High-Performance Transformational Challenge: HighPerCell
Call for Expressions of Interest: Project Creation and Planning Phase
The call is now closed.
The HighPerCell Challenge: The Opportunity
The Faraday Institution is in the process of establishing two Transformational Challenge programmes to add to its existing research portfolio. These Transformational Challenges will target energy storage application challenges that have extraordinary impact potential, and where there are currently only conceptional solutions or ideas at the very earliest stages of research and development.
The first of these Transformational Challenges, called Ultrastore, was launched in March 2025 and is aimed at technologies that can provide ultra-low cost long duration energy storage. The second is focusing on pushing technologies to deliver high-energy and/or high-power performance that are primarily focused on addressing aerospace use cases, but which will also be of interest and relevance to other markets such as, defence and motorsport. This transformational challenge will be called the HighPerCell (High Performance Cell) Challenge.
The Faraday Institution intends to fund up to two large research projects under the HighPerCell Challenge from Q4 2026. The Institution is now inviting expressions of interest from individuals and small teams to participate in the Co-creation and Planning of these research projects. Successful applicants will work closely with the Faraday Institution team as Research/Engineering Consultants during 2026 to identify potentially transformative technologies, and to design plans for the follow-on large research projects necessary to develop those technologies during 2027-2030.
The Faraday Institution is seeking radical ideas for projects that look beyond incremental improvement of existing storage technologies and instead consider new possibilities that have not yet been the subject of significant research, let alone commercial development. In other words, the organisation is looking for ideas that have the potential to be highly disruptive and which may displace existing markets or create entirely new ones.
Scope
All energy storage types (electrochemical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, chemical energy storage or other) are in scope, provided that the technology meets the Technology Specification. Applications are encouraged from as wide a field of disciplines as possible. However, sustainable aviation fuel and other combustion fuels, are out of scope.
Output
The output of this Co-creation and Planning phase will be a long-term research project roadmap, along with detailed 12-month work plans and high-level IP and commercialisation strategies.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted by 15.59, on 10th December 2025 via Flexigrant.
Expected key dates
| Application open | Tuesday 4th November 2025 |
| Webinar | 18 November 2025, 14.00-15.00 |
| Application deadline | 10 December 2025, 15.59 |
| Research consultants selected / informed | By 26 Feb 2026 |
| Co-creation and Planning phase starts | By 25 March 2026 |
| Co-creation and Planning phase complete | By October 2026 |
| Call for 3-year research projects open under the HighPerCell Challenge (subject to identifying at least one plausible solution and confirmation of funding) | Q4 2026 |
Dates may be amended
Funding
The Faraday Institution’s funding for this call is provided from the Battery Innovation Programme.
Call document
Please read the full call document for guidance before submitting your proposal.
Frequently asked questions
Please download the FAQ document.
Online briefing and Q&A
Recording of the online briefing and Q&A from 18th November.
Contacts
The Faraday Institution Commercialisation Team can be contacted at [email protected]
Image: First Full-Scale Demonstrator for 30-seat Hybrid-Electric Airplane. Courtesy of Heart Aerospace.