Compete for a Share of £7 Million for Energy Access Projects: UKRI Energy Catalyst Round 11 (Mid Stage)

If your organisation builds products or services that bring reliable, affordable energy to underserved communities, this funding round could change how you scale. Innovate UK is putting up to £7 million across three strands in Energy Catalyst Round 11 (mid stage) to support collaborative projects delivering energy access in official development assistance (ODA) eligible countries across sub‑Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific and Latin America. Think demonstration pilots, early commercial rollouts, or real-world scaling that proves a technology works for people, not just in the lab.

This is a collaboration-first competition. That means no lone wolves: you’ll need partners—ideally a mix of private sector, research and on‑the‑ground organisations—that together can take a mid‑stage innovation and make it deliver measurable energy access impact. If that sounds like your team, keep reading. I’ll map eligibility, sample project ideas, the documents you must prepare, and insider strategies reviewers actually reward.

At a Glance

Why this opportunity matters (and when to jump in)

Money is not the only prize here. Mid‑stage grants like this are where ideas meet customers. Early funding typically covers prototypes and proof‑of‑concept; late funding backs full commercial scale. Mid stage is the bridge: it lets you validate technical performance, test business models in real contexts, and gather the evidence that investors and donors crave. With a pot of up to £7 million split across strands, Innovate UK is betting on projects that can move from pilot to a sustainable operation serving people in ODA countries.

For businesses, this grant can de‑risk the next step to market and help attract follow‑on investment. For research organisations and NGOs, it’s an opportunity to show applied impact and build commercial pathways. Importantly, the focus is energy access—so projects must demonstrate clear benefits for communities without reliable electricity or clean cooking options.

What This Opportunity Offers

This competition funds projects that push mid‑stage innovation into real-world use. Expect the programme to support:

• Field demonstrations and pilot deployments that test technologies under real operating conditions.
• Early commercialization activities such as local manufacturing trials, supply chain development, or customer acquisition strategies.
• Adaptations of existing technologies for specific ODA country contexts—for example, designing a battery system to withstand local heat and dust conditions, or modifying a product to meet local service models and payment preferences.
• Partnerships that combine technical know‑how, market development and local delivery capacity so projects can rapidly scale while delivering measurable energy access outcomes.

Beyond grant money, successful teams gain credibility. Innovate UK awards are references investors and multilateral funders read closely. You’ll also gather operational data and user feedback that will make subsequent fund‑raising or procurement bids far stronger. And because the competition targets specific regions and ODA goals, your project will be judged not just on novelty, but on real benefit to people and local systems.

Who Should Apply

This competition is for collaborations, which means teams that combine different strengths. Picture a realistic consortium: a UK‑registered company acting as the administrative lead, a local NGO with community networks, a regional SME providing manufacturing or installation services, and a research partner measuring outcomes and optimizing design.

Companies with a product that has exited the lab and already has some pilot experience are the sweet spot. If you’ve demonstrated technical feasibility and have early users, mid‑stage funding helps prove the commercial model and operational delivery at scale. NGOs and charities that already run energy projects and want to partner with businesses to test a new tech in real communities also fit well. Research organisations are useful partners when the project needs rigorous monitoring, evaluation, or system design improvements.

Here are three concrete applicant profiles that will compete well:

1. A UK‑based cleantech SME that has developed an integrated solar + battery solution piloted in 50 households and wants to test a pay‑as‑you‑go business model across multiple regions in East Africa in partnership with a local distributor and a social enterprise handling community engagement.

2. A consortium led by a research institute with a manufacturing partner and a Latin American NGO, aiming to validate a low‑cost microgrid controller in rural clinics and small enterprises, proving reliability and local maintainability.

3. A charity partnering with a regional appliance maker and a private energy company to deploy productive‑use appliances (e.g., grain mills, refrigeration) powered by mini‑grids to boost incomes and measure socio‑economic impacts.

If your organisation is working alone, this is not the place to apply. Build partners first.

Eligibility and consortium rules — the legal bits explained (so you don’t trip up)

The competition is open to organisations from any country but it is strictly collaborative. Eligible entity types include businesses, research organisations, research and technology organisations, charities and NGOs. Important constraints you need to observe:

• The UK administrative lead must be a UK‑registered organisation. That role handles the grant contract, reporting and payment.
• Your consortium must include at least one micro, small or medium enterprise (MSME) that is claiming grant funding on this application. That MSME can be based anywhere.
• You must involve at least one legally separate collaborator—this prevents sham partnerships where all parties are the same legal entity.
• Projects must deliver benefits in ODA‑eligible countries; check the current FCDO ODA list to ensure your target country qualifies.

