The latest round of UKRI’s Future Flight challenge opens for applications this month. Through this competition, £65 million is available for innovation projects that develop and demonstrate integrated aviation systems and new vehicle technologies. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
Phase 3 aims to build on the success of the 2020 Phase 2 competition, which invested a total of £33.5 million in over 40 innovative projects. You can read about some of the successful projects on the UKRI website.
This competition has two strands:
Strand 1, demonstrating aspects of these novel air vehicles and systems
Firstly, funding is available for projects that focus on the demonstration aspects of novel classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles and systems. Total eligible costs can range from £500,000 to £15 million.
The lead organisation must:
- be a UK registered business of any size
- be or involve at least one UK registered SME
- collaborate with other UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profit, public sector organisations or research and technology organisations (RTOs)
Please note that academic institutions cannot lead an application.
Strand 2, cross-cutting technologies that enable the deployment and operation of new air vehicles
Secondly, projects can focus on developing enabling technologies and cross-cutting systems that support the deployment of novel air vehicles in UK airspace. Total eligible costs must be between £500,000 and £4 million.
To lead a project, your organisation must fulfil the following criteria:
- be a UK registered business of any size
- be or involve at least one UK registered SME
- collaborate with other UK registered organisations
Academic institutions are also ineligible to lead Strand 2 applications.
Future Flight Challenge Phase 3 will open from 6th September until 3rd November 2021. For more information and to apply, please visit the respective competition pages: Strand 1 and Strand 2. Additionally, if you are looking for bid writing support and would like to arrange a free consultation, get in touch today.
