The document outlines the application process and eligibility criteria for the Prosperity from the Energy Revolution (PFER) competition, aimed at developing open software, hardware, and data solutions to support the UK’s transition to a net-zero energy system. It details funding opportunities, project requirements, and assessment methods, while encouraging collaborations among organizations of various sizes and sectors. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of open-source approaches and provides guidance on project costs and application submissions.

2. 1 Welcome and introductions
2 Part 1
Scope, eligibility criteria
3 Part 2
The Innovation Funding Service, application finances,
academic partners
4 Part 3
Submitting your application, assessment, project setup for
successful applicants
5 Part 4
Competition and project support – Energy Systems
Catapult
6 Part 5
Q&A
Agenda

3. Welcome and Introductions
Abbie Wood – Portfolio Manager, Competitions Team
Damien Kelly – Innovation Lead, Prospering from the Energy Revolution Team
Jake Verma – Senior Consultant - Data Systems, Energy Systems Catapult

4. About SBRI

5. Development Contracts
• 100% funded R&D (procurement contract for R&D Services)
• UK implementation of EU pre-commercial procurement
Contract with Prime Supplier
• who may choose to subcontract but remains accountable
Intellectual Property rests with Supplier
• certain usage rights with Public Sector
• companies are encouraged to exploit IP and will be assessed on this basis
Eligibility
• open to all organisations. There is no limit on the size or type of company.
• open to companies not currently engaged in the sector
• research organisations may also apply
• all organisations must demonstrate a route to market
SBRI key features

6. Introduction to
Innovate UK and UKRI

7. UK Research and Innovation
We work with the government
to invest over £7 billion a year
in research and innovation by
partnering with academia and industry
to make the impossible, possible.
Through the UK’s nine leading
academic and industrial funding
councils, we create knowledge with
impact.

8. Innovate UK
Innovate UK drives productivity and economic
growth by supporting businesses to develop new
ideas.
We connect businesses to the people that can
help them, and fund businesses and research
collaborations in all economic sectors, value
chains and UK regions to accelerate innovation.

9. 9
Prospering from the Energy Revolution
• The Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) challenge is part of the UKRI Industrial
Strategy Challenge Fund
• The programme runs from 2018 – 2023 and is funding over 50 different projects and 180
organisations

10. 10
PFER Innovation Accelerator: Data and Digitalisation
strand

11. Scope

12. The aim of this competition is to develop open software, hardware and data solutions that address the
challenges off transforming to a net zero energy system in the UK. The competition will stimulate the
development of collective equity for the sector and the creation of communities to support the development
of reusable and open net zero energy solutions.
The competition aims to:
• accelerate net zero energy
• stimulate collaboration on key common digital components
• improve transparency, security and quality of digital solutions
• drive interoperability across organisations and solution providers
• stimulate an open collaborative culture across the sector
• accelerate UK net zero energy sector innovation & growth
Competition objectives

13. Your open solution can be:
• software
• hardware
• firmware
• data solution
You must embrace appropriate open approaches such as the Open Source Definition stewarded by the
Open Source Initiative (OSI) and have suitable open licencing, such as OSI approved licences.
Your project can focus on any part of the energy sector that is focusing on delivering a net zero energy
system.
Themes

14. • proprietary solutions
• projects that have not identified a first solution user and explained how they will be engaged as a key
stakeholder during the project
• projects that do not meet the principles of openness and comply with appropriate open approaches such
as the Open Source Definition
• projects that seek to develop solutions associated with key sector digital infrastructure requiring action
or investment by government or the regulator (such as changes to policy or regulation)
• projects that directly duplicate other UK government or EU funded initiatives you have already been
funded to deliver
• solutions that are covered by existing commercial agreements to deliver the proposed solutions
Out of scope

15. Eligibility criteria

16. Project eligibility
• be an organisation of any size
• work alone or with others from business, research organisations, research
and technology organisations or the third sector as subcontractors
• start by 1 July 2022
• end by 31 March 2023
Total project costs up to £300,000 (inc. VAT)
Project length up to 9 months
Eligibility criteria

17. Timeline Dates
Competition Opens 31 January 2022
Briefing Event 9 February 2022
Submission Deadline 9 March 2022, 11:00am
Interviews w/c 19 April 2022
Applicants notified 5 May 2022
Key Dates

18. Innovation Funding
Service (IFS)

19. Search for a funding competition and review criteria

20. The Lead applicant must create an account:
• UK registered businesses
Use Companies House lookup as it speeds up our
checks by providing your company number. You are
unable to enter this at a later date
• Research organisations, academics and
Universities
Enter your information manually so you’re not listed
as a business on IFS
Lead Applicant: create an account

21. Project Details
Application Team
Invite colleagues from your own organisation to help you complete your application.
Application Details
Title, timescales, innovation area and previously submitted application (y/n).
Who made you aware of the competition?
Select a category to state who made you aware of the competition. You cannot choose more than one.
How long has your organisation been established for?
Select a category to state how long has your organisation been established for. You cannot choose more than one.

