Applications are open for two funding competitions as part of the Government’s DRIVE35 programme, delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK.
Collaborate and Demonstrate opened for applications on 5th January 2026.
They come under DRIVE35’s Innovation pillar, focusing on delivering late-stage research and development and SME growth projects by providing targeted funding and support at various stages of the innovation journey.
The scope also includes automotive software – namely, software-defined vehicles – electrical and electronic architectures, and manufacturing competitiveness.
Collaborate supports late-stage research and development projects that are ready to bring zero-emission innovation to market.
It offers organisations the opportunity to lead or join a consortium delivering impactful solutions in vehicle technology, with match funding of between £2.5m and £25m available for successful applicants.
The applications for Collaborate are open until 18th March 2026 at 11am.
Demonstrate offers an opportunity to develop a product or process demonstrator in under 12 months, to enable businesses to capitalise on market opportunities or improve cost competitiveness, with grant funding between £500,000 and £1.5m available, with a minimum match funding requirement of 50%.
The applications for Demonstrate are open until 11th March 2026 at 11am.
Both opportunities, Demonstrate and Collaborate, are open for applications twice a year.
Led by the Department for Business and Trade, in partnership with the APC and Innovate UK, DRIVE35 commits a total funding amount of £4bn to the UK automotive sector until 2035, making it a key initiative in advancing the UK’s capability in next-generation, zero-emission technology.
