Strategic Programme

Summary

The Strategic Programme is a two-stage competitive funding programme which promotes government-industry investment into the UK aerospace sector and supply chain by funding innovative, high-impact projects.

Projects can be either industrial research or capital infrastructure investment. The total grant funding limit for any individual organisation is £18 million. The total grant funding limit for capital infrastructure projects is £18 million.

For guidance on eligible project costs which can be included in your application, please click here.

Stage one – Outline Stage (OS)
Details on the Outline Stage of the Strategic Programme including links to apply can be found on this page. Further guidance is available in our webinar recording and slide pack.

Stage two – Full Stage Application (FSA)
Successful Outline Stage applicants will be invited to apply to the Full Stage Application stage via the Innovation Funding Service with guidance available on the UKRI website here.

Eligibility

The Strategic Programme is open to UK-registered organisations. We encourage collaborative applications to maximise the impact of programme investments.

Lead organisation

To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

• for research projects, be a UK-registered business of any size
• for capital infrastructure projects, be a UK-registered business of any size, a research and technology organisation (RTO), research organisation or academic institution
• carry out your aerospace research or capital infrastructure project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• address the specific requirements of the UK aerospace technology strategy
• sign the ATI Framework Agreement
• claim funding

Academic organisations cannot lead on Industrial Research projects.

Project team

To collaborate with the lead organisation, your organisation must be a UK-registered:

• business of any size
• academic institution
• charity
• not-for-profit
• public sector organisation
• RTO

Your organisation must:

• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• be invited to take part by the lead applicant
• sign the ATI Framework Agreement

For a consortium to be eligible, the lead organisation and at least one other organisation must:

• apply for funding by entering project costs into the application
• include rationale for the collaboration and describe the structure in your application

Research participation

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them. Of that 30% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:

• 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are a Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) registered institution such as academia
• 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not-for-profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation

For guidance on claiming 80% of FEC funding, please see the Restrictions and Finances section.

Scope

Applications to the Strategic Programme must align with the ATI aerospace technology strategy, Destination Zero, and have a potential application within the civil aerospace sector.

Destination Zero serves as an ambitious blueprint for growth in the industry. The strategy’s ultra-efficient, zero-carbon and cross-cutting technology roadmaps detail the objectives and milestones for the UK aerospace sector across aircraft design, manufacture, assembly and operations.

Technology strategy

Projects we will not fund

We do not fund projects that are:

• focused solely on defence, space or other industrial sectors, but we will recognise dual use (up to two sectors, not limited to defence applications) technologies providing the primary application is in civil aerospace.
• for fundamental research, early-stage technologies or experimental development. To view the ATI’s guidance on TRL levels, please click here.
• dependent on export performance, for example, giving a subsidy to a manufacturer on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of parts to another country.
• dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example, giving a subsidy to a manufacturer on the condition that it uses 50% UK materials in their product.

Research categories

We will fund industrial research projects as defined in the guidance on categories of research and investment aid for research infrastructure.

Assessment criteria

• How well the technology supports the ATI technology strategy and delivers aircraft-level benefits (e.g. cost, weight, performance).
• The novelty of the technology and whether the project scope and timeline are realistic.
• Clarity of work packages, partner roles, KPIs and milestones.
• Market need, end-user engagement, commercial potential and a credible route to market that strengthens the UK supply chain.

Outline Stage PowerPoint presentation guidance

As part of the Outline Stage application, you are required to submit a PowerPoint presentation in PDF format. This presentation must address the following criteria:

Technology

Alignment with the ATI aerospace technology strategy and aircraft-level benefits

• Explain how the technology aligns with the ATI aerospace technology strategy and its potential impact on UK aerospace.
• Explain the aircraft technology benefits, including how it improves cost, efficiency, reduces weight, enhances performance and/or how it supports UK competitiveness.

Technology ambition

• Explain the innovation step, compare the proposed technology to current industry solutions and known competitor R&D, highlighting advancements.
• Demonstrate that the project’s ambition is realistic and proportionate, with a scope and timeline that align with its objectives and intended outcomes.
• Clearly outline the work packages, the challenge and how it will be addressed, the start and end technology maturity, and the intended outcomes and exploitation plans.

Technology approach

• Provide a breakdown of defined work packages with clear, proportionate objectives for each partner.
• Provide clear plans, which may include, KPIs, milestones and risk management, and highlight links to any other ATI or externally funded initiatives.

Exploitation and market

Business and market opportunity

• Explain market need, with identified end users who have been engaged or consulted during project development.
• Demonstrate the technology’s competitive advantage and commercial viability.

Exploitation and route to market

• Identify key exploitation opportunities, risks and barriers to market and how grant funding will help mitigate these risks and support deployment.
• Explain the route to market and how the technology strengthens the UK supply chain.

Financial restrictions
Organisations in financial difficulty will not be awarded grant funds. Innovate UK will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests at the Full Stage Application stage.

