Innovation
Collaborate, cocreate, commercialise
Accelerate your journey to commercialisation with a late-stage, collaborative R&D project.

About this competition
Collaborate is a consortium-based programme, with a lead partner nominated from the start.
To collaborate with the lead partner, you must be a UK-registered business representing:
- A business of any size, SME, OEM or Tiern
- An academic institution
- A charity or not for profit
- A public sector organisation
- A research and technology organisation (RTO).
Our experts at the APC can help you build a consortium that works for you, using our network of established business partners, so start talking to us now to see how we can help.
Please note:
- Application deadline 1st October 2025
- Applicants Informed 17th December 2025
- Project Start from 1st March 2026.

Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Have an eligible grant funding request of between £2.5m and £25 million, a minimum of 50% match-funded.
- Prove your intent to exploit this technology in the UK
- Achieve TRL7-8 or MRL6-7 by completion
- Be collaborative
- Deliver the within a timescale of between 18-36 months (starting 1st March 2026, ending by 28th February 2029).

Testimonials
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“We’re the first to market thanks to APC collaborative funding.”
— Dr Sara Ridley, Engineering and Quality Director at Autocraft Solutions Group
Scope
Your project must fall within one or more of the following themes:
Zero-emission vehicles:
Focus on product and process innovations that contribute toward achieving zero-emissions for on-board vehicle applications throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Manufacturing Competitiveness:
Use R&D innovation to improve the efficiency, productivity and cost-competitiveness of manufacturing plants and their related supply chain, enabling the competitive transition to manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles in the UK and/or lowering embedded carbon emissions in the manufacturing process.
Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) and Electronic and Electrical Architectures (EEA):
Focus on innovations in automotive software and EEA to enhance zero-emission vehicle functionality and reduce time to market. These projects will leverage the UK’s established reputation for innovation and build global product competitiveness.
For more detailed scope and eligibility criteria, visit the IFS website.

Success stories
How to apply
Applications for Collaborate open twice a year. If you’ve got an exciting project that fulfills the eligibility criteria outlined above, you can apply on the Innovation Funding Service website by clicking the button below.
To support you with the application process, we have put together an applicant briefing webinar with our partners at the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK. You can watch the recording here or download our info pack.

All grant funding is subject to Ministerial and His Majesty’s Treasury approval and will be awarded in accordance with the Minimal Financial Assistance provision outlined in the Subsidy Control Act 2022.