Chris Low, Senior Manager – International, reflects on the priorities set out at last week’s Clean Aviation Annual Forum. The Joint Undertaking, alongside the European Commission, set out a clear strategic framework for European aviation, built around three linked objectives: competitiveness, sustainability and technological sovereignty. These priorities reflect current geopolitical, industrial and climate pressures and recognise aviation as a sector where long‑term capability, manufacturing scale and regulatory leadership are closely interconnected.
Clean Aviation Call 4 translates this into a focused set of research and innovation activities. The call targets technology maturation and integration across ultra‑efficient regional aircraft, short and medium‑range aircraft, hydrogen‑powered aircraft, alongside a series of transverse and fast‑track topics. The emphasis is on progressing technologies towards TRL 5–6, with defined pathways towards certification readiness and future industrial deployment.
The message throughout this year’s forum is that Europe’s challenge lies less in early‑stage research and more in scaling technologies beyond demonstration. Call 4 reflects this by prioritising system‑level integration, aircraft‑level impact assessment and coordination between enabling technologies and platform concepts. Topics are structured to ensure that advances in propulsion, energy systems, structures and digital architectures are developed within coherent aircraft configurations, rather than as standalone solutions.
Hydrogen features prominently within Call 4, with multiple topics addressing fuel cell propulsion, direct hydrogen combustion, cryogenic fuel systems and aircraft‑level integration. These activities build on earlier Clean Aviation investments and aim to reduce technical and certification risk while improving understanding of operational and infrastructure implications. Alongside hydrogen, Call 4 continues to support hybrid‑electric systems, advanced aerostructures, noise and icing technologies, and digital system architectures relevant to next‑generation aircraft.
The opportunity for UK organisations
Call 4 offers opportunities to participate in large‑scale European programmes that shape future aircraft concepts and technology roadmaps. UK industry, SMEs, universities and research organisations have established capabilities across propulsion, hydrogen systems, electrification, advanced materials, digital engineering and testing. Participation in Call 4 enables these capabilities to be integrated into European demonstrators, supporting long‑term supply‑chain positioning and alignment with future certification approaches.
Clean Aviation also reflects a broader policy recognition that aviation remains a strategically important industrial sector, with implications for economic resilience, skills and technological capability. The programme’s increasing focus on industrialisation, market uptake and system integration is intended to ensure that European research activity translates into deployable products and sustained industrial capacity.
Helpful information
The ATI encourages UK organisations to review Clean Aviation Call 4 topics carefully, engage early with potential partners, and consider how European collaboration can complement domestic R&D investment. Coordinated participation can help ensure that UK capabilities continue to contribute to – and benefit from – the development of future low‑carbon aircraft.
The calls open on 31st March. Full details can be found by accessing these links:
- The EU Funding & Tenders Portal
- Full topic descriptions
- Clean Aviation Q&A Session
- The ATI and Innovate UK held an information webinar in January 2026 for potential UK participants. Full of helpful information, the recording can be watched on our YouTube channel. The slide pack PDF can be downloaded here.
Contact us
For queries relating to technology and/or partnerships, please email chris.low@ati.org.uk
For queries relating to practical information and bid support, please email Louise Mothersole at Innovate UK Louise.Mothersole@IUK.UKRI.ORG
