Driving the Electric Revolution – Launch of IUK’s PEMD Skills Hub Competition

UK registered businesses and research organisations can apply for funding for the development of a Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) skills hub in the UK.

Electric and hybrid vehicles, domestic appliances and other applications are creating a need for next-generation Power Electronic, Machines and Drives (PEMD). Innovate UK (IUK) is therefore investing up to £1 million in a single project to create a PEMD skills hub. This is to support the challenge of creating world leading supply chains and expertise for the manufacture of PEMD in the UK.

The aim is to establish the hub as a lasting ‘platform’ that will connect training and education course providers with employers and learners. The hub will be accessible to new learners, professionals already working in PEMD, and those wanting to develop expertise in specialist areas.

IUK has allocated up to £1 million to fund a single project in this competition. Funding will be in the form of a grant. The project’s total eligible costs are not limited. The project should develop a platform, create the skills community and manage the hub. The hub must operate for at least 10 years.

The funding will support:

  • The development of the platform for the hub.
  • The development of a cohesive UK PEMD skills community.
  • Operational costs for up to 36 months to enable the hub to become established.

The competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. The lead must be a UK registered business of any size, research organisation, research and technology organisation, academic institution, charity, not-for-profit or public sector organisation. Collaborations between any of these organisation types will be accepted.

Applicants must demonstrate clear industrial support, covering a cross section of technologies and sectors. They must also have detailed knowledge of the PEMD skills landscape in the UK.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 December 2021 (11:00 GMT).

(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)