EVENTS

The GW-SHIFT Challenge Fund supports short, focused research projects that respond to clearly defined low-carbon hydrogen challenges identified by civic, local authority and public-sector partners across the South West of England and South Wales.

Join Karen Brooks, Deputy Director, GW-SHIFT, for an informal information session to find out more about the fund, the types of research projects GW-SHIFT can support to provide evidence or technologies to support your net zero strategy.

The session will cover:

• How academic expertise and partner insight can come together to develop practical, evidence-led responses to civic and local authorities’ net zero strategies
• What the GW-SHIFT Challenge Fund is designed to support
• The types of challenges and projects that could be a good fit
• What is needed from the partners of these research-led projects
• The application process and key dates

There will also be plenty of time to ask questions and explore whether your project or challenge could be a good fit for the fund.

The 2026 Challenge Fund offers awards of up to £50,000 for research, with up to £10,000 additional discretionary funding for public engagement, for projects of up to nine months. The call closes on 12 October 2026 at 5 pm.

Who should attend?

• Civic, local authority and public-sector organisations with low-carbon hydrogen-related clean energy challenges within the South West and South Wales
• Academic researchers interested in responding to place-based/civic challenges
• Industry partners with relevant technical, commercial or delivery expertise who can provide solutions/expertise for the challenges
• Organisations developing low-carbon hydrogen projects across the South West of England and South Wales