22. Project Details
What is your organisation’s primary area of focus?
Select a category to state your organisation’s primary focus area. You cannot choose more than one.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business
innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.
Project Summary
Please provide a short summary of your project and describe how it meets the scope of the competition.
Public Description
Description of your project which will be published if you are successful.

23. Detailed guidance available on IFS
Application form Appendix?
Question 1 Applicant location (not scored) No
Question 2 Proposed open solution Yes – optional
Question 3 Technical project summary No
Question 4 Open solution impact No
Question 5 Open solution community adoption No
Question 6 Open principals No
Question 7 Project plan and methodology Yes – mandatory
Question 8 Team and expertise No
Question 9 Costs and value for money Yes – optional
Question 10 Business model No
Application Questions

24. Application finances

25. Eligible:
• gross salary
• National Insurance
• company pension contribution
• life insurance
• other non-discretionary package costs
Ineligible:
• discretionary bonuses
• performance related payments of any
kind
• sick days
• waiting time
• training days
• non-productive time
Labour

26. Innovate UK’s definition
Additional costs and operational expenses incurred directly as a result of the project. These could include additional
costs for administrative staff, general IT, rent and utilities
Indirect (administration) overheads
Please ensure they are additional and directly attributable to the delivery of the project
Overheads
Direct overheads
• e.g. office utilities, IT infrastructure, laptop
provision not covered by capital usage
• must be directly attributable to the project
• provide detailed breakdown together with
methodology or basis of apportionment

27. Please be clear on what the
materials are, just putting
consumables does not provide
enough detail.
If insufficient information is
provided, we will request more
information should you be
successful which may delay
your project start date.
Material costs

28. Eligible:
Used in the project or shared with day-to-day
production.
Calculations will need to be in line with your
accounting practices.
Even if the equipment is depreciated fully over
the life of the project this must be added under
capital equipment.
Capital equipment usage

29. Justified and quantified.
If non-UK subcontractors are being used, you will
need to provide strong justification on why an UK-
based subcontractor is not being used.
If you are subcontracting to a parent or sister
company, please ensure you list at cost and do not
include profit.
Subcontractors

30. Travel and subsistence
Eligible:
Costs must be directly linked to
the project.
Please breakdown your costs as
follows:
• Travel
• Accommodation
• Subsistence
If you have an annual trip to visit
the parent company this is not an
eligible cost.

31. Costs that could not be added under previous headings. Do not double count.
Other costs

32. Once you have completed your costs you will be asked to confirm if you are VAT registered. If you select
‘yes’ IFS will automatically add on VAT calculated at 20%.
If you are a VAT registered organisation you will not need to enter your project costs inclusive of VAT as
the application form will calculate the VAT for you.
If you are not VAT registered then you can quote without VAT, but you will not be able to increase invoice
values to cover VAT later on.
Make sure not to double count this as it may increase your project costs over the limit.
VAT

33. Ensure the highlighted costs fits the criteria for this competition state total project costs criteria.
The lead organisation can see a summary of project costs calculated inclusive of VAT (if VAT registered).
Project cost summary

34. Once you have completed your
costs you will be asked to select
your organisation size, enter your
turnover from the last financial
year and number of full time
employees at your organisation.
Your Organisation

35. Enter each milestone and any associated payments.
Once all milestones have been entered, mark the section as complete.
Payment Milestones

36. Before you can submit your application you must agree to the draft terms and conditions for this
procurement competition. They will differ from any you have agreed to before.
Terms and Conditions

37. Submitting your
application

38. Customer Support can
help resolve any issues
you might have when
submitting but only if
they are contacted
before the deadline.
Once the deadline has
passed, your application
cannot be submitted.
Submit your application early!

