ATI Programme Strategic Batch 2025: Aerospace Research Funding for UK Organizations

The UK aerospace sector is a powerhouse of innovation, employing over 100,000 people and generating £36 billion in annual turnover. From next-generation aircraft engines to sustainable aviation fuels, from advanced manufacturing techniques to autonomous flight systems, British aerospace companies and research institutions are at the forefront of technologies that will define the future of flight.

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme exists to maintain and strengthen that leadership. Funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and administered by Innovate UK, the ATI Programme provides substantial grants for industrial research and capital infrastructure projects that advance UK aerospace capabilities.

This November 2025 strategic batch is an expression of interest round—the first step in a competitive process that can lead to multi-million pound funding for projects aligned with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy. Whether you’re developing breakthrough propulsion systems, creating advanced manufacturing facilities, or researching next-generation materials, this programme can provide the funding to turn ambitious ideas into reality.

The ATI Programme is not for incremental improvements or business-as-usual R&D. It’s for strategic projects that push technological boundaries, create competitive advantage for UK aerospace, and position the sector for long-term success. Projects typically range from £500,000 to over £10 million, with some flagship initiatives receiving even more.

This is serious funding for serious aerospace innovation. If you’re a UK business or research organization working on technology that could transform aerospace, this programme deserves your attention.

Key Details at a Glance

What This Programme Offers

Substantial Funding for Aerospace Innovation
ATI Programme grants are among the largest available for aerospace R&D in the UK. While exact amounts vary by project scope and type, strategic projects typically receive:

£500,000 to £2 million for focused research projects
£2 million to £5 million for larger collaborative research programmes
£5 million to £10+ million for major infrastructure or flagship technology development

The programme uses a framework agreement that allows for flexible project structuring. Funding rates depend on your organization type and the nature of the work:

Industrial research: Up to 50% for large companies, 60% for medium companies, 70% for small companies
Experimental development: Up to 25% for large companies, 35% for medium companies, 45% for small companies
Capital infrastructure: Varies based on project specifics

Access to Strategic Aerospace Priorities
The ATI Programme is guided by the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy, developed in collaboration with industry leaders. This strategy identifies critical technology areas where UK investment can create competitive advantage:

Propulsion and power systems (sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen propulsion, electric and hybrid-electric systems)
Structures and materials (lightweight composites, advanced metals, additive manufacturing)
Systems integration (more-electric aircraft, digital design and manufacturing)
Manufacturing and assembly (automation, digital twins, advanced production techniques)
Cross-cutting technologies (AI and machine learning, digital engineering, sustainability)

Projects aligned with these priorities receive favorable consideration because they address nationally important aerospace challenges.

Collaboration with Industry Leaders
ATI Programme projects often involve partnerships between businesses, universities, and research organizations. This creates opportunities to:

Work with major aerospace primes (Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, etc.)
Access specialized facilities and equipment
Collaborate with leading academic researchers
Build relationships that extend beyond the funded project

Many successful ATI projects lead to ongoing partnerships, follow-on commercial contracts, and integration into larger aerospace programmes.

Intellectual Property and Commercialization Support
Unlike some government funding programmes, ATI allows participants to retain intellectual property generated through projects, subject to framework agreement terms. This means:

Your organization can commercialize innovations developed with ATI funding
You can license technology to other aerospace companies
You can use ATI-funded research as the foundation for further commercial development

The programme also provides access to commercialization support through Innovate UK’s broader ecosystem of business support services.

Credibility and Market Recognition
Receiving ATI Programme funding signals to the aerospace industry that your technology and capabilities are world-class. This can:

Help you win contracts with major aerospace companies
Attract private investment from venture capital or strategic investors
Position you for international partnerships and export opportunities
Strengthen your reputation as an aerospace innovator

Who Should Apply

The ATI Programme is designed for UK organizations with serious aerospace capabilities and ambitious technology development plans.

