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Building the aircraft of the future: apply for funding

Organisations can apply to become part of a £3.9 billion programme to support innovative projects that will help to make UK civil aerospace more competitive.

Jet engine turbine blades of a plane via AMatveev at Shutterstock

Businesses and researchers can get support for innovative civil aerospace projects.

ʹapp (ATI), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK are running a programme together to find businesses and researchers interested in gaining support for innovative aerospace projects.

This activity is part of the UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme, a £3.9 billion joint government and industry investment for projects that will make the UK more competitive in civil aerospace.

Businesses and researchers can submit expressions of interest in carrying out a future project that could get grant funding. It is the first of a possible 4 stages.

Projects must fit with UK aerospace strategy

We are seeking projects that are in line with the UK’s .

Priority areas include:

  • strengthening the UK’s whole-aircraft design and system integration capability and positioning it for future generations of civil aircraft
  • the development of smart, connected and more electric aircraft
  • ensuring the UK is a global leader in the development of large complex structures, particularly wings
  • advancing a new generation of more efficient propulsion technologies, particularly large turbofans

Competition information

  • we are now inviting expressions of interest, and the deadline is at midday on 16 May 2018
  • successful applicants will be invited to make a full funding application. ʹapp approval process typically takes 6 months
  • organisations can work alone or in partnership with other businesses and researchers
  • project costs and duration should be in proportion to the objectives
  • businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs
  • you will need to sign up to the to be eligible to apply

Updates to this page

Published 1 May 2018
Last updated 2 May 2018 show all updates
  1. Change to order of delivery partners

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