The UK’s aviation sector is embarking on a transformative era, driven by innovations in drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and zero-emission conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) planes. To propel this evolution, Innovate UK, in collaboration with the Department for Transport (DfT), has unveiled two new funding competitions under the Future Flight Challenge: the “Future Flight: Strategic Growth” and the “Future Flight: Regional Demonstrator.” These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between groundbreaking trials and real-world commercial operations, fostering sustainable growth and positioning the UK at the forefront of advanced aviation.

Future Flight: Strategic Growth
Objective: This competition seeks to accelerate the development of the UK drone sector by supporting projects that demonstrate progress towards commercialisation or routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The focus is on building upon current state-of-the-art approaches to create growth and meet the objectives of the DfT’s Future of Flight programme.

Key Details

• Funding Available: Up to £3 million in total, with individual grants ranging between £250,000 and £500,000.
• Project Duration: Projects must last between six and seven months, commencing on 1st September 2025 and ending by 31st March 2026.
• Eligibility: Open to UK-registered organisations. Projects must be carried out in the UK and intend to exploit the results from or in the UK.

Project Requirements
Applicants must deliver either:

1. Tangible Outcomes in New Use Cases: Projects should focus on new use cases previously at a demonstration phase or scaling up existing commercial use cases, with strong end-user involvement.
2. Developments Supporting Regulatory Policy: Projects should contribute to the regulatory policy concepts or concepts of operation being developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enable Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Applicants must be willing to share data and outputs with the CAA.

Strategic Focus Areas

Applications are particularly encouraged in areas such as medical delivery, inspection of critical infrastructure, maritime operations, agriculture, and support to frontline public services.

Application Deadline: 11:00am on Wednesday, 11th June 2025.

Future Flight: Regional Demonstrator
Objective: This competition aims to accelerate the transition from trials of cutting-edge innovations to real-world commercial operations at a regional scale. The goal is to unlock high-value, socio-economic benefits for UK communities and align with the objectives of the DfT’s Future of Flight programme.

Key Details

• Funding Available: Up to £600,000 in total, with individual grants ranging between £150,000 and £200,000 to support the development of regional demonstrators.
• Eligibility: Open to UK-registered organisations. Projects must include at least one local government authority and at least one operator, end-user, or customer.

Project Requirements

Projects must deliver one or more of the following:

1. Pathway to Commercial Operations: Develop a detailed plan to transform demonstrations into real-world commercial operations at scale within a selected UK geographical area.
2. Business Case Development: Create a business case for commercial drone, eVTOL, or zero-emission CTOL aircraft services that deliver high-value socio-economic benefits to a selected UK region.
3. Proof of Concept: Establish a proof of concept or concept of operations for commercial drone, eVTOL, or zero-emission CTOL aircraft services at scale across a selected UK area.
4. Living Lab or Test Bed Development: Plan for a living lab or test bed representative of the future flight operating ecosystem to accelerate regional-scale regulatory, community, and infrastructure readiness.
5. Multimodal Transport Integration: Accelerate multimodal transport by integrating drone, eVTOL, or zero-emission CTOL aircraft into regional transport networks or hubs, including airports.
6. Commercial Development Plan: Develop a commercial plan for drone, eVTOL, or zero-emission CTOL aircraft services in a selected UK area, based on identified commercially viable use cases that meet regional socio-economic needs and customer demand.

Application Deadline: 11:00am on Wednesday, 11th June 2025.

Strategic Implications for the UK’s Aviation Sector
These funding competitions represent a concerted effort by the UK government to foster innovation, sustainability, and economic growth within the aviation sector. By supporting projects that bridge the gap between demonstration and commercialisation, the UK aims to:

• Enhance Regional Connectivity: Facilitate the integration of advanced air mobility solutions into regional transport networks, improving accessibility and reducing travel times.
• Promote Environmental Sustainability: Encourage the adoption of zero-emission aircraft technologies, contributing to the UK’s net-zero carbon emissions targets.
• Stimulate Economic Growth: Create new market opportunities, jobs, and services, particularly in underserved or remote areas.
• Strengthen Regulatory Frameworks: Collaborate with regulatory bodies like the CAA to develop policies and standards that ensure the safe and efficient integration of new aviation technologies.

The “Strategic Growth” and “Regional Demonstrator” competitions offer a unique opportunity for innovators, local authorities, and industry stakeholders to contribute to the evolution of the UK’s aviation landscape. By participating in these Future Flight initiatives, organisations can play a pivotal role in shaping a more connected, sustainable, and economically vibrant future.