Brussels, 20 March 2025 | At the Clean Aviation Annual Forum, the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and Portugal, represented by Agência Nacional de Inovação (ANI) and Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC), signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to foster the maturation and  demonstration of competitive low-emission aircraft technologies and concepts for entry into service by 2035.

The parties have agreed to achieve a joint strategic roadmap aligned to the Clean Aviation’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), identifying Research and Innovation areas on which Portugal will concentrate efforts. Till 2027 Portugal will mobilise investments in national projects accelerating Europe’s aviation decarbonisation while strengthening the competitiveness of the supply chain at national level.

Axel Krein, Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, said: “This strategic partnership with Portugal is key for our efforts to demonstrate disruptive aviation technologies for low-emission aircraft to enter in service by 2035. Our common goal to accelerate transformation towards a sustainable aviation while maintaining European aviation global leadership is achievable by pulling together the best available expertise and resources from across Europe. No single region or country can accomplish this goal alone”.

“Portugal is the first EU Member State to sign a Memorandum with the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. By bringing together the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, ANI, and ANAC, we are creating a unique framework to align research and innovation priorities, maximise synergies between national, regional, and European programmes, and pool financial resources more effectively. ANI, as the national innovation agency, plays a central role in fostering these synergies, facilitating access to funding mechanisms, and supporting the participation of Portuguese stakeholders in high-impact projects. We estimate that, till 2026, Portugal will mobilise up to 15M€ in investments to support research and innovation projects at national level, thus contributing to the Clean Aviation’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and programme objectives.”, said António Grilo, Chairman of Agência Nacional de Inovação (ANI).

Ana Vieira da Mata, Chairwoman of Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC),commented: “It is with great enthusiasm that we formalise this Memorandum of Cooperation, a key step towards ‘Net Zero Aviation.’ This partnership aligns national, regional, and European programs, accelerating sustainable aviation through coordinated research, innovation, and funding. By integrating ANAC and ANI with the CAJU Work Programme, we establish a strong framework for technical and financial alignment, fostering innovative solutions, training, and regional development. ANAC is fully committed to ensuring tangible benefits, reinforcing Portugal’s role in advancing sustainable aviation.”

Establishing cooperative synergies with European regions is one of the key drivers of Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027) and is at the core of the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. Synergies between Clean Aviation and national and regional initiatives are expected to deliver significant impacts, in particular in terms of:

• Increased competences, capabilities and resources for sustainable aeronautics connected to the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking;
• Increased number of low-emission aircraft disruptive technologies and concepts;
• Increased competitiveness of regional aviation players, in particular SMEs;
• Creation of jobs and development of skills required for aviation transition towards climate-neutrality.

Since 2023, the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking has signed four MoCs with regions, i.e., Occitanie (FR), Campania, Piemont (IT), and Hamburg (DE), leveraging on their commitments for net-zero aviation.

About the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking:

The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future. It is a European public-private partnership. The programme’s disruptive clean aviation technologies will help reduce CO2 emissions of short-medium range and regional aircraft by 30% as presented in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

Clean Aviation is forging collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and synergies with other complementary partnerships, such as the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, and with other EU funding instruments (e.g. the European Regional Development Fund), as well as with national and regional innovation programmes.

About Agência Nacional de Inovação (ANI):

ANI’s role is to promote knowledge transfer, creating value for the national economy, setting priorities, and defining indicators focused on supporting the adoption of knowledge and technology by companies and society. This is achieved through the development of policies and instruments aimed at supporting Research & Technological Development and Innovation in Portugal, contributing to the consolidation of the National Innovation System (SNI) and strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy in global markets.

About Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC):

ANAC’s role is to regulate and supervise the entire civil aviation sector and to oversee and regulate all the activities carried out within it. The purpose is the promotion of a safe, competitive and sustainable development of civil aviation. Our motto is “Together we fly safely”.

Source : clean-aviation