News story

World-leading UK aerospace designs: get funding for projects

New ideas sought for projects that could transform the aerospace industry through smart, energy-efficient technologies.

• From: Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation
• Published: 18 March 2019
• Last updated: 20 March 2019 — See all updates

£150 million is available annually for projects that keep the UK aerospace sector at the pinnacle of global performance.

The UK’s aerospace sector is among the best in the world, with a turnover of £35 billion and hosting 123,000 direct employees in 2017. To remain at its peak, the UK needs to explore emerging opportunities and markets.

Organisations are invited to express an interest in a competition worth £150 million a year with their innovative ideas for future aerospace design and manufacture. The best projects will then be invited to apply for grant funding.

The investment is part of the £3.9 billion UK Aerospace Research and Technology (UKART) programme, a partnership between government and industry, managed by Innovate UK, the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Taking flight

This competition provides funding for industrial research or capital investment projects that align 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

Find the full list of the strategic themes on the ATI website.

Competition information

• the competition will open on 8 April 2019, and closes at midday on 24 April 2019
• UK-based business, research and technology groups and academic organisations can be the project lead, depending on the project type
• projects can attract a maximum of 50% grant funding. Within that, individual businesses can attract up to 70% depending on funding requests from other partners
• organisations must sign up to the ATI framework agreement
• an online briefing event will be held on 15 April 2019 where organisations can find out more about the competition and applying

Find out more about this competition and apply.

Published 18 March 2019
Last updated 20 March 2019 + show all updates

1. 20 March 2019

   Corrected competition deadline and other dates and grant funding details.

2. 18 March 2019

   First published.