The UK’s government’s sustainable aviation programme is to receive £685 million over the next three years – an increase of 50 per cent on the previous round of funding.
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, which started in 2013, supports the development of new zero-carbon and ultra-low-emission aircraft.
UK industry minister Lee Rowley said that ATI would receive £685 million from the government between 2022 and 2025, which will rise to more than £1 billion with co-funding of projects by the aviation industry.
ATI has previously backed aircraft projects such as ZeroAvia’s six-seat hydrogen-electric aircraft and Rolls-Royce’s development of more efficient engines. The government also announced that the ATI programme will now continue to 2031.
“These projects are making a real-world impact and could one day help the global aviation industry transition to net zero,” said Rowley.
“Today’s commitment is a sign of our increasing ambition and will give large and small businesses the confidence to invest in the technologies that will bring civil aviation into the next generation.”
The government has confirmed that the ATI programme will reopen to new funding applications on 4 April.
Aerospace Technology Institute CEO Gary Elliott added: “The ATI will be able to invest more than £1 billion over the next three years in the cutting-edge technology needed to move towards our net zero targets.
“This has allowed us to reopen ATI funding to new applications from April and we will work with BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) and Innovate UK to ensure that this funding drives UK economic growth and reduces global aviation emissions.”
The ATI programme is part of the government’s Jet Zero policy, which includes the Jet Zero Council, where ministers and members of the aviation industry discuss ways to reduce airline emissions. A final Jet Zero strategy is due to be published this summer.