What is the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program?
The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program provides up to $2 million to companies for projects that develop and deploy innovative aviation technologies, focusing on renewable or low-emission energy sources.
Background
The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships (EATP) Program is part of the Australian Government’s initiative to drive innovation in the aviation sector. This program aims to encourage the adoption of emerging aviation technologies such as drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and renewable or low-emission propulsion systems. By investing in these technologies, the program seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Australia’s aviation sector, create new jobs, and support a sustainable future. The program’s goals align with Australia’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions, fostering a green economy and regional economic growth.
Objectives
The objectives of the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program are to:
- Encourage and enable the development and deployment of innovative emerging aviation technologies.
- Support the advancement of regulations that benefit the emerging aviation technology sector.
- Demonstrate the benefits of emerging aviation technology to Australian businesses, particularly in regional Australia.
- Enhance the competitiveness, efficiency, and reliability of Australian aviation.
Eligible Entities
Applicants for the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be registered for the purposes of GST.
- Confirm their financial contribution to the project.
Eligible Expenditure
The eligible expenditure for the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program includes:
- Conducting trials of emerging aviation technologies with renewable or low-emission energy sources.
- Conducting research and development to support the proposal.
- Communication and information sharing activities.
- Demonstrating the technical viability of the proposal.
- Technological development.
- Demonstrating the uniqueness of the proposal compared to existing offerings in the market.
- Demonstrating the commercial/scalability potential of the proposal in domestic and/or international markets.
- Assisting the Government and other partners to address policy, regulatory, or other issues related to the proposal.
Funding
Eligible companies can apply for grants of up to $2.0 million with matched funding on a 1:1 basis. Approximately $12.3 million is available for Round Two of the program. Applicants must financially contribute to the project, with higher co-contributions representing better value for money and lower risk for the Commonwealth.
Eligible Activities
Eligible expenditure for the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program includes:
- Developing and testing innovative aviation technologies
- Conducting research and development for new aviation solutions
- Purchasing equipment specific to aviation technology projects
- Expanding operational capabilities for emerging aviation technologies
- Engaging in collaborations with international aviation bodies
- Implementing pilot programs and trials in regional and remote areas
- Investing in professional development for aviation technology team
How to get the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program
In order to get the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program you will need to focus on:
- Summarise your project, focusing on the innovation and potential benefits of your aviation technology.
- Clarify how your project aligns with the program’s objectives, including the development and deployment of innovative technologies.
- Compile all received funding, including investments and grants, to provide a full financial overview.
- Craft a succinct project proposal highlighting your goals and potential challenges.
- List key team members, showcasing their expertise and commitment.
- Include up to three CVs for your project’s key figures, highlighting their qualifications.
- Show your engagement with relevant stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
- Demonstrate project traction with details on development progress, technical viability, and market potential.
- Outline your 12-month project strategy, focusing on milestones, deliverables, and expected outcomes.
- Provide letters of support from stakeholders to bolster your application.
- Explain the grant’s necessity and the challenges it will help you overcome, alongside a detailed budget showing how the grant and matched funding will be used for eligible activities and the expected outcomes.
Timing
The closing date for the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program Round Two is 27 July 2023. Projects must be completed by 30 June 2025.
More information
Latest News
Grants totalling $18 million have been awarded to 12 projects under round one of the federal Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships (EATP) program. The program commits $32.6 million to June 2024, with the remaining funding to be allocated in its second round. Projects supported in round one include drone deliveries for health centres and integrating a hydrogen fuel cell into a drone.
Round 1 Recipients
AMSL Aero
Project: Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturing focusing on regulatory barriers and trials of air ambulance in regional NSW.
Praxis Labs
Project: Develop structural solar surfaces for the wings of an upcoming fleet of Australian electric aircraft.
Hover UAV – SORA-Mate
Project: Develop an online risk assessment tool for drone operators.
Central Queensland University
Project: Develop and trial a prototype drone system capable of AI driven weed detection and herbicide spraying (digital farming).
Wedgetail Aerospace Pty Ltd
Project: Large drone operations in regional Australia including pilot and maintenance qualifications, capability verification and validation.
Charles Darwin University
Project: Trial of drone service delivery for health-related items between health centres, remote indigenous communities and very remote outstations in the Northern Territory. The project will test and validate the effectiveness, efficiency, community acceptance and costs of integrating uncrewed aircraft into health supply chains.
