National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP)

The Aerospace Growth Partnership developed the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) aimed at small and medium sized suppliers to help them develop their own innovative technologies to enhance their capabilities and increase their ability to win new business with higher tier companies anywhere in the world. The programme builds upon the successful NATEP programme run between 2013-2017 and supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative.

By continuing to develop an aerospace supply chain with a high rate of innovation, rich in new technologies the UK will be better able to offer the right products and services, at the right time and ahead of competition. This will ensure that market opportunities are exploited with high value manufacturing work retained in the UK.

A new £8m injection of funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute ( www.ati.org.uk ) allows the NATEP programme to support 40 more collaborative technology projects involving up to 100 companies, Universities and Research & Technology Organisations. It will sustain or create 500 high value jobs. It will allow a further three six-monthly Calls for project proposals and support projects until 2020.

NATEP is an Aerospace Growth Partnership initiative led by ADS, the Premier Trade Organisation for companies in the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Sectors. It is a UK-wide programme delivered with the support of Regional Aerospace Alliance (RAA) organisations in England (Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, Midlands Aerospace Alliance, North West Aerospace Alliance and West of England Aerospace Forum) and in the devolved regions by Invest Northern Ireland, Scottish Enterprise and the Welsh Government.

The programme supports companies in the aerospace supply chain to develop innovative technologies, working in collaboration with others and supported by higher tier companies. It will equip them to win new business with existing customers and to diversify their customer base. It is based on a proven model delivered by the partner organisations from 2013-17. As well as grant funding, the programme provides high calibre technical and management resource to help those companies accelerate the technology development towards market readiness

It is an industry-led programme. Panels of aerospace industry professionals and technology advisers throughout the English regions, Northern Ireland and Scotland are contributing their time for free to support the projects. New and innovative product technologies already supported by NATEP will find applications on current and future aircraft platforms. New or improved manufacturing process technologies will enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the UK aerospace manufacturing sector as well as finding applications in other industry sectors such as Energy, Automotive or Rail.

Harriet Wollerton, NATEP Programme Director comments
"NATEP is a success and represents a tremendous opportunity, particularly for small and medium sized companies. The programme, run from 2013 to 2017, has shown that it is sized and arranged to suit the needs of small supply chain companies and projects. The mentoring and support provided by NATEP helps the planning and execution of the projects and has produced many exciting and innovative products, materials and manufacturing processes that will help anchor manufacturing and high value jobs in the UK, improve productivity and competitiveness in the sector and create export opportunities. The new funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute will take the programme to 2020 and can be further built upon”

Rolls Royce, Airbus, Bombardier, GKN and Leonardo, are sponsoring the programme, ensuring that everyone from the top level of the industry down is working together, towards the same goal.