Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Innovate UK announces £4.5m PEMD competition fund

Aerospace

Innovate UK announces £4.5m PEMD competition fund

Innovate UK, part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), has announced a new funding competition that will put the UK at the forefront of the research and manufacture of the power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) sector.

Image courtesy Innovate UK

Investing up to £4.5 million into the sector, the Driving the Electric Revolution challenge’s Building Talent for the Future 2 competition aims to encourage the creation and delivery of industry-focused course content and materials to support skills and training across PEMD manufacturing and supply chains.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle

Building awareness of PEMD whilst filling key gaps in the UK’s workforce talent and training capabilities, the competition will be run in two stages:

  1. Opening on Monday 10th January 2022, organisations interested in applying for a grant valued between £50,000 and £1,000,000 will be required to submit an expression of interest (EOI) by Wednesday 2nd March 2022
  2. Upon receipt of an EOI, successful organisations will then be invited to apply for funding in March 2022.

Organisations submitting an EOI must deliver a clear game-changing intervention or address a clear industrial requirement whilst providing a long-term commitment to supporting the UK PEMD industry talent need. Organisations looking for a funding grant of less than £50,000 will not be required to submit at EOI, but will be required to submit their full proposal in March 2022.

Professor Will Drury, Challenge Director for Driving the Electric Revolution, said: “If we are to meet our Net Zero commitments by 2050, industry needs to move to clean technologies and electrification. PEMD technologies underpin electrification in all sectors and the UK is a world leader in the development of PEMD technology. But for years now we’ve lacked the skills needed to bring these ideas to reality.

“Without a skilled workforce we cannot create a strong PEMD manufacturing supply chain in the UK, forcing us to import these technologies from around the world.”

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

“By investing in skills, talent and training in this sector we aim to support the growth of not only the UK’s PEMD supply chains, but its people too.”

For further information or to register your interest in the Building Talent for the Future 2 – Expression of Interest Briefing at 10am on Wednesday 12th January, please visit: https://ktn-uk.org/events/building-talent-for-the-future-2-expression-of-interest-briefing

 

 

Advertisement
ECS leaderboard banner
TEKEVER launches UAS Training School at West Wales Airport

Aerospace

TEKEVER launches UAS Training School at West Wales Airport

18 February 2026

Today, provider of AI-centred uncrewed aerial systems, TEKEVER, has announced the official opening of its new Training School at West Wales Airport.

UK

Aerospace

UK's January air traffic soars into 2026

17 February 2026

January’s UK air traffic increased by 1,725 flights in 2026 versus the previous year, equivalent to a 1% uptick in flights flying in UK airspace.

Responsive Engineering unveils apprentice-built Welding Academy

Aerospace

Responsive Engineering unveils apprentice-built Welding Academy

17 February 2026

Responsive Engineering, the daughter company of Pearson Engineering, marked National Apprenticeship Week with the unveiling of its new Welding Academy, a unique training space built almost entirely by its apprentices using repurposed and recycled materials.

UK pioneers 3D printing of aircraft parts using recycled titanium

Aerospace Defence

UK pioneers 3D printing of aircraft parts using recycled titanium

17 February 2026

QinetiQ, in partnership with Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited (AMS Ltd.), has completed the maiden flight of an aircraft containing a 3D printed structural component, made from recycled titanium.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Satys completes strategic realignment

Aerospace

Satys completes strategic realignment

16 February 2026

Satys has completed a strategic realignment - fully refocusing its activities on the aeronautics sector - as it finalised its takeover of Sabena technics’ four aircraft painting facilities in Cornebarrieu on 13th February, increasing its Toulouse capacity to 10 paint hangars, including four widebody facilities.

Saxon Air becomes UK’s largest onshore charter helicopter operator

Aerospace

Saxon Air becomes UK’s largest onshore charter helicopter operator

16 February 2026

Norwich headquartered Saxon Air has entered a new phase of accelerated growth by becoming the largest onshore charter rotary operator in the UK.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
ECS leaderboard banner