new Aerospace Innovation Network - AMAST

new Aerospace Innovation Network - AMAST

Advanced Aerospace Materials and Structures (AMAST) Aerospace Innovation Network

26 April 2005

SBAC has announced the launch of the Advanced Aerospace Materials and Structures - Aerospace Innovation Network (AMAST AIN). Its main objective is to provide research and resources for advanced aerospace materials and structures. These are essential to deliver the environmental targets established by the EU?s Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe. This initiative is being led by Airbus in conjunction with industrial and academic partners.

Dr Sally Howes, Director General of SBAC said, 'Advanced materials and structures are essential to meet the environmental challenges that the aviation industry faces. This new innovation network will help to ensure that the UK industry has a leading role in developing and exploiting the commercial opportunities that this will present.'

The AMAST AIN is an important step in delivering the baseline technologies required for future UK aircraft projects. It will focus on three key technology themes: metallics, composites and SMART technologies. In addition it will:

Assess large schemes for public sector investment in advanced materials and structures to ensure co-ordination and to maximise returns and utilisation of available funds.
Maximise the interaction of industry with academia through joint strategy development and collaborative research.
Provide best practice in training and education of engineers and scientists of the future in conjunction with training schemes being developed by industry, academia, and related knowledge transfer networks.

The AMAST AIN is one of 18 technology programmes prioritised in the UK?s National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS). The network will support, maintain and protect the UK?s competence in material and structural design for aircraft and help the UK achieve the 2020 environmental targets. It will be jointly funded by industry and Government sources.

Through the AMAST AIN, SBAC will help its members become involved in the collaborative research programme for the Department of Trade and Industry?s (DTI) April 2005 programme calendar, which opens on 26 April. SBAC will also assist its members to prepare their applications for DTI technology funding.

Further information on AINs can be found under our Engineering & Technology pages. Companies can contact the SBAC Innovation Manager for more information about the AMAST AIN or the NATS, particularly about how they can get involved.

---------------------------------------------

Notes to Editors:

The SBAC is the national trade association representing suppliers to the civil air transport, aerospace defence and space markets operating in the UK economy. It represents over 800 member companies, assisting them in developing new business globally, facilitates innovation and competitiveness and provides regulatory services in technical standards and accreditation.

High temperature materials, particularly ceramic-based materials, will not be part of this network but will be addressed in another AIN established by the NATS covering High Temperature Materials and Structures.

There are a number of existing networks, forums, and organisations that provide strands of the technologies to be covered by the AMAST AIN, both within the aerospace sector and across other sectors. These include the National Composites Network, the National Metallics Technology Centre, and the Materials and Structures National Advisory Committee. The AMAST AIN will act as a management framework to co-ordinate these different strands, fill gaps in capability and understanding, and provide an overview of the complete technology strategy for aerospace materials and structures.