Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator Round 1

Key Features

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of a minimum of £8 million for developing zero emission capable flight in the UK, subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. This funding is from DfT.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £8 million

Opens: 16th Feb 2026

Closes: 1st Apr 2026

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Grant Overview

Innovate UK will invest a minimum of £8 million from the Department of Transport in the Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator Round 1 competition.

Grant Scope

The competition aims to support the demonstration of zero emission commercial capable flights in the UK.

Projects must progress the development of one or more of the following:

  • Ground Handling and infrastructure technologies needed to handle zero emission aircraft
  • Flight operations for zero emission aircraft
  • Regulatory environment for zero emission commercial flight

Eligibility Criteria

Feasibility projects must have total costs of up to £250,000. Projects last between 12 and 24 months and start on 1st August 2026 and end by 31st July 2028.

Industrial research projects must have total costs of up to £5 million and have at least 40% of project costs in financial year 2026-2027 and 50% in financial year 2027-2028. Projects last between 12 and 24 months and start on 1st August 2026 and end by 31st July 2028.

Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.

  • Lead: Organisations must be UK registered business of any size
  • Project team: Organisations must be UK registered business of any size, academic institutions, charity, not for profit, public sector or research and technology organisations
  • Non-funded partners: Projects can include non-uk partners, including partners based in the EU, who bring their own funding.
  • Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed in this competition. Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK. Overseas subcontractors can be used but you must make the case in your application as to why you couldn’t use subcontractors from the UK
  • Number of applications: A business can lead on multiple applications but you must demonstrate how you will deliver the projects
  • Previous applications: Previous applications can be used in this competition

Exclusions

The following projects are excluded from funding:

  • On-aircraft technologies, such as propulsion technology
  • Commercial spaceflight including high attitude platforms
  • Future flight technologies, for example eVTOLs and uncrewed aircraft or drones
  • Cross sector hydrogen infrastructure projects without clear aviation focus
  • Offer financial support for commercial operations

Grant Funding

A minimum of £8 million has been allocated in this competition. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

For feasibility studies and industrial research, you can receive funding for eligible project costs of:

Category 1 Feasibility studies

  • Up to 70% for mico or small organisations
  • Up to 60% for medium sized organisations
  • Up to 50% for large organisations

Category 2 Industrial research projects

  • Up to 70% for mico or small organisations
  • Up to 60% for medium sized organisations
  • Up to 50% for large organisations

Research participation

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

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

For further information on this competition, please see full details.

Full competition details

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