Net zero transitions
Updates from the wider world of net zero
Funding
Innovate UK have shared information on new funding opportunities through Contracts for Innovation and Horizon Europe. The original announcement can be found in the slides from the Birmingham Quarterly Gathering on the 14th May.
CONTRACTS FOR INNOVATION
Additional Funding for Clean Air and Net Zero Innovation
Innovate UK launched two ‘Contracts for Innovation’ funding competitions on 19th May 2025:
- Contracts for Innovation: Net Zero Living Technology Trials, Phase 3
- Contracts for Innovation: Clean Air, Phase 3
The reference to Phase 3 indicates that this competition will fund demonstration, testing and validation of existing pre-commercial innovations to support them to commercialisation.
- It is for project sizes between £75k and £100k (inc. VAT)
- Likely to fund up to 8 projects in each competition
- Max. duration of 10 months
- Must be led by an organisation who intends to commercialise the product
- Project Leads must work with potential future customers and users to test, validate and enhance their innovation to be ready for market
These potential future customers and users can be financially compensated for their participation as sub-contractors
About Contracts for Innovation
- Contract goes to one Lead Supplier
- Organisations of any size and type can bid to be a Lead Supplier but must demonstrate a route to market for the completed innovation and an intention and ability to commercialise the innovation
- R&D activity is 100% funded
- Lead Supplier can subcontract specialist tasks - IP generated during the exercise rests with the Lead - Beneficial for funders as they pay fair market rate for any solutions developed.
- Can be used to adapt technology or processes from other domains providing the activities are at least 50% R&D
- Open to international applicants that meet the competition criteria
Contracts for Innovation: Net Zero Living Tech Trials, Phase 3
Competition opens: Monday 19th June 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 25th June, 11:00
Projects start: Monday 1st September 2025
Key information:
- The aim of the competition is to conduct extended field trials to evaluate and enhance any existing pre-commercial technological solution focused on helping Local Authorities in the UK meet their net zero ambitions.
- Lead Suppliers must work closely with potential future customers and users.
For more information, click the button below, or get in touch with Kevin at Innovate UK.
Contracts for Innovation: Clean Air, Phase 3
Competition opens: Monday 19th June 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 25th June, 11:00
Projects start: Monday 1st September 2025
Key information:
- The aim of the competition is to conduct extended field trials to evaluate and enhance any existing pre-commercial technological solution in the clean air domain. The technology may be focused on monitoring, mitigating or extracting air pollution to safeguard human health.
- Lead Suppliers must work closely with potential future customers and users.
For more information, click the button below, or get in touch with Kevin at Innovate UK.
HORIZON EUROPE
Horizon Europe Opportunities
Horizon Europe is the current EU’s Framework Research and Innovation funding programme. It is the largest R&I funding programme in the world, with a budget of over £95.5bn for 2021-27 and it funds all types of organisations (unless otherwise specified in the call documents).
The programme is divided into three main parts, or ‘Pillars’:
- Pillar 1 supports excellence in science;
- Pillar 2 focuses on solving global challenges through collaborative research & innovation; and
- Pillar 3 supports business growth and competitiveness.
Other parts of Horizon also include support for research infrastructure and widening participation. Key priority areas include food, bioeconomy, climate change, health, digital, transport and mobility, space, energy, industry, civil security and humanities. The programme is open to all types of organisations of all sizes.
There are multiple funding opportunities available, full details of which are available in the Birmingham Quarterly Gathering slides .