COMPETITION GUIDANCE
FOR APPLICANTS
Competition Details
Innovate UK Competition:
Energy Game Changer
March 2016
Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 3
How to use this document ...................................................................................................................... 3
1.
Competition information ................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Competition scope ...................................................................................................................6
1.2 Competition events and key dates .............................................................................................9
2.
How to apply for this competition ................................................................................................ 11
3.
Stage 1 – Video upload onto _connect and guidelines ................................................................. 13
4.
Stage 2 - The written application .................................................................................................. 15
4.1 Stage 2 Project appendices ....................................................................................................23
4.2 Stage 2 Finance forms and project costs ................................................................................24
5.
Stage 3 –pitching to an expert panel............................................................................................. 24
6.
How to find out more (Data Protection Act 1998, Information Security, etc) .............................. 25
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 2
Executive Summary
Innovate UK is to invest up to £1.5 million, with additional funding of up to £0.5m from the nuclear
decommissioning authority (NDA) in feasibility studies to encourage new entrants to the energy
sector and stimulate the adoption of disruptive technologies.
The aim of this competition is to find innovative ways of solving long-standing challenges faced by
parts of the energy sector. We are seeking game changing solutions either by the development of
completely new ideas or through technology transfer from other sectors. To encourage different and
novel thinking, we are seeking proposals that are led by SMEs whose main business lies outside the
energy sector1 and can provide disruptive solutions to the challenges that are in the scope of the
competition. They can work alone or collaboratively with partners of any size and from any sector
(including the energy sector).
The specific challenges have been identified by the oil and gas, nuclear and energy systems parts of
the energy sector. However, the solutions developed may also have wider applications within both
the energy and other sectors.
Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses up
to 60% and large business partners up to 50%. We expect projects to last 6 to 12 months and to
range in size from total costs of £25,000 to £100,000, although we may consider projects outside this
range.
The competition opens on 28 March 2016 and has a three stage application process (see section 2 of
this document) and the deadline for stage 1 (video submissions) is at noon on 11 May 2016 and you
must register by noon 4 May.
An information webinar giving an overview of the competition, was held on 11 December 2015 and
you can view the webinar following a link from the bottom of the competition page here. There will
be a face to face briefing event for potential applicants in London on 6 April 2016 which will describe
the application process, eligible costs and how to submit your applications and finance forms. For
those not able to attend in person you can join by registering for the live Webinar here. Potential
applicants are advised to attend the briefing event.
How to use this document
This document contains important competition information on scope, eligibility criteria, application
process and key dates for this competition. It is essential for applicants to read this document before
applying. In addition, the six numbered items below offer further general guidance and are available
in full on our website to help you complete your application. Links to these sections are below, and
referenced throughout this document.
1
See eligibility criteria to lead or participate in a project under Section 1 of this document – ‘Competition
Information, funding, eligibility and scope’
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 3
1. Rules governing how much funding your project could receive
This guidance provides reference information on the different categories of funding and the
associated rules arising from our state aid framework. https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/fundingrules
2. The project costs we fund and how to fill in the finance forms
This guidance contains detailed information on which project costs are eligible for funding and how
to complete the finance forms https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs or download for print.
3. Submitting your application
This competition is a three stage process. Stage 1 of this competition includes uploading a 2 min
video on your project along with some high level details regarding your company, your project and
estimated costs. Details on how to submit your application for stage 1 are provided in Section 3 of
this document.
Successful applicants from stage 1 will be invited to proceed to stage 2. Guidance on how to submit
your application into stage 2 of the competition, including accompanying finance forms and
appendices is given in Section 4-6 of this document and more details can be found here:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/submitting-your-application
Successful applicants from Stage 2 will be invited to pitch their proposal to a panel of experts who
will recommend projects for funding based on both the written application (60% weighting) in Stage
2 and the presentation (40% weighting). Guidance on the pitches is given Section 7 of this document
4. What happens after you have submitted your application
This guidance provides general information on Innovate UK assessment process, notification of
decisions and how to access your assessor feedback. https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/whathappens-when-you-have-submitted-your-application5. What happens if you are successful
This guidance tells you what happens if your project is granted funding. This includes information on
the conditional offer letter, timescales, further information we require from your project team, the
Grant Confirmation Letter and the project monitoring process once you start your project.
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/what-happens-if-you-are-successful6. How to find out more
This guidance provides links to other areas which may be useful for completing your project.
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/finding-out-more
Innovate UK complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and is committed to
upholding the data protection principles. Further details with regards to the collection, storage,
processing and disclosure of personal information by Innovate UK is accessible from the above link.
1.
Competition information
Competition
Energy Game Changer, March 2016
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 4
Summary











