NATEP helping SMEs innovate in aerospace: Autumn 2021

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is working with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

A NATEP competition is held approximately every 6 months. This is call 4 of 6 and for each call there is up to £2.5m funding available.

The aim of this competition is to provide help for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop innovative aerospace technologies. These will enhance your capabilities and increase your ability to win new business.

Your proposal must align with the priorities stated in the UK Aerospace technology strategy, Accelerating Ambition. Your proposal will be subject to independent assessment by Innovate UK and strategic review by the Aerospace Technology Institute. You will need to pass both assessments for your application to be recommended for funding. BEIS has the final funding decision.

If you are successful, Innovate UK will perform financial viability and eligibility checks. Final approvals are issued by BEIS. You will be contracted by Innovate UK.

Your project’s total eligible costs must be between £150,000 and £300,000.

Your project must:

• end by 31 March 2024
• last between 12 and 18 months
• carry out all of its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

You can start your project from 1 June 2022.

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
• collaborate with other UK registered businesses, research organisations, research technology organisations (RTO), public sector organisations, charities or Academic Institutions
• plan to carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• sign up to the Aerospace Technology Institute framework agreement

We primarily expect to fund businesses that are new to research and development (R&D) or are restarting R&D activity.

To collaborate with the lead your organisation must be a UK registered business, research organisation, academic institution, charity, public sector organisation or RTO.

Any eligible UK registered business can lead on one application and collaborate in a further 2 applications. Any non-leading UK business can collaborate in up to 3 applications. All other organisations can collaborate on any number of applications.

The aim of this competition is to help SMEs to develop their own innovative technologies. These should enhance their capabilities and increase their ability to win new business in the civil aerospace sector.

Your project must have a credible route to market and preferably have identified your end users. Your project should:

• demonstrate improvement in business productivity and competitiveness
• show clear benefit technically
• be able to pull through new technology or processes for use in a current or future product or manufacturing process
• show clear benefit in creating or safeguarding jobs
• be able to enhance capabilities within the broader aerospace industry, as well as other sectors such as advanced manufacturing

Your project must have a potential application within the civil aerospace sector. This can include dual use technologies.

Your proposal must align with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy, ‘Accelerating Ambition’, which is split into these areas:

• vehicles: strengthening the UK’s whole-aircraft design and system integration capability, and positioning it for future generations of civil aircraft
• advanced systems: developing UK advanced systems technologies to capture high-value opportunities in current and future aircraft
• aerostructures: ensuring the UK is a global leader in the development of large complex structures, particularly wings
• propulsion and power: advancing a new generation of more efficient propulsion technologies, particularly large turbofans
• cross-cutting enablers: developing high value design capabilities, advanced materials, manufacturing and assembly, and advanced through-life engineering technologies

If you would like help with your application or finding a project partner, contact KTN’s Transport team.