Midlands innovation takes off at Farnborough airshow

As the aerospace industry gathered recently at the Farnborough Airshow – the sector’s largest  tradeshow this year – it was a great opportunity to highlight some of the new technologies and capabilities emerging from the Midlands as significant building blocks for future aerospace and space industry requirements. The MAA’s team of highly experienced Technology Managers were able to make progress on the projects they are leading, as well as connect up with the 26 exhibitors on – and the many visitors to -- the superb MAA stand.

Showcasing new ideas from small Midlands manufacturers

This began with the ‘Innovation in the Midlands Aerospace Supply Chain’ conference – the first event of its kind that we’ve held at an airshow – delivered in partnership between the MAA and the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT). Fifty participants heard an overview of the latest technology and capability developments from Midlands manufacturing supply chain companies, their scope, scale and focuses, as well as how organisations are working together across the region to accelerate innovation.

The Innovation in the Midlands Aerospace Supply Chain conference

Six small Midlands companies that have benefitted from R&D programmes we have delivered (such as Aerospace UP and Pivot into Space) delivering spoke about the technical outcomes of their projects including Burcas, G&O Springs, PAK Engineering, PGM Reball, SHD and Zeeko. They gave insights into how their technical solutions will open up new opportunities, and explained the support they’ve received from the MAA and University, such as rapidly-available R&D grants, expert industry guidance, access to cutting-edge facilities, and student placements.

Technology Managers who are leading the MAA’s wide range of innovation programmes were also active during Farnborough Airshow, engaging with businesses and having holding useful discussions with them about future capabilities and technologies.

Pivoting into space with exciting new technologies

We were delighted to be able to recognise at a global airshow the achievements of all eight innovative projects that form part of the Pivot into Space programme, which is being led by the Midlands Aerospace Alliance with funding from the UK Space Agency, matched by industry.

Pivot into Space companies with the UK Space Agency and MAA teams at the UKSA pavilion

The programme has already created a launchpad into the space industry for nine small supply chain companies of a size that would normally face significant barriers to entering this demanding sector. The programme has not only provided significant grant funding worth £18,000 - £50,000 to each company, but also valuable technical and commercial guidance, access to industry contacts, exclusive events, and networking opportunities. Read about the achievements here.

In parallel to Pivot into Space, the UK Space Agency is commissioning the University of Leicester and regional partners, including the MAA, to develop a wider Midlands Space Cluster to help academic experts, industry and key stakeholders collaborate more effectively. With its strong space industry presence and themes, the airshow gave the MAA team a great opportunity to build stakeholder networks and new business connections.

Opening up the skies through advanced air mobility

Another market that offers significant growth potential for aerospace companies is Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which is predicted to grow to $510bn by 2040 and has the potential to create enormous value to the UK economy, reduce carbon emissions, create jobs and save costs.

Recognising this potential, the MAA is collaborating with Coventry City Council on the Drone Ready Cities project, which is exploring how regulatory restrictions could be overcome to enable public and private organisations to use drones to deliver faster, safer, cheaper solutions with less impact on the environment. You can read more about this project, which is funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, here.

The project was featured as part of a panel on AAM at the airshow’s prestigious Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit. The future and imminent reality of this emerging industry as well as the practicalities of airspace integration and operation were discussed. Panel experts explored the global challenges of creating a safe and seamless airspace, including regulatory challenges, policy and manufacturing considerations across different regions, with insights into the latest technology advances and industry developments.

Clive Lewis chairing the Advanced Air Mobility panel at the Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit

Separately from the DRC project, the MAA team working on the FFLIP project (Future Flight and Land Infrastructure Programme), led by Birmingham company Petalite as part of Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge programme, was able to hold useful 121 discussions with a number of the AAM aircraft builders exhibiting at the show on critical subjects related to battery power density, range, standards and how operational challenges can be overcome.

Making strides towards net zero

Sustainability was yet again another major theme at the Farnborough Airshow and remains of critical importance to the aerospace industry, with key aircraft and aero engine manufacturers making big commitments around achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Gaining pace throughout 2024 is the Decarbonising the Midlands Aerospace Cluster programme, a development project which is exploring how aerospace supply chain companies in the Midlands can contribute to reaching these ambitious targets.