Innovate UK will fund up to 70% for Micro/Small enterprises, 60% for Medium enterprises and
50% for Large Companies.
we expect total project costs to be between £25k and £100k
projects are expected to last between 6 and 12 months
projects must be business led by an SME whose main business lies outside the energy sector.
you can work alone or in collaboration with organisations of any size and from any sector
(including energy).
projects must address at least one of the specific challenges of the competition as outlined in the
scope of the competition brief
research organisations are eligible to apply but cannot lead a project. Their total participation will
be capped to 30% of the total project costs
only UK-based companies and research organisations are eligible to apply for funding
all applications will be assessed on individual merit in accordance with Innovate UK processes.
Innovate UK reserves the right to adopt a portfolio approach across the three themes of the
competition providing all quality thresholds are maintained
you can make more than one application into this competition
Funding
There is up to £1.5m of funding available from Innovate UK, with an additional £500k from the
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)2 for feasibility studies that address the challenges
described on the competition web page and in the competition brief.
Requirements and eligibility
To be eligible for this competition, projects must fall under the technical feasibility study category. A
full definition of this category is available in the guidance for applicants section of our website:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/funding-rules
Leading a Project
You can lead a project if you are an SME who is not already established in the energy sector supply
chain (i.e. no more than 50% of your last FY turnover has come from the energy sector). In this case
the energy sector is specifically defined as oil & gas, power generation and energy systems sectors
(e.g. utilities, grid, network operators)
NB Innovate UK may consider projects led by SME businesses from the energy sector, only if they
involve technology transfer. e.g. projects that involve technologies from nuclear being transferred to
oil and gas.
or
You can lead a project if you are a micro or start up business regardless of your business sector
Being a partner
Any organisation (including research organisations), of any size and from any sector (including
energy) is eligible to be a partner in a project.
2
NDA funding must be allocated to projects that fulfil the NDA remit regarding support of nuclear
decommissioning and waste management
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 5
If you are unsure of your eligibility to lead a project or be a partner please contact the help
desk: [email protected]
1.1 Competition scope
The scope of the competition comprises three high level challenges, with each challenge containing
three sub-themes. When applying, you should indicate which challenge and sub-theme your
application most closely aligns with. These are listed below:
Challenge 1. Taking inspection to the limit
1a) Accurately locate, identify and characterise defects, debris, objects and layout of process
vessels and nuclear facilities without human entry Specific challenges include

Inspection of nuclear sites and their associated buildings, cells and vessels containing
radioactive materials in order to characterise their layout to help plan decommissioning
and waste management activities. We are seeking solutions that will ultimately facilitate
the accurate mapping of the internals of buildings and structures and measure the extent
and nature of contamination in real time from these facilities, whilst minimizing human
intervention.

Inspection of the inside of oil and gas pressure vessels without human entry which will
ultimately: find local (e.g. pitting) and general degradation/cracking on the internal parts
of vessels and ideally be able to characterise any residual waste. We are looking for
technologies that could eventually be able to be applied to vessels of different sizes,
geometries and wall thicknesses. Any final commercial technology should be quick, easy
to use and interpret and produce accurate data. Ideally such a technology would be
portable
1b) Remove debris, decommission, decontaminate and transfer waste without direct human
intervention
Specific challenges include

Technologies that can clean up contaminated nuclear sites and their associated
buildings, vessels and components, prior to full decommissioning of the site. We are
seeking solutions that will remotely undertake housekeeping to remove debris,
decontaminate cells and transfer waste. The successful technologies must be able to
operate in confined and congested spaces, access through existing openings. We seek
technologies that are multifunctional and can execute such things as 3D scans, radiation
measurements, applying coatings or decontamination agents, lifting and transporting
objects.

Technologies that can be used to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of the
decommissioning of offshore oil rigs and their infrastructure. The decommissioning
challenge involves the removal of heavy structures (10’s tons to 10,000’s of tons) from
the most inhospitable offshore environments. We seek novel concepts that can also
facilitate efficient removal, the re-use and resale of decommissioned assets and
equipment, which will bring further economic benefits and improve the sustainability of
decommissioning
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 6
1c) Accurately locate, characterise and potentially repair areas of corrosion under insulation (CUI)
on pipelines, vessels and structural steelwork without breaching the insulation Specific challenges include

Insulated pipelines, vessels and structural steelwork on offshore oil and gas platforms
and on onshore sites where CUI is known to be an issue. We are ultimately looking for
technologies that can be applied to pipes, vessels, steelwork and insulations of different
thicknesses and geometries and will be operating in hostile and often remote
environments conducive to initiating CUI. Ideally, any methods should also include a
method of repairing any degraded parts, but this is not essential.
Challenge 2. Dealing with data
2a) Methods for integrating and analysing diverse sets of data and information from many sources
to provide decision-making tools and virtual environments to help with training, planning
inspection, installation or decommissioning campaigns prior to, or during deployment
Specific challenges include

Optimising decommissioning campaigns for physical assets operating in harsh
environments. Data from existing assets such as nuclear facilities or oil platforms comes
from multiple sources, both recent and historic, such as design & engineering drawings,
test & inspection records, risk assessments, computer models and human knowledge.
We are seeking proposals that can integrate live, recent and historic information into a
virtual environment that can facilitate both the training of operators and the efficient
decommissioning or maintenance of assets often involving real time decision making
2b) Development and deployment of a high-speed data communications system that can transmit
and analyse real-time data from beneath the seabed during oil and gas drilling operations from
depths of up to 6,000 metres .
Specific challenges include