If you’re unsure whether your organisation type fits, contact Innovate UK early. They can clarify edge cases; getting this wrong can sink an otherwise strong proposal.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (what reviewers really want)

Applying for Innovate UK funding is as much about convincing people as describing tech. Below are practical tactics that lift an application from plausible to persuasive.

1. Tell a crisp commercial story. Reviewers ask: can this become a viable product or service? Don’t just describe technical performance—explain the business model, customers, routes to market, pricing assumptions and how the grant accelerates revenue or cost reduction. Tie each budget line directly to a commercial milestone.

2. Show real user engagement. Include letters or MOUs from local partners and, where possible, evidence of community interest: pilot user testimonials, pre‑orders, or a local partner that commits distribution channels. Letters that repeat the proposal are weak; strong letters state specific commitments (e.g., “we will recruit 200 households and provide local technicians”).

3. Make the MSME role indispensable. Because at least one SME claiming funds is required, don’t treat that partner as an afterthought. Give them a genuine, funded role—manufacturing, local sales, service operations—not just a token consultant.

4. Design a tight risk management plan. Mid‑stage projects have known unknowns. Identify the top 3 technical and operational risks and provide realistic mitigations. Funders prefer honesty and contingency planning over overly optimistic claims.

5. Pilot with measurement in mind. Create measurable outcomes: number of households connected, kWh delivered, hours of reliable supply, income changes for productive users, health outcomes from clean cooking. Quantitative targets let reviewers assess impact credibly.

6. Budget for local capacity and operational costs. Lots of proposals forget to fund the people who manage on‑the‑ground deployments—local technicians, training, spare parts and logistics. Underfunding this makes the plan infeasible.

7. Prepare a clear project logic. Use a short “route to impact” summary up front: problem → innovation → deployment activity → measurable outcomes → scale pathway. Put this near the front of your application so reviewers get the gist before diving into detail.

8. Use accessible language. Innovate UK panels mix experts and practitioners. Define acronyms and avoid jargon. If a reviewer can explain your project to a colleague after a coffee break, you’ve written well.

9. Start conversations early. Reach out to potential partners, local regulators, and Innovate UK program contacts. Evidence of early engagement demonstrates feasibility and political awareness.

10. Polish the budget narrative. Don’t let line items float unsupported. Each cost should have a one‑line justification that links to a work package or deliverable.

These tips add up. A well‑told commercial story plus credible local partnerships frequently outweighs marginally better technology with weaker market logic.

Application Timeline — work backward from 25 March 2026

A realistic timeline prevents last‑minute panic. Assume you need at least 8–10 weeks to craft a strong mid‑stage application. Here’s a suggested schedule:

• 8–10 weeks before deadline (mid January): Finalise consortium partners and roles. Start collecting letters of support and partner declarations.
• 6–8 weeks before deadline (late January–early February): Draft the project summary and commercial case. Begin the budget work with your finance office or partner accountants.
• 4–6 weeks before deadline (February): Complete the technical plan and monitoring & evaluation approach. Circulate drafts to partners for input.
• 3–4 weeks before deadline (early March): Request formal letters of support and complete legal checks on subcontracts, IP ownership, and procurement rules.
• 1–2 weeks before deadline (mid–late March): Final edits, external reviewers, proofread, and final budget reconciliation. Submit at least 48 hours before the closing time—innovation funding portals can be unforgiving.

Register on the Innovation Funding Service well in advance. Institutional signoff processes often require extra time.

Required Materials — what you must prepare and how to prepare it

You’ll need a suite of documents that prove technical, commercial and delivery readiness. Typical materials include:

• Project description and work packages with timelines and milestones. Break work down clearly and assign responsibility to named partners.
• Detailed budget and justification showing costs by partner, resource, travel, local deployment, and contingency.
• Partner declarations or letters of support that specify commitments (e.g., access to sites, supply agreements, co‑funding).
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan that defines indicators, data collection methods, and who will analyse results.
• Risk register with mitigation measures and escalation routes.
• CVs or bios of the core team, showing relevant experience and roles in delivery.
• Evidence of legal status for the UK administrative lead and participating organisations (registration documents as needed).
• Where applicable, ethical approvals or plans for community consent and safeguarding.