The programme, which is led by the MAA and funded by the UK government’s The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero via Innovate UK, has been focusing on:

• Accelerating the supply chain's maturity in emissions reduction and reporting. 

• Preparing the supply chain for customer requirements and regulation changes. 

• Outlining a decarbonisation strategy for the region's aerospace cluster.

Over the last few months, by working together with the industry partners - ITP Aero, Collins Aerospace, Arrowsmith, G&O Springs, Technoset and Helix - we have made great progress both strategically and in terms of the practical solutions being developed.

We’ve been carrying out extensive research with our supply chain community to understand consumption of electricity and natural gas at our manufacturing companies as well as where the supply chain is on its emissions-reduction (and recording) journey.

We’ve been trialling different approaches to most effectively obtain carbon footprints for individual products (separating them from the footprint for a whole organisation) as this is a legislative requirement for certain commodities under the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that will affect exporters, with the UK soon to follow with its own version.

We have also investigated a number of tactical solutions to help reduce emissions such minimising the carbon footprint of packaging; businesses in close proximity supplying excess heat for use as energy; and recycling rare-earth magnets.

At a strategic level, we’ve held two engagement events which focused on the future requirements of customers and regulators, case-studies from supply chain companies and opportunities for government support and funding. Now we are developing our strategy recommendations, a draft version of which will be shared with DESNZ later this month.

You can read more about this project and how the MAA and leading companies are working together here.

Successful pilot identified new funding streams

We were delighted to announce the successful completion of the ASSIST project – designed to boost aerospace innovation in the West Midlands – at the Farnborough Airshow.

ASSIST was a pilot project focused on supporting lower-tier aerospace suppliers in the West Midlands - an initiative of the West Midlands Innovation Programme 2.0 - delivered by the MAA. It involved an R&D funding matchmaking process with six companies, including A&M EDM, Accura, Alloy Wire International, Graves Aircraft Components, Kepston Ltd, and MJ Sections.

During the show, a new report was officially published sharing the findings from this important project which produced valuable insights. In addition to the companies involved, we interviewed many more to understand their specific needs when it comes to UK funding mechanisms. You can read the project summary report here.

Two of the ASSIST Project companies at FIA - Alloy Wire and Kepston

New initiative helps companies get into aerospace

A new MAA initiative launched shortly before the Farnborough Airshow was the Supply Chain Transition Programme, which is designed to help organisations interested in getting into aerospace and space enter these sectors, and is run in partnership with Business Growth West Midlands.

The first cohort of participating companies had the opportunity to join aerospace “discovery tours” which ran during the show.  These tours, led by our expert Technology Managers, took companies to targeted locations, gave important insights into the aerospace and space industries and provided opportunities to meet key industry players relevant to their business growth objectives.

One of the discovery tours during the show

Collaborating to help the industry grow stronger

We continue to collaborate with partners at other regional aerospace alliances both in the UK and internationally as well as national aerospace body ADS, the Department for Business and Trade, the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) and MAKE UK to market key opportunities open across the aerospace supply chain such as B2B meetings with key customers, R&D funding and other initiatives. By working strategically together, we enhance the benefits and help our industry grow stronger together.

Developing the aerospace strategy for the Midlands

Following recent research carried out by the Midlands Engine and the MAA, which found that the scale and economic contribution of the region’s aerospace cluster is considerably greater than stated by current statistics used by policy makers, we are working in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority and the new Mayor’s team to help develop an aerospace strategy to support smaller companies and manufacturers in the West Midlands. The MAA team met on the MAA stand with respected global aerospace consultant Klaus Mueller of AeroDynamic Advisory, a keynote speaker at the 2024 MAA annual conference, who will be supporting the strategy project.

The Midlands aerospace cluster is one of the largest in the world and it is a privilege to continually support so many companies to continue innovating and growing in a global market, many which exhibited or attended the Farnborough Airshow this year. It’s great to see Midlands companies making such an impact and attracting customers from all around the world.