Offshore drilling. Current technologies for analysing drilling data rely on pressure pulses
up the drilling fluid column in the well bore and delivers data of 2-3 bits/second. We are
seeking radical technologies that will deliver data orders of magnitude faster and allow
real time data to be analysed and allow early proactive steering of the well to optimize
oil recovery and process efficiency. Solutions are likely to require integration of novel
sensor technologies, data communications and data analysis
2c) Collecting, processing and visualising energy data from energy producers and consumers in a
secure way, which can be used to predict and optimise the management of energy supply and
demand, particularly at local community levels
Specific challenges include

Significant amounts of data is generated both by energy producers and consumers,
including smart meter data. Whilst the importance of such data is recognized, its
gathering, collection and analysis is far from optimized. We are seeking proposals for
technologies that gather large volumes of data and store, manage and process it in a way
that will be of greatest value to the network operators, in understanding consumer
trends and lead to optimized management of local energy systems. Any proposal must
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 7
consider cyber security and sensitivity of any data being handled.
NB. We will consider proposals for how new business models could have a disruptive
effect on end users energy bills or how they use, purchase or trade energy.
Challenge 3. Engaging in energy
3a) Changing people’s perception of and behaviour towards energy, and make the importance of
saving energy easy to understand, visible, tangible and compulsive to all energy users
Specific challenges include

Targeting local energy communities (domestic and commercial) individuals and groups,
we are seeking technologies that will engage the end user in taking energy use more
seriously. We want to raise awareness and understanding of the impact of misusing it
and clarify the benefits of optimizing its use. We are looking for technologies that will
excite the public, be fun to use, generate a real interest and lead to a real breakthrough
in peoples perception of energy
NB. We will consider proposals for how new business models could have a disruptive
effect on end users energy bills or how they use, purchase or trade energy.
3b) Optimising users’ energy systems in order to minimise bills without impacting comfort or
reliability
Specific challenges include

Energy savings for domestic, commercial and local communities. We are seeking
technologies (hardware or software) that enable interaction and control between
existing devices or systems in the home or office. This may be through the development
of completely new devices or technologies that will optimize the end users energy
system (in terms of cost and efficiency) either at an individual or community level, for
domestic or commercial applications.
NB. We will consider proposals for how new business models could have a disruptive
effect on end users energy bills or how they use, purchase or trade energy.
3c) Encouraging roll-out of local energy systems (heat and power) in a non- invasive way, with
minimal disruption to homes, businesses, communities and existing energy networks
Specific challenges include

