The aerospace sector is defined as a strategic sector both by the economic-industrial weight and its contribution to GDP and, most especially, by its great capacity to generate R&D actions for application in numerous economic sectors beyond aerospace.
Therefore, a global action is proposed on aerospace technologies that are oriented to the green transition, reinforce Spanish capabilities and generate a dragging effect on the entire value chain.
With this investment line, progress will be made in the generation of Spanish industrial capacities linked to the future low and zero emissions aircraft whose R&D activities are covered by the Aeronautical Technology Plan. In addition, additional areas of experimental development have been identified that conclude in the development of prototypes of equipment goods and digital twins for the adaptation of Spanish manufacturing environments, among others, that promote efficiency, a lower consumption of resources or less environmental impact. In any case, it will be sought that these actions have, at the very least, a neutral impact in environmental terms.
In the area of space, the establishment of a space technology program will be pursued that generates new capacities of its own through calls for grants, agreements between public administrations for the execution of R&D projects and pre-commercial public purchase to, among others, maintain and reinforce the role of Spanish advances in large international space missions, try to consolidate some capacities for access to space through the pre-commercial purchase of prototype launchers in conjunction with a Spanish satellite observation; study the technical and economic feasibility of the construction of an oceanic launch platform in the environment of the Canary Islands and, if feasible, develop a new technological detection system
In particular, this investment aims to act on the technological and innovative capabilities of Spain in the aerospace field, due to its impact on the economy as a whole and the ability to generate knowledge and application innovations in numerous areas (for example, new materials, sensors, advanced services that allow other innovations, etc.).
In the aeronautical field this line is intended to support the generation of technological capabilities related mainly to the future low and zero emission aircraft through the development of business R+D+I projects, although critical technological developments have also been identified regarding UAVs, multipurpose aircraft or advanced manufacturing systems that include the creation of digital twins, among others.
Thus, the Aeronautical Technology Program proposes calls for grants for the development of R&D projects in topics such as new propulsion systems, integral optimization of the generation, distribution and storage of non-propulsive energy, but also the development of new lighter materials that contribute to reduce fuel consumption or new tools of calculation and aerodynamic optimization, among others. In the field of UAV, the development of new communication technologies between various types of vehicles in a safe and cyber-protected manner or detection and communication systems for the integration of autonomous systems in a shared airspace is pursued.
These projects must be carried out by business consortiums of 2 to 6 participating companies, always with the participation of at least one SME. In fact, the call reserves a part of the budget for consortiums formed exclusively by SMEs. The minimum budget per project will be 2.5 million euros and the duration of 2 to 4 years. Research bodies may participate on a subcontracting basis.
