UK cleantech innovation challenges
Supporting cleantech innovation in the UK and accelerating development and commercialisation of new technologies.
Innovation is critical to reduce the UK’s emissions, support the growth of our clean energy industries and protect billpayers by building a more secure and resilient energy system.
The UK cleantech innovation challenges programme will set out a series of innovation challenges to focus government and industry effort to accelerate progress in areas of innovation critical to the government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
The challenges aim to:
- support UK cleantech innovation as a catalyst for growth
- address areas where innovation is most needed to support current and future carbon budgets
- provide support where no similar activity already exists
Each innovation challenge will:
- set ambitions – publish inspiring challenge statements with stretching, timebound and measurable ambitions
- engage industry – establish challenge coalitions to co-own and shape challenge activity and delivery
- support companies with innovative solutions – provide targeted non-financial support to high-potential Innovation Champions for up to two years
- create an enabling policy environment – draw on a suite of policy levers to help reduce barriers and create market pull
- monitor progress – track whether the challenges are making a difference
Additional challenges are expected to be launched across 2026 and 2027.
UK cleantech innovation challenges: programme overview
This publication introduces the initiative and explains the approach to developing and delivering the challenges.
UK carbon management innovation challenge
This first challenge to be launched, focusing on accelerating the development, demonstration and commercialisation of innovative solutions for carbon capture and greenhouse gas removal.