Deadline: October 29, 2025
The ATI Programme Strategic Batch Expression of Interest (EoI) competition is a UK grant opportunity coordinated by the Department for Business and Trade, Innovate UK, and the Aerospace Technology Institute, designed to fund industrial research and capital infrastructure projects to strengthen the UK civil aerospace sector.
Your project must meet the objectives and priorities of the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace. Proposals should align with Destination Zero and focus on Zero Carbon Emission Aircraft Technologies, Ultra Efficient Aircraft Technologies, Cross Cutting Enabling Technologies, and Non-CO2 Technologies.
The ATI Programme is supported by £975 million allocated from the government for financial years 2025–2026 through 2029–2030 and is managed jointly by the Department for Business and Trade, Innovate UK, and the Aerospace Technology Institute. This competition represents phase 1 of a two-phase strategic batch process. In this initial Expression of Interest phase, proposals are reviewed by the Aerospace Technology Institute, and only successful applicants are invited to the full stage application, where funding decisions are made by the Department for Business and Trade.
Projects can be led by single organisations or collaborations. Eligible lead organisations include UK-registered businesses for research projects and businesses, research organisations, or academic institutions for capital infrastructure projects. Collaborating organisations may include academic institutions, charities, public sector organisations, and research and technology organisations. Projects must be carried out in the UK, intend to exploit results in the UK, and comply with the Aerospace Technology Institute framework agreement.
The ATI Programme provides funding on a no-subsidy basis, as defined by the Subsidy Control Act 2022, ensuring no selective economic advantage is given to participants. Industrial research projects may request up to 60% of eligible costs, with smaller organisations eligible for higher percentages within this limit. Capital infrastructure projects can request up to 50% of total eligible project costs, with research organisations performing non-economic activity able to claim up to 100% of their own costs. The maximum grant funding for any single organisation is capped at £18 million.
The programme focuses exclusively on civil aerospace projects, including dual-use technologies, and will not fund projects solely focused on defence, space, fundamental research, or experimental development. Projects dependent on export performance or domestic input usage are also ineligible. The ATI Programme encourages inclusion and accessibility, providing support for applicants with disabilities or long-term conditions. Applicants can also involve subcontractors or non-funded partners, with costs appropriately justified and compliant with competition rules.
Applicants must ensure compliance with UK regulations, including the use of animals in research where relevant, and maintain transparency in cost accounting for mixed economic and non-economic activities in infrastructure projects. The ATI Programme also reserves the right to adjust funding allocations in exceptional circumstances or withdraw funding if government commitment changes.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
