Aviation leaders and UK ministers are today celebrating ten years of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), as well as a multi-billion pound funding milestone for innovative green technologies in the aerospace sector.

Industry minister Alan Mak is joining aviation bosses at an event to mark the 10-year anniversary of the organisation, a joint government-industry funded initiative whose aim is to drive leading research in sustainable aviation.

The Institute began operations a decade ago, after government and industry responded to calls for the UK to develop its own R&D programme for the aerospace sector.

The Institute has since directed £3.6 billion in funding to more than 400 different aerospace R&D projects, with these projects helping to lead to new technologies for zero-emission aircrafts.

Projects include the Airbus-led Wing of Tomorrow programme for next-gen carbon composite aircraft wings, and the Rolls-Royce UltraFan demonstrator aero engine—billed as the largest in the world, with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

On top of larger industry names, funding has also been allocated to SMEs, such as Cranfield Aerospace and ZeroAvia, to develop next-gen zero emission aircraft and propulsion systems.

The UK government said that aerospace funding is a key priority, with £200 million of joint government and industry funding recently announced in the Spring Budget for aerospace green tech R&D projects. This came after it announced £975 million for the ATI programme between 2025 to 2030 in last year’s Autumn Statement.

Speaking on the Institute’s role in helping to push Airbus’ tech, John Harrison, Airbus UK Chairman, said: “For the last decade, the ATI has been instrumental in supporting Airbus’ technology developments that are improving our commercial aircraft and helicopters flying today and those for tomorrow.

“Technologies such as how we design and build aircraft wings and accelerate the development of hydrogen powered aircraft.

“We’re looking forward to another decade of pushing boundaries, boosting innovation and upskilling people right here in the UK to keep our industry ahead of the beat.”

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The Institute’s CEO, Gary Elliott, also commented on its work: “Since the ATI was created ten years ago, we have helped to transform the UK aerospace sector through the development of advanced and innovative technologies – setting the sector on the path to Net Zero 2050 with our Destination Zero strategy.

“The ATI Programme has helped secure jobs, support growth, return economic value to the UK and position the UK to capture market share in next-generation sustainable aircraft.

“All of this has been made possible through collaboration – between the ATI, the many organisations across the UK who have delivered over 400 projects and, of course, our partners in the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK.

“Looking ahead to the next ten years, I am confident that the ATI will play a critical role in making the UK the world’s most vibrant ecosystem for net zero aerospace technology.”