Revolution Aerospace Pty Ltd
Project: Research to support and conduct trials to deliver cargo in the Whitsunday region using a variety of drones, delivery distances and delivery scenarios; trials to simulate air taxi operations in the Whitsunday region, and research to develop enhanced uncrewed traffic management services.
Field Master Systems Pty Ltd
Project: Integrating thermal imaging into drones to detect feral pests.
Swinburne University of Technology (Air Hub)
Project: Design and integrate a hydrogen fuel cell into a drone with ground and flight testing.
Marlee Djinda Pty Ltd
Project: Build, certify and integrate a drone with cameras and sensors to deliver a Landcare management program on the lands of the Kanpa community within the Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Land Council in Western Australia.
Swoop Aero Pty Ltd
Project: Roll out a large-scale multi-role drone logistics network commencing in the Darling Downs south-west region and expanding into south-east QLD and northern NSW focusing on pathology and medical logistics
XROTOR Pty Ltd
Project: Development, testing and trialling of a new propeller design for both emerging and traditional aircraft with reduced noise impact and higher propulsion efficiency compared to traditional propellers.
Round 2 Recipients
AMSL Aero Pty Ltd
Project: Flight testing and regional demonstrations of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, including research to address regulatory barriers related to hydrogen powered eVTOL operations. The project will also develop and demonstrate a hydrogen refuelling system to enable extended range and improve regional connectivity.
Autospray Pty Ltd
Project: Research, develop and trial multiple large remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operating in parallel to conduct 24/7 spraying operations on farms. The project will address regulatory barriers for, and reduce the cost of, automated large-scale zero emission farm spraying in regional and remote Australia.
AvSoft Australia Pty Ltd
Project: Enhance beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight planning and day of operations tactical planning by developing information resources for uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. The project will assist with Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) planning processes and improve situational awareness for UAV operators and piloted aviation.
Electro.Aero Pty Ltd
Project: Develop a high-powered electric aircraft charger with trials at a vertiport site to ensure alignment with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Advisory Circular – Guidance on vertiport design. The project will determine best-practice charging infrastructure solutions, particularly for regional and remote use cases, to support manufacturing opportunities in the sector.
Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd
Project: Develop a prototype electric motor and related control system for crewed aircraft and load carrying fixed wing UAV. The project will perform test flights using a Jabiru airframe and establish supply chains to support local manufacturing capability in Australia.
Li-S Energy Ltd
Project: Develop a prototype fixed-wing drone with solar and battery integration to enable extended flight duration without recharging or landing. The project will deliver improvements in UAV battery efficiency compared to existing lithium ion batteries and support manufacturing pathways for the technology in Australia.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Project: Develop a digital toolkit for air risk analysis to accelerate regulatory processes and airspace initiatives for emerging aviation technology. The project will integrate terrain, weather, air traffic and other aeronautical aviation data to characterise airspaces by risk and visually display these to share with airspace users including drone operators.
Raindance Systems Pty Ltd
Project: Develop an aerial drone incendiary system and conduct controlled burn trials in the Kimberley region and Kakadu National Park. The project will be delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners to support land management outcomes, particularly in First Nations communities.
Revolution Aerospace Pty Ltd
Project: Conduct research and development activities and trial pre-commercial drone delivery services for Indigenous communities across the Torres Strait, including health related products and services, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief capabilities. The project will support CASA to advance regulatory processes for complex SORA operations and improve supply chains and connectivity in regional and remote communities.
Stralis Aircraft Pty Ltd
Project: Convert a small single-engine passenger aircraft into a hydrogen-electric aircraft to demonstrate the benefits and capabilities of zero-emission propulsion technology for regional transport applications. The project will undertake a flight test campaign with regional demonstrations.
Macquarie University
Project: Design, build and test a sub-scale uncrewed flight demonstrator in collaboration with Seaflight Technologies, showcasing their aerodynamic circulation control suitable for an all-electric air cargo aircraft. Alongside build partner Advanced Composite Structures Australia and test partner QinetiQ Australia, the project will enable development of a commercial fixed-wing drone with improved range and payload capabilities, and demonstrate a viable path to affordable cargo delivery services across regional and remote Australia.
Wedgetail Aerospace Pty Ltd
Project: Establish a drone operation hub at Karratha Airport and conduct trials of resupply by drone from, and between, regional centres. The project will verify and validate cargo delivery processes and procedures to improve the safety and efficiency of operating larger drones BVLOS.
