ATI Non-CO2 Programme

ATI Non-CO2 Programme

Funds aerospace technologies in the United Kingdom that reduce non-carbon dioxide climate impacts from flight.

The ATI Non-CO2 Programme is a dedicated funding stream within the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, providing grants of up to £18 million for civil aerospace industrial research projects targeting the non-CO2 climate impacts of aviation — specifically contrail formation, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and water vapour effects on the atmosphere. The programme is administered through the same two-stage competition process used by the ATI Strategic Programme, with Stage 1 Expressions of Interest submitted via the ATI website and Stage 2 full applications submitted through Innovate UK's Innovation Funding Service. Batch opening dates are published on the ATI website. The ATI is jointly funded by the Department for Business and Trade and industrial grant recipients at a 50:50 match at programme level.

Eligibility is open to any UK-registered organisation — businesses, universities, research and technology organisations, and charities — that can demonstrate alignment with the ATI Non-CO2 Technologies roadmap rather than the Destination Zero roadmap used by the Strategic and SME programmes. A 2.5% industrial contribution requirement applies, mirroring the Strategic Programme. Businesses receive up to 60% of eligible industrial research costs; research organisations in non-economic activities may receive up to 100%. Non-UK consortium partners are permitted but must self-fund. Only civil aerospace industrial research qualifies; dual-use projects are acceptable only where civil aerospace is the primary focus.

Organisations competing for Non-CO2 Programme funding should anchor their technical narrative directly to the ATI Non-CO2 Technologies roadmap, providing specific evidence of how the proposed project reduces contrail, NOx, or water vapour impacts. Pre-application engagement through ATI Tech Clinics (competitions@ati.org.uk) is advisable to confirm roadmap alignment before investing in a full Stage 2 submission.