Technologies that make the roll out of local energy systems less disruptive to
communities. This is likely to involve the development or adoption of technologies that
can deliver energy (heat, power) to domestic and commercial buildings using highly
innovative transmission, distribution, installation and communication methods. We are
ideally looking for ‘no-dig’ solutions that minimize disruption and decrease installation
and commissioning times. This may involve the innovative use of existing infrastructures
to transport power or heat.
The competition brief contains the details of the scope, background to the competition, challenges,
key events and dates. This can be found on the competition page which contains full details of the
competition registration details and associated events
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 8
Portfolio approach
Innovate UK reserves the right to adopt a balanced portfolio approach across all three
challenge areas, assuming quality criteria are met.
1.2 Competition events and key dates
Competition briefing event
There will be an optional briefing event for this competition on the 6 April in London.
Whilst the briefing is optional, you are strongly advised to attend as key aspects of the competition
criteria and entry requirements will be presented and discussed during the session. This is an
opportunity for you to get answers to your questions. To book a place on this event, click on the
following link which will take you to the event registration: briefing event
Competition consortium building events
To allow potential applicants to find partners, meet end users and hear more about the challenges of
this competition from sector experts, three consortium-building workshops were arranged in
Glasgow on 23 February 2016, Birmingham on 25 February 2016 and Cumbria on 2 March 2016.
Competition key dates for your calendar
If you are intending to submit an application to this competition, please make a note of the key dates
below. The deadlines below are absolute and final. Please note that our submission deadlines are
always at 12.00 noon and we are unable to accept any applications after this time.
Timeline summary
Competition opens
28th March
Competition briefing
6th April
Registration
Deadline: Noon 4th May
Submission of Stage 1: Videos
Deadline: Noon 11th May
Stage 1 decision provided by Innovate UK
End of business 3rd June
Stage 2 opens (written stage for invited applications)
6th June
Video feedback to applicants
10th June
Full Stage Briefing
(successful applicants from Stage 1 only)
Submission of the full application – including finance forms
& appendices
TBC
Decision to applicants
End of Business 22nd July
Pitching Sessions (for invited applicants)
5th – 7th September
Final decision provided by Innovate UK
16th September
New projects workshop
Date and location to be confirmed
Deadline: Noon 7 July
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 9
Important Note:
Please do not leave your submission to the last minute.
If any technical difficulties arise or if you identify any errors in your submission, we will not be able to
grant an extension to the above deadlines.
It is your responsibility to ensure you follow the competition guidance rules and in doing so allow
sufficient time to complete all of the competition requirements described in this document.
1.3 COMPETITION PROCESS
This competition will follow a three stage process:
1. Game Changer application process
Video Submission
First Stage
Assessment
Full Stage Application
Assessment
& Panel
Pitching to Panel
Stage 1 - Video Upload and brief project details
(open entry)
All 2 minute video applications are submitted,
assessed and scored by independent experts and
the top ranking applications are invited to make
a Full Stage Application (stage 2)
Stage 2- Full Stage Application (by invitation
only) Successful applicants from stage 1 will be
invited to submit a full written application,
including finance form and appendices.
Full stage applications are submitted, assessed,
and scored by an expert panel. Top ranking
applications will be invited to attend a pitching
session (stage 3)
Stage 3- Pitching session (by invitation only).
Successful applicants from stage 2 will be invited
to pitch to an expert panel. Following the
pitching session, proposals are moderated based
on the full written application (60%) and pitch
(40%) and ranked by the panel
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 10
2.
How to apply for this competition
1
REGISTER on
_Connect
To enter this competition, the lead partner for your project must register via the competition website
after the competition opens on 28 March at the competition webpage
When you click on ‘register and apply’ you will be taken to the _connect login page. _Connect is
Innovate UK’s online open innovation network of networks and is being used to host the first stage of
the application process for this competition. If you do not already have a _connect account, please
create one by following the ‘register’ link.
Please note that once you have signed into _connect you will be taken back to the competition
webpage, where you should click on ‘register and apply’ again, in order to begin your application.
Details on how to enter and submit your application can be found in Section 3. You will be required
to enter details about your company and a short description of your project. You will also be
required to submit high level estimated costs on your project before submitting your application.
Once you have started an application, you may print a PDF version of the form at any stage of
completing your details to assist you in reviewing the information requirements.
Multiple project applications
If you wish to apply for funding for more than one project, you can submit multiple applications from
the same registration.
Please note: any repeat applications submitted for the same project will be ineligible and not
assessed.
2
Upload Video
You may upload your video at any time prior to the application deadline but please ensure that you
have submitted it in advance of the application deadline.
The video3 should be no longer than 2 minutes in length and can be in a number of file formats as we
will convert them upon submission. Videos larger than 2 minutes will take considerably longer to
upload and covert to our file format. Assessors will be instructed to view no more than 2 minutes of
any video uploaded.
3
See section 3 for video content guidelines
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 11
3
Stage 1
Notification
Once the application deadline is reached, all submissions will be allocated to independent assessors
for review. Results of the review process will be consolidated and ranked in line with Innovate UK
assessment process as outlined on our website in the guidance for applicants section.
The lead applicant be notified by email on the date stated in the competition timeline as to whether
your project has been successful and you may proceed to stage 2 of the competition – the written
application.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email on the date stated in the competition timeline.
4
FEEDBACK
received
You will be able to access feedback on your application from the assessors by logging into a secure
site on or after the date published in the competition time line. The lead applicant will be issued a
unique user id and password for accessing the secure site in the email notification (step 3 above). For
further information on what happens after you submit your application please click here:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/what-happens-when-you-have-submitted-your-application-
5
PROCEED to
STAGE 2
Once you have received your unique username and password, the lead applicant can log into the
secure website to access additional documentation for stage 2 of the competition.
PLEASE NOTE: Stage 2 of this competition will use a different website and system to stage 1 and
requires different login details which will be supplied with your email notification from Stage 1.
On the open date for stage 2, the lead applicant will receive an email containing an application form
for Stage 2. This form contains a unique number and must be used to submit your project
information. Please see Section 4 for details on the application form
If you are successful in submitting more than one application into Stage 2, you will be sent an
application form for each successful application. Care should be taken to use the correct form for
the correct project.
6
UPLOAD
documents
Please ensure that you allow plenty of time to upload your completed documents for submission to
the competition. Our submission close dates can be very busy which means that upload can take
some time. We recommend that you upload your application in plenty of time as the deadline is
final.
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 12
To upload your application documents, log on to the secure website using the details supplied with
your secure username and password. See detailed instructions here:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/submitting-your-application
7
NOTIFICATION
received
Once the second stage submission deadline is reached, your written application is sent for
assessment. The lead applicant be notified by email on the date stated in the competition timeline
as to whether your project has been successful and you may proceed to stage 3 of the competition –
the panel interview.
FEEDBACK
received
8
You will be able to access feedback on your written application from the assessors by logging into the
secure site on or after the date published in the key dates section. For further information on what
happens after you submit your application please click here: https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/whathappens-when-you-have-submitted-your-application-
3.
Stage 1 – Video upload onto _connect and guidelines
Once you have registered on _connect you will be able to start your application. Stage 1 of the
application process requires you to upload your video and to provide a few application details about
your organisation and your project to accompany it.
To start your application you must define a name for your project.
At any part of Stage 1, you may save your input into the web form and view or print as a PDF
document.
To exit and later return to an application prior to submitting it, save your application and logout. You
can return to an application by clicking on “My applications” at the top of the screen once you have
logged back into _connect.
The table below provides guidance on the fields to complete in your web application to accompany
your video.
Application Details
Field
1. YOUR DETAILS
Contact details
Organisation
Guidance
Application ID is a system generated field. Enter the full
name, job title, e-mail address and telephone number of
the main point of contact between Innovate UK and the
project.
Enter the organisation name and status. If applicable
please enter the company registration number (as
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 13
provided by Companies House) and the VAT registration
number. You will need to provide the address and website
for your organisation, as well as details of the market area
and technology area in which your organisation generally
operates. Please provide details of the number of
employees in your organisation as well as the business
turnover, balance sheet total and the date of your last
accounts.
2. YOUR IDEA
Video submission
This section is where you can upload your 2 minute video.
The video must address all of the following points:
 The specific challenge area of the competition you are
addressing and why it is important
 The approach that you intend to take and how it is
innovative and game changing
 How the solution could be commercialised and what
impact and benefits it could have if successful
 Why Innovate UK investment is needed (rather than
funding from other sources).
Project summary
3. PROJECT COSTS
Your costs
The videos should contain some footage of the lead
applicant talking to camera, but may also contain other
partners, graphics and images as appropriate. The videos
will be confidential and only accessible by Innovate UK
staff and an independent panel of expert assessors.
Please provide a short summary, to accompany your
video, of the content and objectives of your project; this
should include details of what is innovative about it.
Enter details of the estimated costs associated with your
proposed project. Enter the amount of funding requested
from Innovate UK, broken out by the following cost
categories:
 Labour costs
 Overheads
 Materials
 Capital usage
 Subcontract costs
 Travel & subsistence
 Other
Please also provide details of any funding obtained or
requested from other Public Sector Bodies.
For further information on cost categories and eligible
project costs please see our guidance:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs
4. AGREEMENTS
Confirm that you have read and are agreeing to Innovate UK terms and conditions.
About my business
Please agree to the statements about your business
Publicity
Please agree to the statement about publicising your
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 14
project if it is successful in acquiring Innovate UK funding.
Please select whether you agree to being referred to other
partners, including other Government Agencies who may
be able to offer advice or funding opportunities.
Optional additional help
Video
Upload video
You may upload your video at any time prior to the application deadline but please ensure that you
have submitted it well in time for the application deadline.
The video should be no longer than 2 minutes in length. Assessors will be instructed to view no more
than 2 minutes of any video uploaded.
Video format should be one of the following types:
AAC, AVI, 3GP, FLV, MOV, MP3, MP4, MPEG, OGG, WAV, WEBM, WMA, WMV
4.
Stage 2 - The written application
This section explains the structure of the application form for Stage 2 of the competition and offers
guidance on the information to include in each section.
This Stage 2 of the competition requires you to submit the following documents:

