Applications are now open for the government funding programme Mobilise. Grant funding of up to £180,000 is available for ambitious start-ups, SMEs and spinouts developing zero-emission and Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) products, services and solutions. The funding will help successful applicants progress their early-stage businesses towards investment and market readiness.

Mobilise forms part of the UK Government’s DRIVE35 and CAM Pathfinder programmes, delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Zenzic.

The 12-month programme is delivered in two phases: Market Focus and Technology Validation. Mobilise combines grant funding, mentoring and networking opportunities to help accelerate technology to market and better position businesses to attract future investment.

Support available

  • Business model, commercial strategy and routes-to-market and technology development support.
  • Mentoring covering areas such as IP, investment readiness, financial planning, product development, cost engineering, and leadership.
  • Concept validation and testing opportunities.
  • Access to automotive industry networks and peer-to-peer learning.

Impact and case for support

APC UK and Zenzic have supported over 100 businesses through their accelerator programmes. Together, these businesses have raised over £599 million in private investment and made significant commercial progress following their participation in the programmes.

Rik Adams, Innovation Delivery Director at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, said:

“Having great technology is only the starting point. For small companies, turning innovation into a commercially viable product or service that customers want, while growing a business and team that investors are prepared to back, can feel like walking a tightrope.

Mobilise is designed to help ambitious businesses overcome this, and accelerate their progress – providing a blend of coaching, mentoring, grant and delivery support alongside access to industry networks. We have seen over the last 10 cohorts of start-ups how impactful industry specific support from leading experts can be for early-stage businesses.

With this latest competition, we want to encourage the next wave of UK innovators to take the opportunity to turn their technology into successful businesses contributing to the future of the UK automotive industry.”

Who should apply?

  • UK-based micro, small and medium-sized organisations, including eligible start-ups and spinouts.
  • Companies developing technologies, products or services relevant to zero-emission vehicles or connected and automated mobility.
  • Applicants able to demonstrate early feasibility and are interested in building a route to market.

Application dates and next steps

Competition opens: 2 November 2026

Application deadline: 11 January 2027

For full eligibility details and applications, visit: apcuk.co.uk/funding/mobilise/

Interested applicants can contact the APC and Zenzic Business Development Team for more information by emailing mobilise@apcuk.co.uk.