39. Reopen by clicking here
Remember to press
‘Submit application’
Editing a submitted application

40. Assessment

41. How do our assessors assess?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHZNpRSwgeI&t=14s

42. How are successful applications selected for funding?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHgqGjxeCU

44. Interviews
If you are invited to progress to interview:
• you can bring up to three people to attend the interview
• you will have 10-minute to present a maximum of 10 PowerPoint slides, with no videos or
embedded links
• there is a 20-minute Q&A session lead by members of the panel
• you will have an opportunity to respond to the assessor feedback so the panel can read it
prior to interview
• the response to feedback, presentations and presenters’ names have to be provided ahead
of the interview

45. Project setup for
successful applicants

46. If you are unsuccessful in this competition
You can use the feedback from the assessors to develop your idea and apply into another competition
that allows previously submitted applications
If you are successful in this competition
• you will be assigned a Delivery Executive who will guide you through the Project Set Up process
• you will have 7 days to complete the project team, project details and bank details
• you will have 30 days to complete project set up – funding may be withdrawn if this is not completed
within this timeframe
Please ensure all your contact details in the IFS portal are correct and up to date and that you
regularly monitor it.
Notification

47. All communication will be through IFS.
Lead applicant must provide collaboration agreements and exploitation plans if applicable.
Project delivery
All grants are paid quarterly in arrears and are only paid following quarterly reporting and
necessary audits.
Claims can only be made for costs incurred and paid between the project start and end dates.
Monitoring of the project includes a visit from the appointed Monitoring Officer.
Project set up

48. Competition and project
support – Energy
Systems Catapult

49. © 2022 Energy Systems Catapult
SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
World-class systems thinking to
remove barriers to the physical,
digital and market integration of
zero carbon innovations across
the whole energy system.
CLEAN TECH
ENGINEERING
Technical expertise and practical
experience in development and
deployment, considering
implications for innovations
and investment decisions.
WHOLE SYSTEM
MODELLING
Independent and technology-
agnostic modelling of systems
to help design and deliver the
future energy system and target
effective innovation investment.
MARKETS, POLICY
AND REGULATION
Independent energy policy,
regulatory, and market design
expertise, informed by cutting-
edge modelling and evidence-
based analysis.
HELPING TO DESIGN THE FUTURE ENERGY
SYSTEM TO UNLOCK INNOVATION.
WHAT WE DO
CONSUMER INSIGHT
AND PROPOSITION
DESIGN
Energy market research, user
experience and service design,
and consumer trials.
HARNESSING DIGITAL
AND DATA
Access data science, algorithms
and artificial intelligence, or
existing consumer and technical
data.
BUSINESS MODEL
INNOVATION
De-risk new innovations,
streamline operations and
maximise the value they create
for customers.
TEST AND
DEMONSTRATION
Independent performance
validation, real-world consumer
insights, business model
analysis and system integration.

50. © 2022 Energy Systems Catapult
WHY OPEN SOURCE
HOW DO OPEN SOLUTIONS
BENEFIT THE ENERGY INDUSTRY?
COMPATIBILITY WITH OPEN STANDARDS
SECURITY AND QUALITY
SPEED OF DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UK TO BE A LEADER
An open source approach towards certain
core required software components for a net
zero energy system can vastly accelerate the
develop of net zero energy solutions, by
ensuring that the industry can collaborate
on areas of common interest and compete
on differentiating & unique feature
development.
Open source software is code will be seen
and critiqued, and further developed by a
community of people, This open and visible
community approach to software
development ensures that quality standards
are upheld. This open approach to code
development also ensures that security of
software is scrutinised through transparency.
Open source software approaches are
complimentary to Open Standards. Open source
software can be an approach to implementing open
standards to test implementations of standards and
feedback to standards authorities. Open source
software can also benefit from Open Standards
particularly around requirements for
interoperability and portability.
The UK is already a leading global player in
relation to net zero energy. Open Source
approaches dominate core tech and software
markets, but the energy tech market and open
source approaches are still in their infancy. The UK
can combine its world leading net zero energy
policy and markets with its strong tech capability
to accelerate open source approaches for net zero
energy and scale UK business.

51. © 2022 Energy Systems Catapult
OUR SUPPORT
WHAT WE ARE OFFERING OPEN
DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR NET
ZERO ENERGY
CLOSEOUT
DURING THE
CONTRACT TERM
PRE-AWARD
• Light touch application support.
• Introductions to ESC and out capabilities.
• Matching making for parties interested in collaboration.
• Publicization of newly created open source solutions.
• Next steps advice for each project.
• Final reporting on the project outcomes.
• Access to ESC expertise and resources.
• Promotional materials and communications.
• Public ‘Show and Tell’ events.
• Guidance on applying ‘Data Best Practice’.
• Collaboration workshop events.
• Guidance on open source governance and sustainability.

52. Q&A

53. Customer Support Services
0300 321 4357 (Monday - Friday 9:00am - 11:30am and 2:00pm - 4:30pm)
support@iuk.ukri.org
Innovate UK KTN
www.ktn-uk.co.uk
Innovate UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk
Contact

54. @InnovateUK Innovate UK
Innovate UK