Industrial research projects
To manage the financial pressure of high demand for ATI Programme funding, there is an overall cap of 60% on project level funding for industrial research projects. This means the total grant request in your application cannot exceed 60% of the total eligible project costs, regardless of the individual partners’ grant claims. Of that 60%, your funding request must not exceed the limits below. These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically.

Individual partners conducting commercial or economic activities as part of the project, which may include research organisations, can request grant funding of up to:

• 70% if you are a small or micro-organisation
• 60% if you are a medium sized organisation
• 50% if you are a large organisation

The total grant funding limit for any individual organisation is £18 million.

For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance.

If applying for a funding award that is funded under State Aid Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.

Capital infrastructure projects
Capital infrastructure projects must focus on the construction or upgrade of research infrastructures that perform economic activities. 

Each infrastructure project can request total grant funding of up to £18 million and the total project grant funding must not exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs. 

Under the ATI Programme rules, research organisations and academic institutions can apply for up to 100% funding for capital projects, provided the work is non-economic. Funding is awarded competitively. At Full Stage Application (FSA), all proposals are assessed on overall value for money. If successful, funding is provided on a no-subsidy basis

Seeking 100% public funding may make your project less competitive in value for money, when compared to proposals that include private capital. To strengthen your application and demonstrate broader commitment to the project, we encourage you to explore opportunities for additional private investment.

Before submitting a capital project application, speak with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). Early engagement is likely to help develop a proposal suitable for the programme. Your total eligible project costs must be the investment costs in intangible and tangible assets. 

If the research infrastructure pursues both economic and non-economic activities, you must: 

• account for the financing, costs and revenues of each type of activity separately
• use consistently applied and objectively justifiable cost accounting principles 

Access to the research infrastructure for its operation or use must be open to several users without discrimination and be granted on a transparent basis. Users must be charged the market price. 

If an organisation has financed at least 10% of the investment costs of the project infrastructure, it can be granted preferential access under more favourable conditions. 

The access must be in proportion to the organisation’s contribution to the investment costs and access conditions must be made publicly available.

Non-funded partners
Your project can include non-UK partners, including organisations based in the EU, who provide their own funding. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work from within their registered country and exploit results overseas. Their costs will count towards the total eligible project costs.

Subcontractors
Subcontractors may be used in Strategic Programme projects. They can be from anywhere in the UK and must be selected through your organisation’s usual procurement process.
You may use overseas subcontractors but must provide a detailed rationale in your application as to why you are unable to use UK subcontractors including evidence of potential UK subcontractors approached and the reasons why they were unsuitable. Please note lower costs will not be accepted a reason to use an overseas subcontractor over a UK subcontractor. All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs.

Claiming 80% of FEC funding

1. Research organisations using the Je-S system must submit their costs through the Je-S system which calculates the 80% FEC figure.
2. On IFS, only the 80% FEC output should be entered at 100% funding.
3. Applicants do not need to show the remaining 20% on the finance table.

To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics.

Previous applications
If you have previously submitted an Outline Stage application that was assessed by the ATI, you can re-apply once more with the same application, up to a total of two submissions.

If there are minor differences to the application but it is judged not to be materially different by the ATI, this will be considered as the same application.

We will not award you funding if you have:

• failed to exploit a previously funded project
• an overdue independent accountant’s report
• failed to comply with grant terms and conditions
• received funding previously for the same project from the government
• already developed technology via private funds

Multiple applications
Lead organisations in an application can collaborate in up to two other applications. Organisations not leading any application can collaborate in up to three applications.
An academic institution, charity, public sector organisation, research organisation or RTO can collaborate on any number of applications. If organisations submit the same project to both the Strategic Programme and the SME Programme and are successful in both, they can only accept one of the awards.

Funding restrictions and sanctions
This competition will not fund or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities, directly or indirectly involved, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Under current restrictions, this competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian and Belarusian entity as lead, partner or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian and Belarusian source.

Applications are submitted via the link on this webpage, which will become live between the published competition dates. Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure:

• the application is completed and submitted before the deadline
• that all the information provided in the application is correct
• your application meets the eligibility, scope and criteria requirements
• all sections of the application are marked as complete
• if a consortium, that all partners have completed all signed the ATI Framework Agreement

You cannot edit your application once submitted.

What we will ask you
The Outline Stage is made up of two parts:
Part one: Application details and presentation submission
Part two: Presentation to the Panel

Stage one – Outline Stage
Part one – Application details and PowerPoint presentation
This section provides background for your application and is not assessed.

Project details
Including project title, start date and duration plus your total project costs (includes ineligible costs) and total grant request (only eligible costs). Your project’s duration must be appropriate and in proportion to the planned objectives and prioritisation within the UK aerospace technology strategy, Destination Zero.

Lead applicant contact details
The name and email address for a representative of the lead applicant organisation who is responsible for submitting the application and is the main point of contact for the project.

