Fast-track Enabling innovative air mobility (IAM) / Vertical take-off and landing capable aircraft (VCA) (crewed and uncrewed) operations

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the development of innovative air mobility and vertical take-off and landing aircraft operations, including both crewed and uncrewed vehicles. The focus is on enabling safe and efficient operations in complex or congested environments and at vertiports. Key areas include operational procedures for innovative air mobility, advanced automation, resilient navigation, energy management, and the seamless integration of these aircraft into all types of airspace. The research also aims to improve vertiport management, cockpit automation, and the creation of advanced digital services to ensure efficient and safe operations.

• Projects must comply with format and page limits as set out in the official application guidelines.
• Applicants must be from eligible countries as defined in the relevant programme documents.
• Projects must protect European communication networks if relevant.
• Applicants must demonstrate both financial and operational capacity to carry out the project.
• Proposals will be evaluated on excellence, impact, and implementation.
• Funding is provided at a rate of 70% of eligible costs, in the form of a lump sum.
• Results must be shared royalty-free with other grants under the same call, and made available for reuse under fair conditions.
• Projects must not exceed 36 months in duration.

Example projects:

• Developing an automated navigation system for VTOL aircraft to operate safely in city environments.
• Designing a vertiport management platform that coordinates multiple uncrewed aircraft arrivals and departures.
• Creating cockpit automation tools to simplify pilot tasks in next-generation air mobility vehicles.

• Personnel costs for research and development staff
• Costs for purchasing or leasing equipment and instruments
• Materials and supplies directly related to project activities
• Travel and subsistence costs for project-related activities
• Subcontracting costs for specialized tasks
• Costs for testing, validation, and demonstration activities
• Software licenses and digital tools needed for the project
• Costs related to dissemination and exploitation of results
• Project management and coordination expenses
• Indirect costs as permitted under lump sum funding rules

All expenses must be directly linked to the project and comply with the lump sum funding model. Only costs outlined in the official guidelines are eligible.

• Co-financing rate: 70%
• Budget for this Call: 20,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Maximum value per project: 5,000,000€
• Minimum value per project: 2,000,000€

• Applicants must be from countries eligible under the Horizon Europe Programme.
• Proposals must follow the official application format and page limits.
• Applicants must show they have the financial and operational capacity to deliver the project.
• Projects must align with the opportunity's focus areas, such as innovative air mobility and VTOL operations.
• Applicants must agree to share results royalty-free with other grants from the same call.
• Consortiums or partnerships may be required, depending on the project scope.
• Specific rules may apply for applicants from non-EU or non-Associated Countries.
• Project duration cannot exceed 36 months.