Don’t submit generic letters. Ask partners to be specific: dates, numbers, financial or in‑kind contributions. For the budget, show how grant funds will be used locally and how the project will sustain itself after the grant ends.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Review panels reward proposals that combine credible technical performance with a clear path to sustainable impact. Standouts typically share these traits:

• Clear evidence of local demand and partner commitment. A product pushed onto communities is a dead end. The strongest applicants have local partners ready to roll.
• Demonstrable scalability. Pilots are useful, but reviewers want to see how the model could be replicated, including supply chains, financing, and regulation.
• Quantified social and economic outcomes. Give hard numbers you intend to measure—connections, kWh, incomes, health indicators—not vague promises.
• Strong team composition. A consortium where technical, operational and commercial skills are present and allocated to work packages performs better.
• Realistic and well‑justified budgets. Funds requested should directly tie to achieving the specified milestones.

If your application can show both a scalable business approach and tight delivery planning, you’ll be in a strong position.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and how to fix them)

Many proposals fail not because the idea is weak but because of avoidable errors. Here are common traps and practical fixes.

• Mistake: Treating partners as optional. Fix: Define partner roles clearly and fund them appropriately. Get signed statements of commitment early.
• Mistake: Underbudgeting local operations and spare parts. Fix: Include explicit line items for training, maintenance, local logistics and a small spare parts pool.
• Mistake: Overpromising results without evidence. Fix: Be conservative in targets and explain monitoring methods so reviewers trust your numbers.
• Mistake: Weak letters of support that are generic. Fix: Ask partners to state precise commitments—sites, staff time, preorders, distribution channels.
• Mistake: Last‑minute submission and portal errors. Fix: Complete institutional approvals early and submit 48+ hours before the deadline.
• Mistake: Poor IP and procurement planning for cross‑border work. Fix: Clarify IP ownership and procurement rules in the consortium agreement before submission.

Addressing these early is cheap; fixing them after a rejection is hard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non‑UK organisations lead a project?
A: No. While partners may be from any country, the administrative lead that signs the grant and receives funds into the UK institution must be UK‑registered. The UK lead handles reporting and compliance.

Q: Do projects have to take place only in one country?
A: No. Projects can include multiple ODA eligible countries across the specified regions. However, your application must demonstrate capacity to manage cross‑country deployment.

Q: Is private co‑funding required?
A: The competition encourages cost‑sharing and matched funding but check the official guidance for exact co‑funding rules. In many Innovate UK grants, partners contribute cash or in‑kind resources.

Q: Where can I find the list of ODA eligible countries?
A: Consult the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) ODA list referenced in the programme documentation. Using an ineligible country will invalidate your proposal.

Q: What kind of monitoring is expected?
A: Expect to define quantitative indicators (connections, kWh delivered, reliability hours) and qualitative measures (user satisfaction, economic outcomes). An external evaluator or research partner helps.

Q: Will Innovate UK provide feedback if we are not funded?
A: Typically, applicants receive summary reviewer comments which can be used to improve resubmissions.

Q: Can a single organisation submit multiple proposals?
A: Check the specific competition rules. Often they restrict duplicate submissions to prevent double‑counting of resources.

How to Apply — practical next steps

Ready to take action? Follow these steps:

1. Read the full competition guidance on the Innovation Funding Service to confirm detailed eligibility and strand descriptions. Don’t rely on summaries; the guidance contains critical legal and formatting rules.
2. Register or ensure your organisation has an Innovation Funding Service account. Administrative setup can take time.
3. Finalise your consortium and secure partner commitments and letters of support that state specific contributions.
4. Draft the project narrative, budget, MEL plan, and risk register. Circulate drafts early for partner input and external review.
5. Coordinate institutional sign‑offs (finance, legal) and upload documents well before 25 March 2026, 11:00 UK time.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/energy-catalyst-round-11-mid-stage-2/

Final Word — your practical checklist before submission

Before you click submit, run through this quick checklist: Is the UK lead registered? Do you have one MSME claiming grant funds? Are partner letters specific and signed? Are your metrics measurable and realistic? Have you budgeted for on‑the‑ground operations and spare parts? If you can answer yes to these, you’ve done the heavy lifting.

This is a competitive, high‑impact funding round. It rewards teams that show they can get a viable energy product or service into the hands of people who need it and prove it works. If that’s your plan, get your partners aligned, sharpen the commercial case, and start writing—early.

Apply now and see the full guidance on Innovate UK’s Innovation Funding Service: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/energy-catalyst-round-11-mid-stage-2/