Location of lead company
The location of the site where the majority of the lead organisation’s project work will take place.

Application team
The organisation(s) you will work with on your project including name, location and email address of the key point of contact from each organisation.

Total project costs
Include all costs needed to deliver the project, including those ineligible for funding. The ATI Programme funds up to 60% of eligible costs. The remaining 40% must be covered by the organisation(s) in the project.

Grant request
Include costs that fall within the permitted cost categories and are essential to the successful delivery of the project. For guidance and further information, please visit Costs we fund – Innovate UK – UKRI.

Project summary (max 200 words)
A brief description of the project and why it is innovative. The ATI uses this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.

Framework Agreement
All applicants to the Strategic Programme must read and sign the ATI Framework Agreement. To avoid delays later in the process we recommend doing so as early as possible, but it must be completed no later than 30 days after Full Stage Application notification. This link will take you to our secure Adobe Sign page where you can read and sign the ATI Framework Agreement. Your digital signature will be reviewed by the ATI team, and you will receive confirmation via email once the validation process is complete.

If you have signed the ATI Framework agreement for a project on the Strategic Programme, you are not required to sign it again.

Presentation document rules

• The presentation must be submitted as a PDF up to 10MB in size.
• No more than 15 slides*
• Font – Arial
• Minimum font sizes:
• Title Slide and Section Header – Size 36
• Content Slide Titles – Size 28
• Body text – 14
• Captions and references – 10
• Slide aspect ratio – widescreen

*If more than 15 slides are submitted, only the first 15 slides will be assessed.

After submitting your application, the ATI will carry out an eligibility check to determine if your project is in scope. Only projects that are in scope will be invited to present their Outline Stage presentation to the panel. If your project is not in scope, you will be told why but will not receive any further feedback on the application.

Part two – Presentation to the Panel
If invited to present your Outline Stage presentation to the panel, this will be on one of the published panel presentation dates. The panel will include a Chair, a Co-Chair and assessors. The presentations will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. Guidance on how to use Microsoft Teams, can be found here.

Please note, other than minor corrections such as typos, the copy of the presentation submitted must be the same as the one used during the Outline Stage Presentation to the Panel. Major changes may lead to your application being disqualified from the competition.

• You will be invited to an hour-long meeting.
• The project lead must attend and lead the presentation.
• You must join the meeting promptly at the allocated time.
• Any delay in joining the meeting will result in less time for your presentation and Q&A.
• No more than five members of the consortium, including the project lead, can attend the panel presentation. The names and e-mail addresses of the attendees must be communicated to the ATI as part of your application. If more than five attendees join the panel presentation, the additional attendees will be asked to leave the meeting. In unforeseen circumstances, applicants are permitted to replace project attendees, but must inform the ATI by emailing competitions@ati.org.uk at least two working days prior to their allocated panel presentation date.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure you have access to suitable IT equipment, with your camera and sound turned on, and are able to share your screen to present your slides.
• No additional materials can be shared during the panel presentation in any format e.g., hardware, paperwork, demo. etc.
• Panel presentations can rarely be rescheduled once allocated. You are responsible for ensuring your availability to attend on the published dates.
• To ensure fairness, panel presentations run strictly to time.
• Please be aware that recording or filming of the panel presentation is not permitted. including the use of AI transcribing or AI recording tools. Automated tools must be disabled before joining the meeting. Recording of interviews could result in an application being disqualified from the competition process.

Indicative panel presentation agenda:

*Presenters will leave the meeting after the question and answer session.

After assessing applications, the ATI will make recommendations to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) which makes the decision on projects proceeding to Full Stage Application.

If you are successful in the Outline Stage, you will be invited to submit a Full Stage Application (see below).

If your Outline Stage application is not successful, you will be given the opportunity to discuss your feedback with the ATI. Details on how to take up this feedback opportunity are provided in the feedback document.

The outcome of your application and feedback on your Outline Stage application will be provided by the ATI on the published notification date.

There is no funding at Outline Stage. Funding will be awarded at Full Stage Application, if successful.

Stage Two – Full Stage Application
If you are successful in the Outline Stage, you will be invited by Innovate UK to apply for the appropriate Research or Capital strand of the Full Stage Application, aligned with the next Batch in the ATI Programme.

You must apply to one of the next two Full Stage Application competitions otherwise you will need to reapply to the Outline Stage. If you wish to defer your full stage application to the following Batch, you will need to contact competitions@ati.org.uk within 10 working days of receiving your successful notification.

The ATI, DBT and Innovate UK monitor changes between Outline Stage and Full Stage Application submissions and unjustified major changes will not be accepted.
Further details on the Full Stage Application can be found on the Innovate UK website.

The Outline Stage opens six times per calendar year, with successful applicants progressing to one of the three Full Stage Application (FSA) rounds held annually. For all competition dates, please click here. Competitions close at 11:00am (UK time) on the date stated.