Call for proposals – Sodium-ion Battery Research
Two separate calls for proposals are open for a programme of sodium-ion battery research from October 2026.
Call 1: Project Consortium: Sodium-ion Cell Design, Development, and Material Scale-up
Project objective
The goal of this call is to identify a project that will demonstrate the capability of UK-developed sodium-ion battery active materials in cells that are sufficiently well developed to be regarded as proof-of-concept demonstrators by potential future industrial partners.
This call is open to UK developed sodium-ion battery materials developed in previous Faraday Institution funding rounds, or through other routes. These materials are not expected or required to be fully mature, but should have already demonstrated their potential in single layer pouch cell based testing.
The expectation is that this project will build upon existing material development and synthesis capability rather than generating it from scratch. Consortia should identify suitable cell and material level metrics as targets from their chosen applications, and bring together a proposal to develop and ultimately demonstrate these in cells at a scale and consistency that is required for an application-based proof-of-concept cell. The aim is that the outcomes of this project will be the basis for application(s) for Innovate UK collaborative R&D funding call(s) led by UK-based industry partner(s) for example through the Battery Innovation Programme.
Funding available: Up to £1.6 million in the first year and at least £1.6 million/year in the next three years.
Call 2: Next Generation Sodium-ion Research Sprints
This Research Sprint call is aimed at laying foundation level research into some of the important areas required for next-generation sodium-ion cells. The intention is for UK university-based groups with relevant expertise to initiate short research-intensive projects that will work quickly to establish potential.
The following areas are in scope:
- Advanced anodes
- Advanced electrolytes
- Improved low-temperature performance
- Anode-free sodium-ion batteries
- Sodium-ion battery management systems
Funding available: Total funding provided will be up to £0.9m for projects of up to approximately £150k each and 12 months duration.
Building on the solid foundation of the NEXGENNA project, which will complete in September 2026, this new programme will ensure the UK’s battery research remains cohesive, aligned with industry, and internationally competitive in support of the UK Battery Strategy.
Timeline
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Funding competitions launch | Week of 1st June |
| Deadline for applications | 12:00pm (noon), Friday 3rd July 2026 |
| Review panel complete | 24th July 2026 |
| Interview panel (call 1 only) | 27th - 31st July 2026 |
| Funding decision | 10th August 2026 |
| Grants start | 1st October 2026 |
Questions
Please contact [email protected].
The Faraday Institution’s sodium-ion battery research programme is funded by the Battery Innovation Programme, through the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by Innovate UK.