R and D funding for renewable energy

The New and Renewable Energy R&D Programme is now being delivered through the Collaborative R&D Business Support Product. Open competitions for funding under this product happen twice a year.

The overall process for the handling and assessment of proposals under the new Collaborative R&D Business Support Product is similar to that followed under the New and Renewable Energy R&D Programme. It consists of a two-stage assessment process (outline proposals followed by full proposals) with independent assessors involved at each stage of the process. State aid rules continue to apply, and the criteria for assessing proposals are also similar. From the announcement of the call, it takes approximately six months for successful proposals to get consent.

The DTI has appointed a contractor to manage the call for proposals for Collaborative R&D Business Support Products (and another new product called Knowledge Transfer Networks). Future Energy Solutions will continue to manage the assessment of applications and the issuing of grants in the new and renewable energy area. New and renewable energy proposals will be assessed and handled in the same way as applications in other technology areas.

For more information on funding visit www.dti.gov.uk