Application form

Project Appendices

Partner Finance Form
supplied with your unique application number for
this competition
(please see Section 5 of this document for more
information)
(for every partner in your project)
The appendices allow you to provide additional supporting information for the assessors on your
project. The finance forms provide details on your project costs for each partner in your project
consortium. For information on eligible project costs and the partner finance forms please click here
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs
The structure of the application form is as follows:









Application details
Summary of proposed project
Gateway question: scope
Section 1 – The business proposition (4 questions)
Section 2 – Project details (4 questions)
Section 3 – Funding and added value (2 questions)
Public description of the project
Other funding from public sector bodies
Finance summary table
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 15
Sections 1 to 3, highlighted above, address specific questions; these are listed in the following tables
with guidance notes. When you submit your application form, it will be assessed according to how
well it answers the specific questions. Each question has an equal weighting of 10 marks per
question.
It is important that you address and respond to each question clearly. To help you, the guidance
below provides an explanation of what is required for each question. The guidance notes are not
intended to be exhaustive; you should develop your own responses based on your own skills,
knowledge and experience.
When completing the application form it is important to take into account that the space provided is
to enable you to give the specific amount of information for each question as you feel appropriate
for the application. You are encouraged, therefore, to utilise fully all available space and any
appendices at your disposal.
Please ensure that you upload the final and complete version of your application by the deadline.
It is your sole responsibility to ensure you upload the application form intended for submission
and assessment and not a blank or incomplete application form.
Key tips


number the answers to each question
use headings for the answer to each question.
Important: Please note the following process requirements for the application form:





You may only use the application form provided. It contains specific information including a
unique reference number for your project.
The application form contains specific fields and it is important that you complete each field and
present a fully completed form. Incomplete forms will be rejected.
The application form must not be altered, converted or saved as a different version of Microsoft
Word.
The space provided in each field of the form is fixed and you must restrict the content of your
responses in each of the fields to the space provided. The typeface, font size and colour are
predetermined and cannot be changed. Illustrations and graphics cannot be included in the
application form. Please check your completed application form in PRINT VIEW: any text that
can’t be seen in this view or when the form is printed will not be assessed.
The light grey shaded fields are completed automatically from other information entered on the
form, e.g., the total columns of a table. These cannot be overwritten.
Application details
Field
Guidance
Competition
This field will show the full name of Innovate UK competition to
which the form applies. You do not need to enter anything here
Enter the full title of the project as used in Stage 1.
Select the appropriate challenge area your project is addressing
from the drop down menu, as used in stage 1
Enter the estimated start date and its planned duration. These are
indicative at this stage and are not guaranteed
Enter the full registered name of the lead organisation for the
project and the company number (if known) as provided by
Companies House. If you are not in a consortium application, these
Project title
Challenge area
Project timescales
(Lead ) organisation name
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 16
(Lead) organisation contact
details
Document ID
Applicant number
Appendices
will be your organisation details.
Please note that the lead organisation is the main point of contact
between Innovate UK and the project team.
Enter the full name, postcode, e-mail address and telephone
number of the main point of contact between Innovate UK and the
project.
This is completed automatically.
This is completed automatically and is the reference that you should
use on all correspondence (this is the 5 or 6 digit number after the
dash). This is sometimes referred to as the TP number.
The specific requirements for Appendices are provided in Section 4
of this document.
Summary of proposed project (not scored)
Question
Please provide a short
summary of the content and
objectives of the project
including what is innovative
about it.
Guidance
This is an opportunity to provide a short summary of the key
objectives and focus areas of the project. It is important that this
summary is presented in reference to the main outline of the
project, with sufficient information to provide a clear understanding
of the overall vision of the project and its innovative nature.
This summary is not scored, but provides an introduction of your
proposal for the benefit of the assessors.
Gateway question: Scope (not scored, Yes/No answer)
Important note:
If the majority of assessors consider that the answer to the Scope Gateway question is ‘No’, then the
application will not be approved for funding. Guidance on the ‘Gateway Question: Scope’ question is
therefore critically important and is provided below.
Question
Gateway question: Scope How does this application
align with the specific
competition scope?
Section 1: The business
proposition
Question
1. What is the business
opportunity that this
project addresses?
Guidance
All applications must align with the specific competition scope
criteria as described in the relevant competition Brief.
Note: To demonstrate alignment, you need to show that a clear
majority of the project’s objectives and activities are aligned with
one of the specific challenges in this competition. In forming their
judgment on this, the assessors will also consider whether the
application addresses the research objectives and topics it claims to.
It is important, therefore, for you to understand fully the
background, challenge and scope of the competition, as outlined in
the Competition Brief.
(10 points per question = 40 points in total)
Guidance
Outline the business opportunity and what the project team needs
to do to successfully address it within the desired timeframe and
cost.
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 17
2. What is the size of the
market opportunity that
this project might open
up?
Describe the nature of the problems or issues facing you and/or
your potential customers and how the intended outputs of the
project will address these problems and issues.
Describe the size of the market opportunities that this project might
open up, including details of:
 current nature of the specific market(s) at which the project is
targeted (e.g., is it characterised by price competition amongst
commoditised suppliers? Is it dominated by a single leading
firm?)
 the dynamics of the market including quantifying its current
size, actual and predicted growth rates
 the projected market share for the project outcome, with
justification in the light of any potential competitors
 the potential to create value-added for the UK and/or the
European Economic Area (EEA).
Describe and clearly quantify the return on investment that the
project could achieve and provide relevant source data references.
Where possible, provide evidence for your statements about the
addressable market for project outcomes and outline your strategy
for developing market share.
For highly innovative projects (see question 6) where the market
may be unexplored, explain:
 what the route to market could or might be
 what its size might be
 how the project will seek to explore the market potential.
3. How will the results of the
project be exploited and
disseminated?
List or describe the potential exploitable outputs of the project such
as:
 products or services
 processes
 applications
Then describe how these outputs could be exploited including,
where applicable, the route to market; protection of intellectual
property rights; reconfiguration of the value system; changes to
business models and business processes and other methods of
exploitation and protection.
Where helpful to the exchange of best practice, and not damaging to
commercial interests, the results from this work should be made
public on a voluntary basis and a strategy for dissemination of
generic outputs from the funded project should be included.
4. What economic, social
and environmental
benefits is the project
expected to deliver to
Explicitly identify all benefits that will accrue inside and outside of
the consortium as a result of the proposed project. Truly sustainable
development balances economic growth with social impacts and
benefits and the protection of the environment.
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 18
those inside and outside
of the consortium, and
over what timescale?
Benefits to those outside the consortium and to consortium
participants should be considered and you should make a clear
distinction between the two.
Economic – This is the real impact the organisation has on its
economic environment. This is not simply traditional corporate
accounting profit, and can include cost avoidance, so you should
highlight any expected ‘spill over’ benefits external to the project,
e.g., benefits to users (intermediaries and end users), suppliers, the
broader industrial markets and the UK economy. The application
should identify and quantify where possible the benefit to each of
the beneficiaries.
Social - Quantify any expected social impacts, either positive or
negative, on, for example, the quality of life, social
inclusion/exclusion, education, public empowerment, health and
safety, regulation, diversity, and any expected impact on
Government priorities.
Environmental – Demonstrate how your project will benefit the
natural environment as much as possible or at the least do no harm
and curtail environmental impact. For example, this could include
careful management of energy consumption and reductions in
carbon emissions whilst reducing manufacturing and materials
waste, rendering waste less toxic before disposing of it in a safe and
legal manner (cradle to grave) or re-manufacturing (cradle to
cradle).
Section 2: The project
details
(10 points per question = 40 points in total)
Question
5. What technical approach
will be adopted and how
will the project be
managed?
Guidance
Provide an overview of the technical approach including the main
objectives of the work. Describe the main areas of work together
with their resource and management requirements.
In evaluating this the assessors will consider these questions:
 is the technical approach and methodology appropriate to the
needs of the project and are the innovative steps achievable
through the proposed approach?
 is the project plan sufficient in comparison to the complexity of
the project? For example, is there sufficient detail to
understand the tasks involved and the resources required?
 is the timing of key milestones realistic?
 is there demonstration of sufficient resource commitment and
capability to undertake the project?
 are clear management reporting lines identified?
Describe rival technologies and alternative R&D strategies and
describe why your proposed approach will offer a better outcome.
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 19
6. What is innovative about
this project?
Identify the extent to which the project is innovative both
commercially and technically.
In evaluating this section assessors will consider these questions:
 does it push boundaries over and beyond current leading-edge
world science and technology?
 is it looking to apply existing technologies in new areas?
Highlight and explain the timeliness and novelty of the research
aspects of the project in an industrial and/or academic context.
Describe any evidence you have to substantiate your belief that the
intended work is innovative. This could include the results of patent
searches, competitor analyses, literature surveys etc. If applicable,
you should also outline your own background intellectual property
rights, as related to the project.
7. What are the risks
(technical, commercial
and environmental) to
project success? What is
the project’s risk
management strategy?
Innovate UK recognises that projects of this type are inherently
risky, but seeks assurance that the projects it funds have adequate
arrangements for managing this risk. Focus, therefore, on the
arrangements for managing and mitigating risk as follows:



