Strategic Innovation Fund discovery projects approved for funding

Decision

Publication date

Industry sector

  • Distribution Network
  • Transmission Network

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is a funding mechanism for the Electricity System Operator, Electricity Transmission, Gas Transmission and Gas Distribution sectors.

The SIF aims to find and fund ambitious, innovative projects with the potential to accelerate the transition to net zero. These projects should help shape the future of the gas and electricity networks and succeed commercially where possible.

The SIF is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Our objective for the SIF is to help transform the UK into the ‘Silicon Valley’ of energy, making the UK the best place for high-potential businesses to grow and scale in the energy market.

Our round 1 call for proposals under the SIF, in Autumn 2021, focused on four Innovation Challenge areas:

  • Whole system integration
  • Data and digitalisation
  • Heat
  • Zero-emission transport

We are now publishing our decision to award 40 early-stage ‘discovery’ projects SIF funding.
Further details about these projects will be published on the Energy Networks Association’s Smarter Networks Portal (https://smarter.energynetworks.org/). You can also watch short videos about the projects on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrMOhOrmeR6ktSag0RbT7zPNVn0p1P2f6).

Read more about the fund on the UKRI website and in the publications list below.

You can also sign up for future news updates about the SIF.

The most successful discovery projects will progress to further funding.