€945 million for new clean aviation initiatives: 12 groundbreaking projects selected

On 9 September, the Governing Board of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking has launched €945 million to support 12 visionary projects aimed at decarbonising aviation.

The selected initiatives in the field of new aircraft concepts and innovative propulsion technologies and systems will complement those funded under Clean Aviation’s First and Second Calls for Proposals. Projects will start beginning of 2026 and first flight tests are planned for 2028-2029. The projects will help reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases for commercial air travel by no less than 30% compared to 2020 state-of-the-art technologies, and will pave the way for cleaner aircraft by 2035.

The results of Call 3 also mark the start of a new cooperation in regional aviation between the EU and Canada: PHARES (Powerplant Hybrid Application for Regional Segment), has been selected to receive €69 million in EU funding. The project, which will advance hybrid-electric propulsion for regional aircraft, is coordinated by a Canadian aircraft engine manufacturer.

"Europe will not fly into the future with yesterday’s technologies. Together with trusted partners, like Canada, we set our course toward CO2 emission reductions by 30% – to stay competitive, secure sustainable growth, and keep our industry ahead of other world regions." - Ekaterina Zaharieva (European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation)

"Achieving our climate goals and advancing sustainable aviation can only be done if public and private actors work hand in hand. By supporting the brightest minds, fostering technical excellence and encouraging novel solutions, we can accelerate the breakthroughs our industry needs. The projects selected under Clean Aviation Call 3 represent an important milestone on this journey." - Sabine Klauke (Co-chair of the Governing Board, Head of Digital Design Manufacturing and Services “Next Gen”, Airbus)

Overall, 12 projects will receive funding in the following areas:

- €199 million EU funding for Ultra-efficient Short-Medium Range aircraft technologies

- €144 million EU funding for Ultra-efficient Regional aircraft technologies

- €20 million EU funding for Fast Track Areas (FTAs)

- Transversal projects dedicated to Aircraft Concept Integration & Impact Assessment have been awarded €15 million EU funding.

Ultra-efficient Short-Medium Range aircraft:

- TAKE OFF (Technology And Knowledge for European Open Fan Flight): Safran Aircraft Engines

- LEIA (Large scalE Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture): Airbus Operations GmbH

- UNIFIED (Ultra Novel and Innovative Fully Integrated Engine Demonstrations): Rolls-Royce plc

Ultra-efficient Regional aircraft:

- PHARES (Powerplant Hybrid Application for REegional Segment): Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.

- DEMETRA (Demonstrator of an Electrified Modern Efficient Transport Regional Aircraft): Avions de Transport Regional

- OSYRYS (On-board SYstems Relevant for hYbridization of Regional aircraftS): Safran Electrical & Power

Fast Track Areas:

- CRYOSTAR (Certification Roadmap to Yield an Optimal and Safety methodology of crashworthiness for an integrated cryogenic Tank for liquid hydrogen storAge on board of future aircraft): Universita Degli Studi Della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

- MODABAT (Modular, scalable and technology-Open Design for future Aviation BATteries): Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung EV

- POWER4AIR (Arc Fault Detection, low EMI and Reliability for Power Electronics in Electric Aircrafts): Skylife Engineering SL

- LIME (Lithium based Innovation for Modular Energy): Ascendance Flight Technologies

Aircraft Concept Integration & Impact Assessment:

- HERACLES (Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft Concept for Low EmissionS): Avions de Transport Regional

- ACI&I (Short Medium Range - Aircraft Configuration Integration and Impact): Airbus Operations GmbH

"The results of Call 3 show the variety of innovative technological concepts to boost the entry-into-service of highly efficient aircraft by 2035. These projects have high potential to make major advancements towards climate neutrality and sustainability." - Axel Krein (Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking)

Call 3 introduced a new initiative to advance disruptive technologies, the Fast Track Areas (FTAs). The FTAs are designed to de-risk alternative or complementary technical solutions offered by Research Centres and SMEs. They put the focus on proposals that can rapidly advance impactful technologies to the development phase and are closely connected to the Short-Medium Range and Regional aircraft coordinators. Four promising projects were selected within this realm.

All selected projects are in line with the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).