About the Future Flight Challenge
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge is helping build the ecosystem needed to accelerate the introduction of advance air mobility, drones, and zero-emission regional aircraft in the UK.
Working with industry, academia, government and regulators, and stakeholders across the country, the Future Flight Challenge is co-funded by industry and the UK government to support the development of future flight services and enabling technologies such as AI and autonomy, digital communications, and electric propulsion.
The programme works across sectors to:
- Fund and support innovative future flight projects and companies.
- Position the UK as a global leader in advanced aviation solutions.
- Facilitate collaboration between industry, government and regulators, and stakeholders to address issues such as public trust, community integration, and social benefits.
Project Case Studies
Future Flight Challenge Virtual Showcase
This showcase explores the aims, capabilities and achievements of projects funded by the Future Flight challenge at UK Research and Innovation.
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Statistics
£300m
Co-investment by government and industry
222m
Tonnes CO2e reduction in annual emissions from Advanced Air Mobility services
650k
Jobs associated with the drone economy by 2030
1.8%
Increase in GDP by 2030 from Future Flight
Landscape Map
Innovate UK Business Connect has created the world’s first advanced air mobility network, which can be explored with the Future Flight Landscape Map. Explore the map to find collaborative partners, see the breadth of investment and expertise in the UK, and gain insight into how enabling sectors such as AI and Materials are vital to Future Flight’s success in the UK. The landscape map will continue to evolve and expand over time, and you can register today for your organisation to appear on it.
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Roadmap and Vision
Compiled by leading experts from industry, academia and government, the future flight vision and roadmap sets out how zero emission air travel within and between British cities could be commonplace by 2030. It includes insight into market opportunities and challenges, analysis of how consumers will benefit from future flight, projections of how the future aviation environment will operate, and example use cases.
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Related Opportunities
DASA competition: PYRAMID for avionics and mission systems (phase 1)
Opens: 14/11/2024 Closes: 14/01/2025
This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is to accelerate the adoption of PYRAMID Reference Architecture (PRA) in avionics and mission systems.
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European Space Agency: Commercial Applications of Space-Enabled Robotics: Agriculture
Apply by 15/1/25: applications reviewed when received
ESA seek proposals for services that combine the use of satellite technologies and robotics for Agriculture applications.
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European Space Agency: Space For Construction Monitoring
Apply by 18/2/25: applications reviewed when received
ESA are looking to fund projects monitoring construction sites using satellite data and technology.
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Related Events and Recordings
Related News
23/07/2024
New study finds an appetite for Future Flight technologies if used for public good
A new study has found that people are likely to support new forms of aviation technologies such as drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) if they serve the public good.
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25/06/2024
Scaling New Heights: Investing in Future Flight
As part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge, Innovate UK Business Connect recently hosted its first Future Flight investor engagement event in Canary Wharf.
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Future Flight Newsletter
Stay informed with the latest news from projects funded through the UKRI Future Flight Challenge, and the wider future flight industry in the UK, as well as enabling sectors such as materials, communications, and AI.