Innovate UK is to invest up to £10 million in collaborative research and development and feasibility studies to accelerate the commercialisation of highly innovative technologies for civil aerospace.

They are looking for projects that offer solutions to key aerospace industry challenges and for opportunities to bring in technologies and capabilities from outside the traditional aerospace sector.

As with all Innovate UK proposals, both project types must be collaborative and led by a business. Collaborative R&D projects are expected to range in size from total costs of £250,000 to £1.5 million. Feasibility studies are expected to have total project costs of up to £100,000. Find out more here.

The competition opens for both types of project application on 29 June 2015. Collaborative R&D projects will follow a two-stage process. The deadline for registration is at noon on 9 September 2015 and the deadline for expressions of interest is at noon on 16 September 2015. For feasibility studies the deadline for registration is at noon on 5 November 2015 and the deadline for applications is at noon on 12 November 2015.

A consortium-building and networking event will be held at The Oval cricket ground in Kennington, London, on 28 April 2015. There will be a webinar briefing event for potential applicants on 15 July 2015. Register for the 28th April consortium building event