Preparing for the new Clean Sky initiative

5 November 2007

For the past two years, Airbus has been leading an effort with other major European aerospace companies to prepare a new breakthrough European research programme called "Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI)."

This co-financed public/private partnership involves both the European Commission and industry, and aims to evolve more "green" aeronautics technologies. The philosophy of Clean Sky is that environmental and economic benefits should go hand in hand. The breakthrough technologies to be developed will not only drastically reduce pollution, but will also reinforce the competitiveness of Europe's aeronautics sector. Such a combined benefit approach is a key to the aeronautics sector's future.

The European Council is expected to vote on the project in December 2007 with launch planned for early 2008.

What differentiates the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative from previous European research projects is its sheer size and scale, along with its special focus on the demonstration of technologies. The Clean Sky initiatives will have a budget of 1.6 billion euros over a seven-year period. Its scope is designed to meet the complexity of today's research challenges by drawing on all sources of R&D investment at the European level (both public and private), and using a new coordinated multi-disciplinary approach.

Clean Sky aims to provide a significant contribution to the environmental goals defined by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE), which are targeted at reducing CO2 emissions by 50 per cent, NOx emissions by 80 per cent and perceived external noise by 50 per cent.

The leading Clean Sky partners are Airbus, AgustaWestland, Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault Aviation, EADS-CASA, Eurocopter, the Fraunhofer Institute, Liebherr-Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Saab SA, Safran and Thales. The project will bring together over 100 organisations, including industrial companies, universities, and research institutes.

Small and medium enterprises will be awarded at least 12 per cent of public funds allocated to the whole programme. Clean Sky will therefore offer opportunities to the entire aeronautics industry and supply chain from all member states and associated countries.

EADS CEO Louis Gallois recently invited all Airbus partners, suppliers and competitors to share a common vision of becoming a "green" industry. He also called upon the support of the European governments - as their role is crucial in speeding up the overall optimisation of the European aeronautical sector via the European Single Sky initiative, and in driving the Clean Sky technology programme.

For additional information on Clean Sky, see this Joint Technology Initiative's official website.

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