Clean Sky JTI takes to the skies

The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (JU) is now 'flying solo'. On 19 November, the European Commission granted the 'greening aeronautics' initiative administrative and operational autonomy, so that it can implement its own budget and execute its own work plan from now on. 'Today,...

The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (JU) is now 'flying solo'. On 19 November, the European Commission granted the 'greening aeronautics' initiative administrative and operational autonomy, so that it can implement its own budget and execute its own work plan from now on.

'Today, the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative [JTI] leaves the nest,' said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. 'As one of the parents, the Commission is proud to let it fly solo. Clean Sky is one of the five public-private partnerships for research we hatched two years ago in areas of promising technologies. I am confident Clean Sky will help Europe to keep EU research on clean technologies in the lead and to move towards a competitive 'green' economy. The JTIs will set the example for many more public-private partnerships at European level.'

Set up by the European Union Council Regulation (EC) 71/2008 of 20 December 2007, the Clean Sky initiative published its first call for proposals in mid-June 2009, which covered 72 individual research topics.

The initiative will be built around six major technology areas, so-called Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs). The innovative approach includes smart fixed-wing aircraft, green regional aircraft, green rotorcraft, sustainable and green engines, systems for green operations, and eco-design.

Clean Sky executive director Eric Dautriat explained that the aim is to sign the contracts with the selected applicants before the end of the year. 'The preliminary studies of the system-level demonstrators are well on track,' Mr Dautriat continued. 'The year 2010 will see a steep increase in the workload and budget for all projects. The JU will ensure their consistency and keep the focus on strongly reducing carbon emissions and noise.'

The second 2009 call for proposals is scheduled for publication in November 2009, with an information day for interested stakeholders coming up in December 2009. In the future, the JU is planning to launch about four calls for proposals per year.

'This is a decisive step in the Clean Sky programme,' stated Marc Ventre, chairman of the Clean Sky governing board. ' Our Joint Undertaking, which is a mix of public and private cultures, is more than ever committed to performing efficient programme coordination and to reaching our environmental targets.'

The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking manages the corresponding JTI, one of several public-private initiatives set up by the European Commission and the industry. JTIs such as Clean Sky, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen JTI are a new major element of European research funding, introduced as part of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

With a budget of an estimated EUR 1.6 billion over 7 years, the Clean Sky JTI aims to develop cleaner and quieter aircraft. The concrete objectives are to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40%, nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 40%, and noise emissions by the order of 20 decibels. Half of the budget is contributed by the European Commission, and the other half by the European aeronautics industry.