The competition is open to UK SMEs focused on complete battery cell development projects, including mixing and coating, calendering and slitting, through to cell assembly, formation and ageing.; and proving electrode manufacturing at scale, including mixing and coating, calendering and slitting.

Dr Vishal Nayar, Business Development Manager, at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, said: “Developing a home-grown cell supply chain is critical to the growth of the UKs battery industry and the cornerstone of building an ecosystem which can support the establishment of gigafactories in the UK.

“This competition will help bridge the gap for those companies who wish to get on the scale-up ladder.”

Oyebola Bello, Programme Manager at the Faraday Battery Challenge, added: “We know the leap to manufacturing scale-up can be tricky for SMEs and we wanted to be able to help them make the transition. Our £1.5 million competition is designed to do exactly that.

“By giving SMEs working in the battery industry the opportunity to use the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre’s state-of-the-art facilities at a reduced cost, we hope to develop UK battery innovations that may not otherwise get a chance. We’re supporting that move from technological potential towards commercial capability.”

SMEs wishing to be considered for the competition should register their interest and be available for an online briefing on 16 February. Click here to register. The competition opens on 21 February and closes for entries on 4 April. If you wish to participate in the competition, please contact UKBIC at sales@ukbic.co.uk