Innovate UK (delivered with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK)

DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund Drawdown 6

£2,500,000 to £20,000,000Closes 27 Jan 2027 (76 days)UK-wideCovers 50% of costs

Grant funding for UK zero emission vehicle manufacturing scale-up projects at pilot or demonstration scale. Projects must request between £2.5 million and £20 million and be matched by at least twice the grant in private investment.

What it pays for

  • Innovation and R&D
  • Equipment
  • Energy and net zero
  • Growth
  • Premises

Conditions to know about

Lead must be a UK registered business of any size; RTOs and academic institutions cannot lead or work alone. Total eligible costs must be over £5 million, project must start 1 September 2027 and last at least 12 months. Grant up to 50% for micro, small or medium organisations and up to 30% for large businesses.

How to apply

Applications go through the funder. Read their page for the full rules and the form.

Go to the funder’s page

Check if you can apply

Is each of these true for your business?

The business is based in the UK
The funder’s wording
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million
You are a company or partnership, a charity, a social enterprise, a public sector body or a university
The funder’s wording
To lead a collaborative project or work alone, your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.

0 of 2 answered

Source: Innovate UK competitions. Last checked 11 Nov 2026. Read from the funder’s page by AI, with each key fact checked against the page text.

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us.

Listed under Innovation and R&D, Equipment, Energy and net zero, Premises, Growth, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

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