Innovation opportunity: Future Flight Challenge
Innovate UK has opened Phase 2 of its Future Flight Challenge, offering up to £30 million in grants for innovation projects.
The funding, from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, will go to projects to develop integrated aviation systems and/or vehicle technologies that enable new classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles. Innovate UK is looking for solutions that can be integrated into a mature operational environment, ensuring safe and reliable operation in flight and on the ground.
This competition phase has two strands:
- Strand 1, the ‘fast track’ strand encourages applications from smaller businesses and organisations who may not work within the aerospace or aviation sector.
- Strand 2 will focus on larger projects and encourage applications that seek to integrate technologies and systems.
A third phase of the programme is due to launch in the winter of 2021.
The competition is open to UK registered businesses, and a project’s total eligible costs must be between £150,000 and £500,000. Closing date is 1 July 2020, and more details are available here.
Businesses looking for help in finding a project partner can contact futureflight@ktn.org.uk