UK Businesses Leading Research Projects
If you’re a UK registered business of any size working on aerospace technology, you can lead an industrial research project. This includes:

Large aerospace companies developing next-generation technologies (new engine concepts, advanced manufacturing systems, novel materials)
SMEs with specialized aerospace capabilities (sensors, software, components, subsystems)
Technology companies applying capabilities to aerospace (AI, robotics, advanced materials, energy storage)

You don’t need to be an established aerospace supplier. If you have technology that could transform aerospace and you can demonstrate credibility and capability, you’re a potential applicant.

Collaborative Teams for Infrastructure Projects
Capital infrastructure projects—investments in facilities, equipment, or capabilities that enable aerospace research and production—typically require collaborative applications. These might include:

Partnerships between businesses and universities to create shared research facilities
Consortia of companies investing in advanced manufacturing infrastructure
Collaborations between RTOs and industry to build specialized testing capabilities

Infrastructure projects must demonstrate that the investment will benefit the broader UK aerospace sector, not just a single company.

Academic and Research Organizations
Universities and research organizations can participate as:

Collaborators on business-led research projects (providing specialized expertise, facilities, or research capabilities)
Leaders of infrastructure projects (creating facilities that will serve industry needs)
Partners in consortia developing strategic technologies

Academic partners bring deep technical expertise, access to talented researchers, and often specialized equipment that industry partners don’t have.

Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs)
RTOs like the Catapult centres, TWI, and others can participate in similar ways to academic institutions, often bringing applied research capabilities and industry connections.

Insider Tips for a Winning Expression of Interest

This November round is an expression of interest, not a full application. The goal is to present your project concept compellingly enough to be invited to submit a full application. Here’s what actually matters.

Align Explicitly with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy
The ATI Programme exists to implement the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy. Your expression of interest must show clear alignment with strategy priorities. Don’t just mention the strategy in passing—demonstrate deep understanding:

Quote specific technology challenges from the strategy that your project addresses
Explain how your project contributes to strategic goals (e.g., net-zero aviation, UK competitiveness, supply chain resilience)
Show awareness of where UK aerospace needs to invest to maintain global leadership

Reviewers are looking for projects that advance national aerospace priorities, not just individual company interests.

Articulate Clear, Ambitious Technical Goals
The ATI Programme funds projects that push technological boundaries. Your expression of interest should articulate:

What specific technical challenge you’re addressing
Why current approaches are insufficient
What breakthrough or significant advance your project will achieve
How this advance will benefit UK aerospace competitiveness

Avoid vague language like “we will improve efficiency” or “we will develop advanced technology.” Be specific: “We will demonstrate a hydrogen combustion system achieving 15% higher specific impulse than current turbofan engines while reducing NOx emissions by 80%.”

Show Strong Consortium and Capabilities
For collaborative projects, the strength of your consortium matters enormously. Show:

Complementary capabilities (each partner brings something essential)
Credible track records (partners have delivered similar projects before)
Committed participation (letters of support showing genuine engagement, not just token involvement)
Clear roles and responsibilities

For single-applicant projects, demonstrate that you have the technical capability, facilities, and expertise to deliver. If you’re missing capabilities, explain how you’ll access them.

Demonstrate Industry Relevance and Pathway to Impact
ATI Programme projects must have clear pathways to industrial application. Show:

Which aerospace companies or sectors will benefit from your technology
How the technology will be integrated into products or processes
What the timeline is from project completion to commercial application
What the potential market or economic impact is

Projects that will sit on a shelf after completion don’t get funded. Projects that will be integrated into next-generation aircraft, engines, or manufacturing systems do.

Be Realistic About Scope and Timeline
ATI Programme projects typically run 2-4 years. Your expression of interest should propose:

A scope that’s ambitious but achievable in the proposed timeframe
Clear milestones and decision points
Realistic resource requirements
Appropriate risk management

Reviewers are skeptical of projects that promise to revolutionize aerospace in 18 months with £500,000. They’re interested in well-planned, properly resourced projects with credible timelines.

