DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five
DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five supports businesses developing pilot and demonstration manufacturing for zero emission vehicle technologies to validate commercial viability and enable market entry.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: November 4, 2026, 11:00am UK time (Application) | December 17, 2026 (Economic responses) | January 8, 2027 (Technical responses) | January 8, 2027 (Presentations and attendees) | January 12, 2027 (VfM changes)
Funding Amounts: £2.5 million–£20 million per project from a fund of up to £150 million; minimum 12 months
Summary: Supports pilot- and demonstration-scale manufacturing facilities and processes for zero emission vehicle technologies.
Key Information: A UK registered business must lead, and projects must unlock private investment of at least twice the grant request.
Description
DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five supports manufacturing facility and process development at pilot or demonstration scale. Projects should validate manufacturing capability and commercial viability, enabling market entry at their targeted production volume. The fund supports industrial research focused on developing manufacturing readiness, rather than primarily developing products or digital technologies.
DRIVE35 (Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification) is led and funded by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), with delivery through Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). The programme aims to transform the UK automotive industry by supporting innovative zero emission vehicle technologies and unlocking investment in vehicles, batteries and their supply chains. Projects must strengthen UK automotive supply-chain growth, resilience, productivity and competitiveness, while aligning with the Industrial Strategy and relevant Automotive Council priorities.
