project can focus on one or more of the following:Batteriescathode materials and manufacturinganode materials and manufacturingelectrolytecell assembly components (including separators)cell or module assemblycell testingbattery pack componentsbattery pack assembly and testMotors and drivesmagnet materials and manufacturingelectrical steel materials and manufacturingelectrical machine assemblydrive line componentsassembly and test into complete drive unitPower electronicswide band gap semi-conductorssensorspassivespower electronics assemblyFuel cellMEAcatalystsbipolar platesgas diffusion layerair handling systemsbalance of powerfuel cell stack assemblystorage tanksfuel delivery (where specifically required for development purposes)Recyclinge-motorsbatteriesfuel cellspower electronicsThe Automotive Transformation Fund provides detailed information on the specific themes of this competition.Research categoriesIn the full stage competition, the Automotive Transformation Fund will fund:capital investment through the BEIS Central Grants & Loans Teamassociated industrial research as defined in the guidance on categories of research and ‘Aid for research and development projects’Projects we will not fundWe are not funding capital investment that:includes investment in final electric vehicle assembly at original equipment manufacturers (OEM)is related to charging infrastructuresupports retail and wholesale fuel supplyfocuses primarily on use of digital or data technologies such as simulationsupports speculative site enabling projectsWe are not funding R&D dedicated to:software developmentproduct or process development which is at prototype or early proof of concept stagelow-carbon fuels developmentDates1 March 2021: Competition opens24 March 2021 11:00am: Competition closes23 April 2021 : Applicants notifiedBefore you startYou must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start.You should also read specific information about the ATF programme before you start your application.What we ask youThe application is split into 2 sections:Project details.Application questions.1. Project detailsThis section provides background for the assessors and is not scored.Application teamDecide which organisations will work with you on the project. Invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.Application detailsThe lead applicant must complete this section. Give your project’s title, start date and duration.Research categorySelect the type of research you will undertake.Equality, diversity and inclusionWe collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.You must complete this EDI survey and then select yes in the application question. The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.Application typeWhat are you seeking funding for? Type one of the following:a capital investment projecta mixed capital and R&D investment projectProject summaryProvide a summary of the objectives, content, and output of the proposed project, covering the following elements:overview and purpose of the projectoutput or results of the projectanticipated route to marketmarket opportunity being addressedamount of grant support requestedtotal anticipated budgetpotential investment locationPlease provide a short description of your current business, including an overview of current capabilities in areas relevant to the proposal.This section is mandatory but is not scored. However, it is a vital part of the application, setting the scene and providing assessors with a clear overview of the project.Your answer can be up to 600 words long.2. Application questionsATF assessors will score your application to determine if it aligns with the planned objectives and prioritisation of the Automotive Transformation Fund.After your application has been assessed, a separate strategic score is given to your application by an ATF moderation panel.That score is based on your answers to application questions 1 and 2, taking into consideration the wider automotive landscape in the UK and internationally.You will be notified through your IFS dashboard via email if your application is successful or unsuccessful. You will not receive feedback through the Innovation Funding Service.APC may choose to contact you directly to explain how you have met or have not met this criterion.Your answer to each question can be up to 400 words long. Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.Question 1. Project partners location (not scored)Where are the organisations within your project team registered?Please state the name of each organisation along with its full registered address. If you are working with an academic institution this doesn’t need to be included.Question 2. Automotive Transformation FundHow does your project align with the Automotive Transformation Fund?Demonstrate how your project aligns to the competition objectives, associated focus areas and overall aims of the Automotive Transformation Fund. Provide up to date evidence where possible.Describe:which area of the Automotive Transformation Fund your project will help deliveryour current role in the UK supply chain and how this project will change thathow your project will help delivery scale up in the UKYou can submit one appendix. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF, can be up to 2 A4 pages long and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Question 3. Exploitation and disseminationHow will you exploit and disseminate your project results? What economic, social and environmental benefits do you expect your project to deliver, and by when?Consider:expected project outputs, including products, services, processes, and capabilitiesyour initial exploitation plan: the route to market, intellectual property, changes to business models or processes, research, and development (R&D), and manufacturing servicesspill-over or dissemination of ideas, demonstrating how your activities will contribute to the wider automotive industry and other sectorsthe UK benefits expected to be delivered as a result of this project, such as capital expenditure or follow on R&D, supply chain, jobs, training and skills, and environmental benefitsQuestion 4. Technical approach and managementWhat technical approach will you use and how will you manage your project?Describe or explain:the technical approach, including the main objectives of the workhow you will improve on the nearest current state-of-the-art identifiedhow and why the approach is appropriatehow you will make sure the innovative steps in the project are achievablehow you will measure your successthe areas of work and your objectivesYou