Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) is a successful public-private partnership between the European Commission and the European aeronautics industry that is on the way to achieving its environmental performance targets.
The Clean Aviation JU will develop disruptive new aircraft technologies to support the European Green Deal, and climate neutrality by 2050. These technologies will deliver net greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of no less than 30%, compared to 2020 state-of-the-art. The technological and industrial readiness will allow the deployment of new aircraft incorporating these technologies no later than 2035, enabling 75% of the world’s civil aviation fleet to be replaced by 2050. The aircraft developed will enable net CO2 reductions of up to 90% when combined with the effect of sustainable ‘drop-in’ fuels, or zero CO2 emissions in flight when using hydrogen as energy source.
Clean Aviation’s aeronautics-related research and innovation activities, focusing on breakthrough technology initiatives, will contribute to the global sustainable competitiveness of the European aviation industry. European aviation research and innovation capacity will be strengthened through the partnership, enabling new and ambitious global standards to be set.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The second phase of Clean Aviation (2026-2030) will concentrate on integration and demonstration of technologies into aircraft concepts powered either by Sustainable Aviation fuel (SAF), as a single source of energy, or combined with electric hybridisation.
From the four aircraft concepts proposed as part of Clean Aviation SRIA, this topic shall focus on the following aircraft configurations:
- An ultra efficient short and medium range concept with 200-250 pax capacity and a design range up to 3000NM.
- An ultra-efficient regional concept with 50-100 pax capacity with a design range up to 500NM.
The proposals shall explore the most promising routes around various aircraft concepts and critical technologies having the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by no less than 30%.
Detailed Call Description
The proposed concepts at the start should depart from aircraft concepts and technologies developed under Clean Aviation Phase1, and/or funded by national/regional or other European programmes(1) with a minimum technology maturity of TRL4.
Selected aircraft concepts should meet a technology readiness level of TRL6 and demonstrate a route to a certification readiness level of CRL6, compatible with new products and services for an Entry into Service (EIS) by 2035.
Additional technologies in which a high level of innovation and promising benefits are expected – but where exploitation is forecast by 2040 – could also be integrated and demonstrated to keep some alternative solutions to reach climate-neutral aviation by 2050.
With the aim to define the route to exploitation, operational assessment should be performed to support the successful deployment and continuous operation of future regional and sort-medium range aircraft concepts, including ground operations, repairability and maintainability.
In addition to the aircraft concept studies, the ultra-efficient regional aircraft proposals should also support the physical integration into a Flight-Test Demonstrator platform. For the regional segment, this demonstration is expected to be a high wing configuration with 2 engines, considering aerodynamic, structural/loads, and system integration. Although the FTD execution is not included in this topic, the exchanges of models, data, and hardware deliveries should be adequately planned to support a subsequent Flight-Test Demonstration up to TRL6/CRL6, including all elements needed to achieve a Permit To Fly, and the support needed during a flight-test campaign.
Performance Targets: A number of top-level goals will be the basis for performance targets, in particular:
- No less than 30% CO2 reduction target at overall aircraft concept level. The proposals should establish the CO2 reduction contribution at aircraft level for the different aircraft components and technologies.
- The evaluation, monitoring and reporting of key parameters needed to assess nonCO2 effects (including NOx, water vapour and non volatile Particulate Matter emissions), to ensure compliance with foreseen regulations and standards for a 2035 EIS.
- Noise emissions levels fully compliant with ICAO noise standard (chapter 14 noise limits), with adequate certification cumulative noise level margin, while considering future updates to the noise standard in view of a 2035 EIS.
- Aircraft concepts should demonstrate 100% SAF compatibility.
The top-level goals shall be broken down in a consistent manner at the different levels: from top-level aircraft requirements to the main aircraft systems level requirements. Pertinent performance targets including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) shall be derived et each level.
All data required to characterize emissions (including non-CO2 effects and noise) shall be modelled and measured as required to perform aircraft level impact assessment.
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Special eligibility condition – maximum EU contribution per topic: The maximum EU contribution for the topic is €15 million
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking may award up to 2 projects with funding depending on the outcome of the evaluation and the complementarity of the proposed actions.
In the selection of projects to be retained for funding, strong consideration will be given to the comprehensiveness and complementarity of the proposed actions, ensuring the broadest coverage of aircraft types and their payload/range capability across the domains of regional and short medium range market segments. The project may address one or more aircraft concepts for a given market segment (i.e. regional, short medium range).
Special eligibility condition – maximum EU contribution per project:
The maximum EU contribution for the ultra-efficient regional project funded under this topic is €10 million.
The maximum EU contribution for the ultra-efficient small and medium range project funded under this topic is €5 million.
Proposals requesting an EU contribution above the maximum amount specified above will be declared non-eligible and will not be evaluated.
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Other Thematic Category
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Membership/Consortium Agreement:
The topic is identified as a key contributor to the overall aircraft concepts related to ultra efficient regional or short-medium range aircraft.
The JU Members participating in the topic must ensure compliance with the existing Membership Agreement and must conclude with the participants to the project, a suitable Consortium Agreement [CA] governing the project and its consortium. A model of the Consortium Agreement is available on the F&T portal in the call topic’s documents.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Mailbox for Submitting Questions: Clean Aviation Call Questions