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.
Development and demonstration of harmonized icing certification methodologies for Appendix O Supercooled Large Droplet (SLD) Icing conditions. The topic covers validation of numerical prediction tools against representative test results and creation of a means of compliance and regulatory roadmap in close collaboration with EASA and other aviation authorities to support (TRA)t efficient future certification process enhancing aviation safety and ensuring EIS 2035 for the Ultra-Efficient SMR and Regional aircraft. See the topic description document published with this call for full details.
The next generation of Ultra-efficient Short and Medium Range (SMR) and Regional (REG) aircraft concepts addressed in Clean Aviation are expected to integrate a set of disruptive technologies characterized by a fundamental change in the aircraft aerodynamics, propulsion, and optimized energy management. These innovations – such as high aspect ratio (HAR) laminar wings, novel airframe-engine integration and advanced systems such as electrical ice protection systems – create new icing exposure and accretion behaviours that differ from those on conventional State of the Art aircraft. Current certification methods, developed primarily for Appendix C21 icing environments and classical geometries are insufficient to demonstrate compliance under the more complex Appendix O (SLD) conditions expected for these new designs.
70%
The maximum EU contribution for the topic is €12.000.000
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking may award up to 1 project with funding depending on the outcome of the evaluation and the complementarity of the proposed actions. Special eligibility condition – maximum EU contribution per project
The maximum EU contribution per project funded under this topic is €12.000.000
Proposals requesting an EU contribution above the maximum amount specified above will be declared non-eligible and will not be evaluated. Special eligibility condition – minimum EU contribution to SMEs, RTOs and universities
A minimum of 15% of the total EU contribution shall be allocated per proposal to Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 13, Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and/or Universities having a beneficiary status.
Proposals not meeting this condition will be declared non-eligible and will not be evaluated.
The condition should be met by involving entities under such a legal status in the meaning of Horizon Europe rules across EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.