The world-leading UK aerospace industry has a turnover of £35 billion and directly employs 123,000 people. It needs to keep innovating to stay ahead in global markets.
Businesses are invited to express an interest in £8 million set aside for collaborative research and development projects that involve at least 1 UK SME.
The money is part of an annual £150 million available to support game-changing innovations in aerospace design, manufacture and propulsion. The best ideas will have a chance to apply for funding.
Organisations also have a chance to express an interest in applying for a share of funding on a monthly rolling basis.
The investment is part of the £3.9 billion UK Aerospace Technology Institute programme, a partnership between government and industry managed by Innovate UK, the Aerospace Technology Institute and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Developing aircraft of the future
The competitions are seeking expressions of interest in funding for projects in line with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy.
Priority areas include whole aircraft design and integration, aerostructures, advanced systems and propulsion technologies.
Project themes are detailed in the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy, and include:
- improving UK whole-aircraft design and system integration
- future-proofing advanced systems technologies in the UK – specifically, smart, connected and more electric aircrafts
- securing the UK’s world-leading position in large, complex aviation structures, particularly wings
- developing more efficient propulsion technologies, including large turbofans
Information about the collaborative R&D competition for smaller business
- the competition opens on 25 November 2019, and the closing date is 15 January 2020
- projects can be led by a business of any size but must include at least 1 SME
- we expect project costs to be between £250,000 and £1.5 million
- a briefing event will be held on 2 December 2019
Information about the monthly competition
- the competition opens next month on 2 December 2019, and the closing date is 18 December 2019
- UK-based businesses, research and technology groups and academic institutions can be the project lead, depending on the project type
- businesses could get up to 70% of their costs for industry-led research projects, or up to 50% of their costs for capital investment projects
- an online briefing event will be held on 6 December 2019
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