Aerospace research gets £154m boost

Investment will help develop next generation of quieter, faster and environmentally friendly aircraft

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announce a £154 million investment in aerospace research projects to maintain the UK's position as a world leader of aerospace innovation.

The plans, revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow on 17 July, will see money being invested in four specific project areas: wings, engines, aircraft structures and radio communications. 

The cash injection is part of a £2 billion Aerospace Technology Institute, government and industry investment in aerospace research and development.

Funding will include £42 million for research led by Airbus into designing, manufacturing and assembling wings; £20 million for a project led by Rolls-Royce to explore technologies to create lighter, greener and more fuel-efficient aircraft and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75% by 2050.

A further £49 million will go towards a GKN-led project which will research how 3D printing can help the UK produce the first-ever lightweight metallic aircraft parts and £13 million will go towards Thales-led research to improve flights for passengers and enable them to stay connected in the air with better access to the internet and allow them to make telephone calls.

It will help to secure more than 100,000 skilled jobs in aerospace and its supply chain in the long term in a market expected to be worth more than £4 trillion over the next 30 years.

Clegg said: “The UK's aerospace industry is going from strength to strength and helping our economic recovery. We are the number one aerospace industry in Europe and second only the United Staes globally.

“I want to ensure the UK remains at the cutting edge of aerospace innovation, which is why I am pleased to announce that we are investing £154 million for research to explore new technologies like the 3D printing of plane parts and creating lighter, greener aircraft.”

Clegg also announced that small and medium-sized businesses can bid for a share of a £50 million pot from October.