FOAK Builder: Programme Entry Expression of Interest

You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation. We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

You must download the declaration template. You must complete this, declaring any funding received under Minimal Financial Assistance (previously referred to as Special Drawing Rights) or de minimis awards, (from any source of public funding) in the applicable period. Each partner must complete all the fields on their form before uploading. The lead applicant must write ‘declaration attached’ in the question text box. The lead applicant must upload all the completed declarations as an appendix. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It must be legible at 100% zoom. You must keep all documentati

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing? You must select one option: Yes No We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare. Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance .

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement? You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement. You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in. If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance . You must select one option: Yes No

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles , including: a list of any dual use (both military and non-military) applications to your research a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List If your proposed work does not relat

The technology underpinning your FOAK project must have reached TRL 7 or above. Provide quantitative evidence of the real world demonstration that has been undertaken for the technology. Evidence should be measurable and may include operational hours, number of deployments, demonstration sites, customer trials, production volumes, reliability data, or other relevant metrics. Describe the scale and outcomes of the demonstration activities. Submit your response as an appendix. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to four A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom. Failure to upload

What evidence can you provide of commercial agreements with potential customers who would buy the outputs from your First of a Kind (FOAK) project? This could include initial evidence of customer interest in the product, a Letter of Intent (LOI), Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), or another form of offtake agreement. Submit your response as an appendix. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to four A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom. Failure to upload an appendix with the requested information will result in your application being out of scope.

Describe the current stage of development of your project and provide evidence that it is beyond Front-End Loading (FEL) Stage 1. As a minimum, your response should include: an identified or shortlisted site and rationale, with preliminary assessments of planning, permitting, utilities and grid requirements high level designs, for example, concept designs and block or process flow diagrams potential Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) partners supply chain requirements, for example, feedstock or supply chain market study complete a completed FEL stage self assessment against the mi

Describe how you will finance your project, including: estimates of development expenditure (devex) required to reach FID, including development funding secured and funding still required a high level view of the likely capital stack evidence of initial engagement with investors, strategic partners or public finance providers You must also submit a preliminary project level financial model. The model should include: profit and loss showing offtake volumes and pricing and a cost breakdown demonstrating unit economics sensitivity analysis on 3 to 5 key variables cash flow showing your funding re

You must outline the top three technical risks in more detail. For each identified risk, explain what actions you will take to mitigate its impact. Recognising and acknowledging potential risks is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

You must outline the top three commercial or financial risks in more detail. For each identified risk, explain what actions you will take to mitigate its impact. Recognising and acknowledging potential risks is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

You must outline the top three environmental or social risks in more detail. For each identified risk, explain what actions you will take to mitigate its impact. Recognising and acknowledging potential risks is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

You must outline the top three project management risks in more detail. For each identified risk, explain what actions you will take to mitigate its impact. Recognising and acknowledging potential risks is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

What are the key business milestones you are aiming to achieve through this programme? You must focus on what support, financial and non-financial, from this award will enable you to do. You don’t need to provide the full project plan in the answer to this question.

Describe your approach to working with the regulator and meeting regulatory approval. This must include details of timelines, costs and resources, internal or external, and if these costs and constraints have been included in your overall plan.

What skills, capabilities or experience does your team have that will help you deliver your project? You must include any skills, knowledge, or experiences that are applicable.

How do you plan to address any skills gaps in your team? Detail whether your business will need support to carry out this project, and what types of support you will need. Recognising and acknowledging the need for additional support is a vital part of the planning process and will not negatively impact your application.

Outline the benefits you expect to result from your innovation in more detail. In your explanation, include specific metrics or indicators that you intend to use to measure these benefits.

How will public funding accelerate or enhance your innovation compared to relying solely on private investment or internal resources at this stage?

How much do you expect your target market to grow over a two, five and ten year period? You must consider the key market trends or drivers underlying this growth. Highlight any research or evidence that supports these expectations in your response.

How does your business or innovation set itself apart from other businesses operating in your target markets? Provide specific examples and evidence where possible.