NATS - National Aerospace Technology Strategy > NATS - FAQs

NATS, the National Aerospace Technology Strategy, defined in 2004, is a policy to promote a competitive and therefore forward looking UK aerospace industry, by targeting funding to technology growth areas.

• has identified technology areas where the UK can
• Remain competitive Become competitive
• Pulls technology from blue skies thinking through to saleable products
• Has support from Government, Industry and Academia
• Works as an industry-led partnership of companies doing research and development
• Seeks to drive a technology forward looking approach into the whole supply chain
• Addresses civil and military future technologies
• Takes basic ideas forward through to proof of principle in Aerospace Innovation Networks (AINS)
• Takes proven principles forward eg (peri-) patented technologies, through to marketable sub- systems through Aerospace Technology Validation Platforms (ATVPs)

• Manufacturing industries, with heavy capital investments in production, are at risk of obsolescence if the market moves on and they have underinvested in non-production focused spending. In aerospace the consequences of underinvestment in R&T and R&D are exacerbated by the long lead times for system development and certification.
• A forward looking strategy which has made technology, market opportunity and barrier assessments of growth areas for the UK is a good way to ensure UK aerospace companies are well positioned to be ahead of competitors when the need for new technology arises.
• NATS provides this.
• NATS also provides through AINs and ATVPs a route to market for ideas

Who is involved

• Over 70 companies are engaged in NATS programmes.
• Examples include Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Thales, Goodrich, Smiths, GKN and so on.
• Regional & national Government are also involves as funding stakeholders.
• DTI Collaborative research proposals are structured 50% funding from Government (inc RDAs) and 50% from industry.
• Industrial matched funding may be calculated from cash, manpower and machine rates.

Who should be involved

• All aerospace (and cross-sectoral/ supply) companies who perceive a shift in the market threatening/ likely to threaten their current/ future order books

1. Is the company interested in participating in contributing to technology development? If yes, go to 2.
2. Does the company have funds to conduct R&T or R&D or can acquire them. If yes, go to 3.
3. Does the company have expertise in the technology areas identified by NATS (listed on next slide). If yes, go to 4.
4. Ascertain from NATS programme leads, current/ future requirement for technology area potential new partner has. If requirement exists, likely that new partner will be invited to become research consortium member. SBAC can help here.
5. New partner, along with other consortium members, engage in technology bidding process for matched funding from Government.

A summary of the technology themes identified a aerospace strengths and research programmes being undertaken to further develop these themes is described here

NATS Research Themes and Programmes (887.8 KB)

• DTI Technology Calls replaced a sectorally based support scheme from the DTI called CARAD.
• Twice a year (April and November) the DTI reveal the areas of research they are willing to fund in these Calls, typically 7-8 themes with £10M per theme. These calls are cross-sectoral i.e. not solely focused on aerospace.
• The DTI is also establishing Innovation Platforms, which have a stable themes and are funded by 2+ Government departments. The NATS community is assessing the opportunity for an aerospace relevant IP. Each IP will receive c.£10M funding per annum i.e. is suitable for larger projects.
• NATS' programme interests are captured by a joint Government ? industry aerospace technology steering committee and passed to the Technology Steering Board to be considered as subjects for inclusion in DTI Technology Calls.
• The RDAs and DAs also engage NATS programmes and NATS is looking to build as strong links with the MOD and research councils.

• NATS programmes have had an R&T/D investment of over £0.27B since NATS inception from Government and industrial sources.
• Majority of validation programmes are becoming well established.
• AINs (Aerospace Innovation Networks) are making some progress.
• Good partnership with the DTI.
• RDAs beginning to address issues of concern, eg on a single pan-RDA economic monitoring scheme and other administrative rationalisations.
• Engagement with the MOD becoming better. It is hoped that the Defence Technology Strategy will recognise the benefits NATS programmes can bring to military capability.
• Main Government funders are the DTI(33%), RDAs (17%) with matched funding from industry (50%) coming to £0.27B invested in NATS between April 2004 and April 2005 inclusive.

• Industry, the MOD, DTI, RDAs and EU have a keen interest in SME engagement in technology programmes
• NATS and EU programmes are seeking SMEs for future looking technology projects.
• Regional bodies have a key role in identifying SMEs aligned with the aspirations of NATS and EU programmes.
• SBAC can help determine whether there is a role for an SME in these programmes.