World's 1st Doctoral Centre of Excellence for Net Zero Aviation
Partnerships - Skills - Innovation - Impact - Leadership - Outreach
Transform the Future of Aviation
The EPSRC CDT in Net Zero Aviation is the world's 1st Doctoral Centre of Excellence for Net Zero Aviation Training, Education and Research. The £15 million Centre, co-funded by EPSRC and more than 40 Industrial and Research Partners, is a collaboration between 3 leading Universities, Cranfield, Cardiff and Strathclyde and the National Centre of Atmospheric Science.
The Centre will collaboratively fund 64 Industry sponsored PhD research projects over 4 cohorts and will develop the future innovators, technologists and strategists whilst also contributing to the accelerated development of disruptive technologies required to decarbonise aviation by 2050.
In addition to the research element, the CDT offers an aviation focused, modular, group based training programme with emphasis on innovation and impact, collaborative working and learning, continuous development, active engagement with partners and stakeholders and inclusion of student-led activities.
Our Mission
The EPSRC CDT in Net Zero Aviation is a direct response to the urgent need to decarbonise the wider aviation sector and secure industrial, research and academic leadership through:
- Building strong cross sector partnerships
- Training future leaders that will drive the decarbonisation of aviation
- Developing future-proof technical, professional, leadership and personal skills for Net Zero Aviation
- Delivering technological innovation across the different sectors of aviation
- Creating new ways of working together, driving change and promoting sustainable growth
- Applying a new research mindset that accounts for commercial, social and environmental aspects from the outset of the research
- Engaging with stakeholders and general public while also reaching out and inspiring future generations
Our Ambition and Outcomes
The EPSRC CDT in Net Zero Aviation is the world’s first ecosystem wide collaboration bringing together multiple world leading research communities, stakeholders and facilities to deliver
Cross Sector Partnerships
Connect stakeholders, people, skills, capabilities, sectors and facilities to cover wider Aviation Eco-System
Skills for the Future
Cross-disciplinary skills coupled with specialist's knowledge and the ability to deliver complex programmes
Innovation
Novel technologies and new ways of working together
Impact
New Research Mindset and impact driven research accelerating commercialisation and route to market
Leadership
Fostering innovation and acting as a nucleus for Net Zero Aviation upskilling to develop long term strategic thinking and capabilities
Outreach, Engage and Inform
Engage with Stakeholders including General Public and Future Generations
Research and Training Streams
Due to the unique nature and challenges related to the decarbonisation of aviation it is imperative that a holistic approach is adopted to ensure maximum impact. While the CDT is covering a wide range of disciplines and topics its alignment with the UK’s Jet Zero and ATI’s Destination Zero strategies ensures that research and training activities remain focused with clear targets and a well-structured approach that is reflected in the 5 main research and training themes that include:
Zero Aerospace Emission Technologies: covering electrification, production, storage, use of hydrogen, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and novel energy vectors along with their integration on the aircraft
Ultra Efficient Aircraft & Propulsion Systems: including methods and tools required for the design, integration, analysis and testing of novel aircraft configurations and synergistic integration of aerodynamics, propulsion and structures.
Aerospace Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Technologies: that comprise novel, sustainable aerospace grade materials and manufacturing processes with improved efficiency, reduced waste and energy consumption as well as aspects related to circular economy, availability of materials and life cycle aspects.
Green Aviation Operations and Infrastructure: covering airborne, airside and airport operations, airspace management and development of infrastructures that include new airports as well as energy production, distribution, and storage facilities
Aviation Environmental & Socio-Economic Aspects: focusing on formation of emissions, impact on environment, climate change and society, commercialisation and route to market including legislative and certification frameworks, supply change, intellectual rights, progression through the TRLs will also be addressed.
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