8. Does the project team
have the right skills and
experience and access to
facilities to deliver the
identified benefits?
identify the key risks and uncertainties of the project and
provide a detailed risk analysis for the project content and
approach, including the technical, commercial, managerial and
environmental risks as well as other uncertainties (e.g., ethical
issues) associated with the project. The main risks should then
be rated as High/Medium/Low (H/M/L)
state how the project would mitigate these key risks. You
should address all significant and relevant risks and their
mitigation
identify key project management tools and mechanisms that
will be implemented to provide confidence that sufficient
control will be in place to minimise operational risk and,
therefore, promote successful project delivery. This should
include the arrangements for managing the project team and its
partners.
Describe the track record of the project team members in
undertaking and exploiting the results of research and development
projects, to show your capability to develop and exploit the
technology.
In evaluating this, the assessors will consider whether:
 the project team has the right available mix of skills and
experience to deliver the project successfully
 the project team’s formation objectives are clear and if it would
have been formed without Innovate UK investment
 if a consortium, if there is additional benefit demonstrated from
the collaboration, for example, increased knowledge transfer;
and if the consortium is greater than the sum of its parts – how
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 20
the organisations working together will achieve more than if
they were working individually
Section 3: Funding and
added value
(10 points per question = 20 points in total)
Question
9. What is the financial
commitment required for
the project?
Guidance
Indicate the anticipated project cost making clear the level of
contribution from any project participants and the level of funding
required from Innovate UK. This information should be provided in
the financial summary table in the application form.
Supporting information and explanation for project costs should be
provided in this section of the form. It must be consistent with the
category of research & development being undertaken within each
work package. Please see the guidance section of our website for
further details on funding: https://interact.innovateuk.org//funding-rules
Important: If the project spans more than one type of funding (e.g.,
because significant work packages are in both fundamental and
industrial research), you must describe and justify the breakdown of
costs between them within the answer to this question.
In evaluating this the assessors will consider the following
questions:





Is the budget realistic for the scale and complexity of the
project?
Does the financial support required from Innovate UK fit within
the limits set by the specific competition?
Is a financial commitment from other sources demonstrated for
the balance of the project costs?
Has a realistic budget breakdown been provided?
Have any work package breakdowns been described and
justified adequately?
Detailed guidance on eligible and ineligible project costs is provided
on our website:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs
10. How does financial
support from Innovate UK
and its funding
collaborators add value?
Ensure that all key points relating to the finances of your project
that you wish the assessors to consider are included in the main
body of your application form, or in the relevant appendix, as these
are the key documents used within the assessment process.
You will need to provide evidence that:

