National funding & Innovation Support

Aerospace Technology Institute  (ATI)

Formed by a partnership between the UK aerospace industry and HM Government.  The Aerospace Technology institute promotes transformative technology in air transport. They  are responsible for the development of the technology strategy for the UK Aerospace sector and are the centralised agency  which provides funding for UK based world-class research and development.

The ATI works in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK to offer funding designed to accelerate innovation in the UK to maintain global competitiveness.

For more information about the ATI, please follow the link below or contact WEAF on enquiries@weaf.co.uk

ATI Funding Support

 


Innovate UK

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.

For more information, visit the UK Research and Innovation website.

Innovates role is to drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. Innovate UK is the United Kingdom’s innovation agency, a non-departmental public body operating at arm’s length from the Government as part of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organisation.  With a strong business focus, innovate strives to drive growth by working with companies to de-risk, enable and support innovation. Innovate works with  businesses so that they can  turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth.

Funding provision is grants provided to business and research collaborations via selection process. Support is available to a wide range of businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. With respect to the aerospace sector, funding provision is fed through the Aerospace Technology Institute. However, Innovate provides funding in cross sector areas which may be of interested to Aerospace and Advanced engineering companies.

UKRI Funding Support

 


Knowledge Transfer Network – KTN

Support for Innovators

Whether you are an early-stage, pre-seed innovator, or a more established company, there are many networks and resources out there to support your innovation journey. It can be confusing to know which is right for your innovation and stage of business.

KTN has a wide network, deep sector expertise, and can connect you to people and organisations to help accelerate your ideas and solve technology problems. But we recognise that it is difficult to know where to start and what to ask us at KTN.

We have compiled the following list of online resources to help you identify what help and support you can tap into. These are predominantly available to UK businesses or those looking to set up in the UK. You can pick out which are relevant for you and follow the links to access these services. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but a starting point to some of your initial questions on where to go, who and what to ask. As these resources are delivered nationally, regionally and by sector do sign up to our newsletters, follow our social media.

When you contact us, let us know what sector you are in and what support you are looking for, and/or engage with our sector and programme leads directly to see how else we can help.

KTN Website
Support Opportunities

 


Defence and Security Accelerator

DASA finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity. Our vision is for the UK to have strategic advantage through the most innovative defence and security capabilities in the world. We achieve this by welcoming ideas from innovators small and large, providing support to those who have not previously worked with Government

DASA is a cross-Government team from a wide range of backgrounds including defence, security, the private sector and academia. We are co-located with Dstl at Porton Down and also have a London Hub based at Imperial College, White City. We have 12 regionally based innovation partners, covering the length and breadth of the UK including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

By working locally, supporting and advising innovators of all shapes and sizes, we provide a critical link to pull through innovation to help the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Department for Transport and other parts of Government keep the UK safe by staying ahead of the threats we face.

WEAF maintains close contact to the DASA team in the Southwest. If you are a business with and innovative idea which you think would be of interest to our Armed forces  then contact w WEAF and we will put you in touch with the SW DASA manager.

Further DASA details

 

Resources

News and Posts

Growth Sector Series: Skills Overview in the South West

The skills shortage challenge facing the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors is ubiquitous throughout the UK, Europe, and the US. The Covid-19 pandemic catalysed an era of early retirements. When this is combined with ongoing retention challenges and...

Growth Sector Series: Defence Overview in the South West

The South West region is home to the UK’s largest aerospace cluster, featuring an extensive range of industries, capabilities, facilities and skills, and remains the second largest in Europe.   Invest Bristol + Bath highlights that the aerospace and advanced...

ATI Hub – Upcoming Events

The ATI Hub is a space for innovators to connect, access expertise and collaborate. The ATI Hub offers remote and in-person events plus access to online resources. You can connect with organisations and build knowledge. Download the upcoming events here: ATI Hub...

Gala Dinner Charity: The Water Lily Project  

The Water Lily Project   The headline sponsor of WEAF’s Annual Gala Dinner & Awards 2024, Beagle Aircraft, has chosen to support the Water Lily Project – a percentage of ticket sales will be donated to this worthy charity.   The Water Lily Project is a Christian...