Technology projects
The MAA supports businesses of all sizes to innovate and grow in aerospace and beyond. Our innovation projects help companies succeed with key sector priorities.
How we can help you
- Tap into our team of aerospace experts
- Develop technologies with commercial potential
- Access innovation funding
- Pivot capabilities into new sectors
- Guidance with growing your business
- Invaluable industry insights and trends
The MAA way delivers the greatest benefits
- Bottom-up innovation: We stimulate bottom-up innovation in the aerospace supply chain, creating technology building blocks that open up new opportunities for businesses. We’ve supported some companies to undertake formal R&D for the first time and access grants so they can develop innovation ideas, mature technologies, and maximise commercial potential.
- Bespoke support: Our team of aerospace and technology experts takes time to understand what each company is looking to achieve and helps them design the optimum projects. We also spot hidden potential. But support isn’t limited to projects. We build long-term relationships with companies in our region through airshows, conferences, events, and our membership.
- Promoting collaboration: We are always creating ways for companies to collaborate and many of our innovation projects involve organisations coming together to solve challenges. We’ve helped companies of all sizes to create new models and processes that enable collaboration, linking them with useful organisations such as universities and Catapult centres in the region.
- Creating competitive advantage: We share critical knowledge that helps companies prepare for the future strategically and get ahead of the game, in particular when it comes to new technologies and emerging markets.
- Generating regional insights: We are continually working to build a deeper understanding of the supply chain in the Midlands and its innovation potential, at both design-make companies that focus on product technologies and manufacturing companies that focus on process technologies.
- A strong voice for the region: We are known for being the leading voice for aerospace in the Midlands. We share our knowledge and insights with national and international bodies – including policy makers – to encourage them to both support and work with the sector.
- Building partnerships: We build meaningful partnerships with key organisations to ensure our region gets the best support in critical areas. This includes industry primes and tier 1s, trade bodies, local authorities, national and international bodies. Together, we have the greatest impact.
Our impact
- We have secured over £60m in funding for supply chain companies, supported over 300 companies, some with multiple projects.
- We have helped companies to develop over 150 technology building blocks in the Midlands and 250 UK-wide.
- Formal evaluations of two of our largest past programmes have shown an excellent economic return. For every £1 of R&D grants in programmes we run, £26 of Gross Value Added (GVA) is created by industry over the following five years, much higher than the norm*.
*Source: Evaluation of the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme: A Final Report by Regeneris Consulting, 2017, Final Report: Evaluation of Aerospace UP, O’Herlihy & Co. Ltd, 2023.
Projects
Our expertise, working with industry and partners, covers a wide range of areas, including:
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Diversifying markets
- Advanced air mobility
- Space industry
Want to work with us?
If you want to know more about any of our technology projects or are interested in partnering with us, contact us here.
