Included within this funding is ZeroAvia’s innovative project that is aiming to develop a six-seater hydrogen-electric aircraft.

This showcases the potential of hydrogen and how the UK Government is actively supporting the development of the solution in the region.

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This latest round of funding will enable the consortium to scale up its hydrogen technology for use on a 19-seater aircraft, another stepping stone on the path towards the government’s Jet Zero ambitions.

The company said it will showcase the technology in various test flights, including a world-first long-distance zero-emissions demonstration flight of this size and power level in January 2023.

It will also enable ZeroAvia to enter the formal certification process at the end of the project, so that customers can expect to fly on zero emissions aircraft as early as the end of 2023.

If successful, the UK-based consortium, including Aeristech and the European Marine Energy Centre, could also help to secure 300 design jobs and 400 manufacturing jobs in Cranfield, Warwick and Orkney.

Gary Elliott, CEO of Aerospace Technology Institute, said, “I am delighted that the UK Government’s commitment to R&T investment in sustainable aircraft has today resulted in an uplift to £685m ($899m) for the UK aerospace sector over the Spending Review period, in addition to the commitment at the Budget that the ATI Programme will continue until 2031.

“With the support of the Aerospace Growth Partnership, and with Government investment matched by industry, the ATI will be able to invest more than £1bn ($1.31bn) over the next three years in the cutting-edge technology needed to move towards our net zero targets.

“This has allowed us to reopen ATI funding to new applications from April and we will work with BEIS and Innovate UK to ensure that this funding drives UK economic growth and reduces global aviation emissions.”