Deadline: September 17, 2025
The ATI Programme strategic batch: Expression of Interest – September 2025 funds industrial research and investment aid for research infrastructures to make the UK civil aerospace sector more competitive.
The focus of this programme is aligned with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy, Destination Zero, and includes Zero Carbon Emission Aircraft Technologies, Ultra Efficient Aircraft Technologies, Cross cutting Enabling Technologies, and Non-CO2 Technologies.
This competition is the first phase of a two-stage process, beginning with an Expression of Interest (EoI) where proposals are reviewed by the Aerospace Technology Institute. Based on its recommendation, the Department for Business and Trade makes the decision to progress applicants to phase two, which is the Full Stage Application (FSA). Only at the second stage is funding awarded, following assessment by Innovate UK, value for money review, policy review, and strategic evaluation.
The ATI Programme is managed by the Department for Business and Trade, Innovate UK, and the Aerospace Technology Institute. A total of £975 million has been allocated by the UK government for the financial years 2025 to 2026 through 2029 to 2030 to support the programme. The competition closes on 17 September 2025 at 11:00am UK time.
Eligibility criteria require projects to be carried out in the UK, exploit results in the UK, and directly address the requirements of the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy. Applicants must sign up to the Aerospace Technology Institute framework agreement and claim funding. Projects must not begin until a Grant Offer Letter is approved.
To lead a project, organisations must be UK registered and can include businesses of any size for research projects or businesses, research organisations, research and technology organisations, or academic institutions for capital infrastructure projects. Collaborations must include at least two organisations, and partners must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service. Subcontractors may be from the UK or overseas, but use of non-UK subcontractors must be justified. Non-UK partners can participate at their own cost but must be included in the application.
Funding limits are applied to ensure balance. Industrial research projects can request up to 60% of total eligible project costs, with a maximum grant of £18 million per organisation. Funding percentages vary by organisation size, with small organisations eligible for up to 70%, medium for up to 60%, and large for up to 50%. Research organisations can share up to 30% of total eligible project costs. For capital infrastructure projects, the maximum funding is also £18 million, with a cap of 50% of eligible costs.
Successful EoI applicants will be invited to submit a full stage application under the Research or Capital strand in the next batch. Proposals must remain consistent across both stages, with no major changes allowed unless justified.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
