APC supports technology developers

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) is supporting 15 UK technology developers in sectors from fuel cells to batteries with £1.1m over the next 18 months. This brings to 101 the number of SMEs so far supported by the APC, which aims to make UK a world-leader in low carbon propulsion technology.

The APC's grant funding and business planning support will help develop these new technologies, without taking any stake in the business or Intellectual Property.

These SMEs are all working on innovative, low-carbon technologies from new battery management technologies, fuel cells to printed power electronics.

APC's Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) helps to accelerate the decarbonisation of our roads by working with both existing automotive organisations and facilitating cross-sector technology transfer from other industries.

TDAP manager for the APC, Josh Denne, said, 'We need a range of technologies to decarbonise vehicles from passenger to heavy duty and beyond. The variety of technology coming through this programme reflects the change in the industry. There is no silver bullet for decarbonising the transport sector, being technology agnostic at the APC allows us to be reactive and work with some revolutionary new technology and organisations. We are looking forward to being part of their journeys.'

TDAP is designed to help technology developers with early-stage technologies by providing business planning and grant funding available of up to £104k. It could also help open new routes to market, from making introductions to OEMs and funding agencies. The format of the programme reflects the risk involved in developing cutting edge technologies. As these new technologies and business plans are tested, not all of the organisations will reach the end of the 18-month programme.

However, TDAP has proven its success over the last three cycles with impressive results from the participating SMEs. On average, organisations who completed the programme in 2018 increased their average headcount by 27% over the 18-month project and accelerated their time to market by more than 12 months.