Image: Stralis.aero
The Australian federal government has announced the allocation of $13.5 million in grants to 12 innovative aviation projects, marking a significant investment in the future of aviation technology. These projects, selected for Round 2 of the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, encompass a range of cutting-edge advancements from drones and remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles and hydrogen and battery-electric aviation technologies.
Among the recipients are prominent names like AMSL Aero, Electro.Aero, Jabiru, Stralis, and Wedgetail, along with various industry and university-led initiatives. The focus of these grants is to foster technologies that can enhance manufacturing, integrate digital technology into farming, improve regional connectivity with national supply chains, and deliver better outcomes for regional and remote First Nations communities.
The government highlighted several key applications of these technologies, including the use of drones for humanitarian operations and cargo delivery across regional and remote Australia, as well as transporting medical supplies to Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait. Other projects involve uncrewed aircraft for large-scale farm spraying and the development of renewable or low-energy power sources like electric motors and high-powered chargers.
“This builds on an $18 million investment for 12 projects under the program’s first round, which is already supporting critical initiatives such as air ambulance trials in regional Australia and the development of a more efficient propeller design for emerging and traditional aircraft,” the government stated.
Senator Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development & Education, emphasised the importance of these partnerships with industry in developing innovative aviation technologies. “This includes drones and remotely-piloted aircraft that will ensure remote communities get access to the health services they need, and the cargo makes its way onto the shelves at the local grocer,” he said.
Chisholm noted the broader implications of these projects, stating, “Some of these latest projects will explore how emerging aviation can support farmers and unlock manufacturing opportunities in Australia, as well as how we can make this technology lower cost and more sustainable – to make them more widely accessible for communities. I’m looking forward to seeing the development of these projects get underway and the impact they will have in our regional, rural and remote communities, because when we invest in local innovation and manufacturing, it creates more opportunity for our regions now and into the future.”
This round of funding continues the momentum from the first round of the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, which has already seen success in supporting critical aviation projects. By investing in these cutting-edge technologies, the federal government aims to drive growth in the aviation sector, enhance regional connectivity, and support the development of sustainable and innovative solutions for the future.