Highlight UK Benefit
The ATI Programme is funded by UK taxpayers to benefit UK aerospace. Make the UK benefit explicit:

Jobs created or sustained in the UK
UK supply chain strengthened
UK intellectual property and competitive advantage created
UK facilities and capabilities enhanced
UK exports enabled

Projects that primarily benefit non-UK entities or that will move capabilities offshore are not competitive.

Application Timeline

This is an expression of interest round, which is the first stage of a multi-stage process. Here’s what to expect:

November 19, 2025: Expression of Interest Deadline
Submit your expression of interest by 11:00 AM GMT. This is a relatively brief document (typically 5-10 pages) outlining your project concept, consortium, alignment with strategy, and expected impact.

December 2025 - January 2026: Review and Shortlisting
Innovate UK reviews expressions of interest and shortlists projects to be invited to submit full applications. Not all expressions of interest will be invited forward.

February 2026: Invitation to Full Application
Shortlisted projects receive invitations to submit full applications. This is a much more detailed process requiring comprehensive technical plans, detailed budgets, risk assessments, and extensive supporting documentation.

March-May 2026: Full Application Development
Invited projects develop full applications. This typically takes 2-3 months and requires significant effort from all consortium partners.

June-August 2026: Full Application Review
Innovate UK conducts detailed technical and commercial review of full applications, often including interviews with project teams.

September 2026: Funding Decisions
Successful projects are notified and begin contract negotiations.

Late 2026/Early 2027: Project Start
Funded projects begin work after contracts are finalized.

Required Materials for Expression of Interest

Project Summary
Concise description of your project: what you’ll do, why it matters, what you’ll achieve. This should be understandable to non-specialists but technically credible.

Strategic Alignment
Explicit explanation of how your project aligns with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy. Reference specific strategy priorities and explain your contribution.

Technical Approach
High-level description of your technical approach: what methods, technologies, or processes you’ll use. Enough detail to show credibility, but not a full technical plan (that comes in the full application if you’re invited).

Consortium and Capabilities
Who’s involved, what each partner brings, why this team can deliver. For single applicants, description of your capabilities and track record.

Expected Outcomes and Impact
What you’ll deliver by project end, how it will be used, what the benefit to UK aerospace will be. Include both technical outcomes (technology demonstrated, knowledge created) and impact (jobs, competitiveness, market opportunities).

Budget Estimate
High-level budget showing total project cost and requested grant funding. Detailed budgets come later if you’re invited to full application.

Letters of Support (If Applicable)
For collaborative projects, letters from partners confirming their participation and commitment. For projects with identified end-users, letters from aerospace companies expressing interest in the technology.

What Makes an Expression of Interest Stand Out

Clear Strategic Importance
The strongest expressions of interest make it immediately obvious why this project matters to UK aerospace. They connect to clear industry needs, strategic priorities, and competitive challenges. Reviewers should finish reading and think “yes, UK aerospace needs this.”

Technical Credibility
You don’t need to provide every technical detail in an expression of interest, but you need to demonstrate that you understand the technical challenges and have a credible approach. Vague or hand-wavy technical descriptions raise red flags.

Strong Team
Projects with experienced, capable teams get funded. Projects with weak or incomplete teams don’t. If you’re missing critical capabilities, address this directly: “We will recruit a senior composites engineer with experience in aerospace certification” is better than pretending you have capabilities you don’t.

Realistic Ambition
The best projects are ambitious but achievable. They push boundaries without being fantasy. They propose significant advances without promising miracles. Reviewers fund projects they believe can actually deliver.

Clear Pathway to Impact
Projects that will clearly benefit UK aerospace get funded. Projects where the pathway from research to application is unclear or where the benefit is speculative don’t. Show how your technology will actually get used.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Generic Alignment with Strategy
Saying “our project aligns with the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy” without specifics is weak. Quote specific strategy sections. Explain exactly which strategic challenges you address and how.