successful delivery of your project will increase the total
amount of money the project team spends on research &
development in the UK
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 21
And either:
 why the funding is required for the project to be able to
proceed
or
 how Innovate UK funding would allow you to undertake the
project differently (more quickly, on a larger scale etc) and why
this would be beneficial to the UK?
The Launchpad will also support winners in developing a financing
strategy, including a pitching event to investors. Please also indicate
how Launchpad may support your long-term financing strategy in
terms of access to finance, developing options or other.
Public description of the project (not scored)
Question
If your application is
successful, Innovate UK will
publish the following brief
description of your proposal.
Provision of this description is
mandatory but will not be
assessed.
Guidance
To comply with Government practice on openness and transparency
of public-funded activities, Innovate UK has to publish information
relating to funded projects. Please provide a short description of
your proposal in a way that will be comprehensible to the general
public. Do not include any commercially confidential information,
for example intellectual property or patent details, in this summary.
Whilst this section is not assessed, provision of this public
description is mandatory. Funding will not be provided to
successful projects without this.
Finance summary table
Column 1
Organisation name
Column 2
Organisation Registration
Number
Column 3
Enterprise Category
Column 4
Postcode
Column 5
Contribution to the project
by each organisation (£)
Column 6
Funding sought from
Innovate UK
Please provide the full names of the (lead) organisation and any
participants in the project consortium (organisation names as noted
in Companies House).
Companies should provide the Company Registration Number (as
noted in Companies House).
Please select your Enterprise Category. (SME definition is based on
the EU definition) For other definitions, please check the competition
website:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/funding-rules
Enterprise category
Headcount
Turnover
Medium sized
<250
<= €50 million
Small
<50
<= €10 million
Micro
<10
<= €2 million
Balance sheet total
<= €43 million
or
<= 10 million
<= 2 million
Please provide the postcode of each organisation participating in the
project.
Please list the total contribution to be made to the project by each
organisation.
Please enter the funding sought from Innovate UK for each
participant organisation for this competition.
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 22
Column 7
Other funding from public
sector bodies
Column 8
Total (£)
Bottom Row
Total (£)
Please include any funding for the project from any other public
sector bodies which has been applied for separately, and not as part
of this competition. Funding from other public sector bodies might
include other applications to research councils, other government
departments, devolved administrations, other public sector
organisations and some charities. The purpose of this column is to
provide Innovate UK with information on the total public funding for
the project.
The total cost of the project – this is the sum of columns 5, 6 and 7
and will be entered automatically.
The total of each column will be entered automatically.
You must also submit a finance form for each industry participant in your project which provides
more detailed information on the total costs listed in your finance summary table.
For information on eligible project costs and how to complete the finance forms see the website
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs or download as a pdf file.
4.1
Stage 2 Project appendices
Appendices are submitted with the application form. It is important to note that these are intended
to contain supporting information and not substantive elements of answers to the application form
questions. Do not, therefore, use the appendices as an overflow to the application form.
In order that assessors can open and read the appendices, each appendix must:
 conform to the maximum length specifications listed below
 be submitted in Portable Document Format (.pdf)
 be legible at 100% zoom/magnification
 display prominently the ‘Project title’ as entered on page 1 of the application form
 be named as per the specifications given in the guidance ‘Submitting your Application’ click here:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/submitting-your-application
If you submit appendices longer than specified below, they will be truncated and the excess
discarded.
Appendices may be printed or photocopied in black and white, so colour should not be used as the
sole method of conveying important information.
Appendix
Guidance
Appendix A
Up to 5 sides of A4
Use Appendix A to provide additional information to support
Section 1 of the application form: The Business Proposition. You
may wish to include graphics describing the nature of the problem,
market dynamics and/or exploitation plans.
Use Appendix B to provide further information to support Section 2
of the application form: The Project Details. You may include, for
example, a Gantt chart, risk analysis table, project management
structure and/or details of evidence for innovation.
Appendix B
Up to 5 sides of A4
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 23
Appendix C
Up to ½ side of A4 for each
partner and subcontractor
4.2
Use Appendix C to provide details of the specific expertise and track
record of each project partner and each subcontractor to address
Question 8 of the application form. Academic collaborators may
wish to refer to their research standing.
Stage 2 Finance forms and project costs
Information on project finances is available in the guidance ‘Your Project Costs’ on our website:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/-/project-costs
5.
Stage 3 –pitching to an expert panel
If you are successful at the written application stage (stage 2), you may be invited to pitch to a panel
of industry/business experts and Innovate UK
At the interview stage, presentations should be submitted in Microsoft PowerPoint format and
should not contain video’s or embedded weblinks. Your presentation should be a maximum of 10
minutes in length, with a maximum of 15 (free format) slides and will be followed by 20 minutes
Q&A. Ahead of the interview your presentation slide pack needs to be formally submitted to the
Innovate UK via the FTP site on the date stated in the competition timeline. No changes may be
made to the presentation after this date.
Please ensure that your selected representatives for the interview presentation are available on the
proposed pitching dates as we are unable to reschedule slots once allocated.
There is the opportunity for a maximum of 3 attendees from your project to attend the interview
panel, we ask that these names are submitted to the Innovate UK prior to the panel. The mix of the
attendees is up to the consortium and can consist of more than 1 representative from each company,
subject to the maximum of 3 attendees.
The consortium should select the most appropriate people to attend, it is recommended where
possible that each consortium member is represented. You will be expected to answer questions
based around the 3 sections identified in the main application form, these are; Section 1 – The
business proposition, Section 2 – Project details and Section 3 – Funding and added value.
Following the interview the assessment panel will be re-scoring the project by section (Section 1 –
The business proposition, Section 2 – Project details and Section 3 – Funding and added value), taking
into consideration the:





Written application
Appendices
Finance forms
Presentation
Responses during the Q&A session
Final scores will be based on a weighting of 60% written application, 40% presentation and interview
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 24
6. How to find out more (Data Protection Act 1998, Information Security,
etc)
If you require further information or have a query regarding this competition, please contact the
Business Support Group on:
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0300 321 4357
Competition Details – Energy Game Changer March 2016
Page 25