The UK government has pledged £250 million ($340 million) to support research and development in greener aviation technologies, aiming to reduce emissions and strengthen the country’s aerospace sector. The funding will support projects focused on zero-emission flight, laser-based manufacturing, aircraft drag reduction, and the development of lightweight materials.
Announced by Industry Minister Sarah Jones at the Paris Airshow, the funding package will back initiatives led by aerospace giants Airbus and Rolls-Royce, alongside smaller firms and academic institutions. The investment is intended to attract additional private capital into the sector and create new job opportunities.
Among the initiatives supported are the creation of infrastructure for testing liquid hydrogen and fuel cell systems, seen as key to enabling low-carbon aviation. The funding forms part of broader efforts to enhance the UK’s defence and advanced manufacturing capabilities, with a new industrial strategy expected later this month.
Jones emphasised the importance of nurturing innovation throughout the supply chain, not just among major contractors.
“Getting the supply chain of smaller businesses ready is the challenge, and that’s what we want to build up in the UK,” she said.
Airbus UK chairman John Harrison welcomed the funding, describing it as essential to the industry’s decarbonisation goals.
“It’s initiatives like these that are absolutely critical to accelerating our decarbonisation journey and advancing sustainable, cutting-edge manufacturing,” he said.
