In a major push towards sustainable aviation, the UK has announced an investment of 250 million pounds ($340 million) to support research in green technologies, including zero-emission flying, laser-beam manufacturing, and reducing aircraft drag, aiming to strengthen the country’s aerospace sector.
The UK said the funding for research and development projects led by Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and a number of smaller companies and academic partnerships, would attract more private investment into the sector and add new jobs.
Announcement At Paris Airshow
Industry Minister Sarah Jones is due to announce the new funding at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, backing a number of projects which include the development of infrastructure for testing liquid hydrogen systems, fuel cell systems and developing lightweight materials.
The funding announcement came ahead of the government’s industrial strategy, expected to be published later this month, and which will aim to help grow the country’s defence and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Jones said supporting the major contractors was “incredibly important”, but the government also wanted to encourage more start-ups in the sector.
Govt Backing Aerospace
“This government is backing aerospace. This investment will keep it at the forefront of innovation, not only delivering economic growth but boosting the charge to net zero 2030, two key pillars of our Plan for Change,” she said, as quoted by an official news release.
“This is the latest win for British aerospace in the run-up to the launch of our Industrial Strategy, which will turbocharge growth in our advanced manufacturing and defence sectors to take them to new heights, bringing new high-skilled jobs to every corner of the UK.”
‘Critical To Accelerating Decarbonisation Journey’
Airbus UK chairman John Harrison said the funding gave the industry the confidence and stability needed to fuel innovation.
“It’s terrific to see ATI funding allocated to projects like our ZeroE Development Centre (ZEDC) that will be built at Airbus Filton, and for DecSAM which builds on the industry’s additive manufacturing capabilities,” he said.
“It’s initiatives like these that are absolutely critical to accelerating our decarbonisation journey and advancing sustainable, cutting-edge manufacturing. The continued ATI funding provides the UK aerospace industry with the confidence and stability it needs to fuel innovation,” Harrison added.
(With inputs from Reuters)
