Hamburg and the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking accelerate innovation for net-zero aviation

Last week at the ILA Berlin International Air Show, the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and the City of Hamburg signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), accelerating the demonstration of low-emission aircraft ideas and technologies for entry into airline service by 2035.

Both parties have agreed on a joint strategic roadmap for net-zero aviation, adhering with the European Green Deal objectives and identifying areas for research and innovation where Hamburg can concentrate efforts. 

The City of Hamburg will mobilise up to €128 million in investments to support projects at regional level, contributing to the Clean Aviation’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and programme objectives, between 2024 and 2027.

Axel Krein, Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, said: “The Free & Hanseatic City of Hamburg is now a strategic and pivotal partner of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking whose remit it is to develop disruptive technologies for low-emission aircraft to enter in service by 2035. Our common goal to accelerate transformation towards sustainable aviation is achievable by pulling together the best available expertise and resources from across Europe, in recognition that no single region or country can accomplish this goal alone.”

“The City of Hamburg is very proud to join forces with the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Our significant investments will play a crucial role in developing technologies for the next generation of low-emission aircraft powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel or hydrogen. Furthermore, it will strengthen our regional aviation ecosystem, which is at the forefront of sustainability,” stated Andreas Rieckhof, the City of Hamburg’s State Council of the Ministry for Economic and Innovation.

“This is good news for Hamburg’s aviation community,” comments Ralf Gust, Managing Director of Hamburg Aviation, a dedicated cluster network supporting the aviation industry in Hamburg.

“This initiative perfectly complements the intensive endeavours underway in the Hamburg region to transform aviation into a post-carbon industry, by aligning the many efforts of business, research and public policy in Hamburg with a European strategic roadmap. We are certain it will have a positive benefit for aviation in Hamburg and across Europe looking forward,” Gust continued.

Establishing co-operation on synergies with European regions is one of the key drivers of Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027). Synergies between Clean Aviation and regional programmes are expected to deliver significant impacts, in particular in terms of: 

• Increased number of low-emissions aircraft disruptive technologies and concepts; 
• Increased competitiveness of regional aviation players, in particular SMEs; 
• Creation of jobs and skills required for aviation transition towards climate-neutrality. 

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

The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking approach on synergies with European regions marks a step change in what was achieved under Clean Sky 2, whereby 18 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed with national or regional authorities, supporting over 50 pilot regional projects for cutting-edge technologies with a budget of over €50 million.