must submit a work breakdown structure (including the cost of each work package). It must be a PDF, as one A4 page and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Question 5. Market awarenessWhat does the market you are targeting look like?Describe or explain:the markets (domestic, international or both) you will be targeting in the project, and any other potential marketsthe size of the target markets for the project outcomes, backed up by references where availablethe structure and dynamics of the target markets, including customer segmentation, together with predicted growth rates within clear timeframesthe target markets’ main supply or value chains and business models, and any barriers to entry that existthe current UK position in targeting these marketsthe size and main features of any other markets not already listedIf your project is highly innovative, where the market may be unexplored, describe or explain:what the market’s size might to behow your project will try to explore the market’s potentialQuestion 6. Skills, experience, and facilitiesDoes your proposed project team have the right skills, experience, and facilities to deliver this project?Demonstrate that the likely project team:has the right mix of skills and experience to complete the projecthas a track record in managing capital and/or research and development projectshas clear objectives and roles or responsibilitiesIf you are part of a consortium, describe the benefits of the collaboration. What advantages does being part of a consortium offer the project?Question 7. Adding valueHow does financial support from the Automotive Transformation Fund add value to the UK? What will happen to the project in the absence of funding?Answer both of the following:Why do you need this funding? Explain what other sources of funding have been considered, including private investment, and why it is not available.What will happen to the project in the absence of funding. Describe and provide evidence for what will occur if the application for funding is not successfulQuestion 8. FinancesProvide us with estimates of the project’s eligible costs, including any partner’s costs and the grant funding you are seeking. If your proposal includes R&D and Capital investment, please separate these costs out.Type ‘Table attached’ as your answer and give your estimates in a table as an attached appendix. Give details of the total eligible costs and total funding requested for this project.Give your table the following headings:company namecountry where work is being carried outeligible costs (£)funding sought (£)Where there is more than one organisation involved, please ensure a similar table is completed for each partner. The funding sought by a partner can be zero.You must submit a summary of your estimated costs as a table. It can be submitted as a PDF or spreadsheet, as one A4 page and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Background and further informationIntended to support industrialisation at scale of a high-value electrified automotive supply chain in the UK, the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is a new programme funded by the UK government. Its aim is to establish a competitive and sustainable UK supply chain.Formed in 2013, the Advanced Propulsion Centre accelerates the industrialisation of technologies which help to realise zero emission vehicles. It is at the heart of the UK Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The APC was appointed as the main Automotive Transformation Fund delivery organisation.This Automotive Transformation Fund competition is formally delivered in partnership between APC, Innovate UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Department for International Trade (DIT).The ATF will be administered utilising a portfolio approach over the life of the fund. They may also choose to prioritise projects in specific themes where the projects are deemed of strategic importance to the aims of the ATF.For capital investment projects, the BEIS Central Grants & Loans Team will deliver the competition process, assessment framework and contracting.For R&D projects, Innovate UK will deliver the competition process, technical assessment framework and contracting.The value for money that the proposed project will deliver to the UK economy will be assessed by BEIS.Where a project is linked to overseas investment in the UK, or export of goods from the UK, DIT will:provide reasons why an overseas business should invest in the UKassist with sector-specific information about the UK economyprovide a way for overseas businesses to contact DIT staff in their countryAPC can help by:co-ordinating your application through all the necessary stepsproviding general guidance regarding interpretation of competition rules and guidelines on an informal basishelping your consortium to structure the bid development processanswering questions regarding whether or not your project is within scopeIn securing funding from this programme, each participant receiving a grant will pay an industrial contribution to the APC operating budget. This will be proportional to its grant and is set at 3%.Please note that your application may be re-directed to other more suitable funding opportunities. You will be notified directly if this is the case.Any information received by Innovate UK for this competition may be shared with APC, BEIS, DIT, HM Treasury and the devolved administrations. There is a data sharing agreement in place with these bodies which safeguards both personal and commercial data in accordance with data protection legislation.Get help with your applicationThe Advanced Propulsion Centre’s role is to provide guidance rather than formal advice. To contact APC email ATF@apcuk.co.ukIf you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.If you need assistance using the Innovation Funding Service support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.Our phone lines are open from 9am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).Support for SMEs from Innovate UK EDGEIf you receive an award, you will be contacted about working with an innovation and growth specialist at Innovate UK EDGE. This service forms part of our funded offer to you.These specialists focus on growing innovative businesses and ensuring that projects contribute to their growth. Working one-to-one, they can help you to identify your best strategy and harness world-class resources to grow and achieve scale.We encourage you to engage with EDGE, delivered by a knowledgeable and objective specialist near you.TKR-202131-EX-1565572# funding opportunity