Overly Broad or Vague Scope
“We will develop advanced aerospace technology” tells reviewers nothing. “We will demonstrate a cryogenic hydrogen fuel system for regional aircraft achieving 30% reduction in lifecycle CO2 emissions compared to conventional turboprops” is specific and compelling.

Weak Consortium
For collaborative projects, consortia that look like they were thrown together at the last minute don’t inspire confidence. Show genuine collaboration, complementary capabilities, and committed participation.

Ignoring Commercialization
Projects that focus entirely on research without explaining how results will be used in industry are weak. ATI funds industrial research, not pure academic research. Show the pathway to industrial application.

Unrealistic Budgets or Timelines
Proposing to develop and certify a new aircraft engine in 18 months with £1 million budget shows you don’t understand aerospace development. Be realistic.

Submitting at the Last Minute
The submission system can have technical issues. Submit at least 24 hours early. Late submissions are not accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the full application or just an expression of interest?
This is an expression of interest—the first stage. Only shortlisted projects will be invited to submit full applications. The full application process is much more detailed and demanding.

How competitive is the programme?
Very competitive. Typically, only 20-30% of expressions of interest are invited to full application, and not all of those receive funding. Strong strategic alignment, technical credibility, and clear impact are essential.

Can we apply if we’ve received ATI funding before?
Yes. Previous ATI recipients can apply for new projects. In fact, a track record of successful ATI project delivery can strengthen your application.

Do we need to have all partners confirmed before submitting?
For collaborative projects, yes. You need confirmed partners with letters of support. You can’t submit an expression of interest saying “we plan to find partners later.”

What if our project doesn’t fit neatly into one strategy area?
Many of the best projects are cross-cutting, addressing multiple strategy priorities. Explain how your project contributes to multiple areas.

Can non-UK organizations participate?
Non-UK organizations can participate as subcontractors but cannot be grant recipients. The grant funding must go to UK registered organizations, and the work must be conducted in the UK.

What happens if we’re not shortlisted?
You’ll receive feedback explaining why your expression of interest wasn’t selected. You can use this feedback to strengthen future applications.

How long do ATI projects typically run?
Most run 2-4 years. Very large strategic projects might run longer. Projects shorter than 18 months are unusual.

How to Apply

Ready to submit an expression of interest for ATI Programme funding? Here’s exactly what to do:

Step 1: Review the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy
Download and read the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy. Understand the priority technology areas and strategic challenges. Identify where your project fits.

Step 2: Assess Your Readiness
Do you have:

• A credible technical approach to an important aerospace challenge?
• The capabilities and team to deliver?
• Clear alignment with strategy priorities?
• A pathway to industrial application?

If yes to all, proceed. If no to any, strengthen those areas before applying.

Step 3: Build Your Consortium (If Collaborative)
Identify and confirm partners. Ensure each partner brings essential capabilities. Get letters of support confirming their participation and resource commitment.

Step 4: Draft Your Expression of Interest
Write your expression of interest following the guidance in the competition brief. Focus on:

• Clear project description
• Explicit strategic alignment
• Credible technical approach
• Strong team
• Clear impact

Step 5: Get Internal Review
Have colleagues, partners, or advisors review your draft. Get feedback on clarity, credibility, and strategic alignment. Revise based on feedback.

Step 6: Submit Through the Portal
Submit your expression of interest through the UKRI Funding Service portal at the link below. Submit at least 24 hours before the November 19, 11:00 AM deadline.

Step 7: Prepare for Possible Full Application
If you’re shortlisted, you’ll have 2-3 months to develop a full application. Start thinking about what additional information and documentation you’ll need.

For complete programme information, competition brief, and to access the application portal, visit: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ati-programme-strategic-batch-expression-of-interest-november-2025/

Questions about eligibility, scope, or the application process? Contact the Innovate UK competition team. Contact information is available on the opportunity page.

The ATI Programme has funded some of the UK’s most important aerospace technology developments. If you’re working on technology that could strengthen UK aerospace competitiveness, this is your opportunity to secure the funding to make it happen.