Clean Sky 2

Clean Sky 2
Name	Clean Sky 2
Type	Public–private partnership
Launched	2014
Budget	€4.5 billion (approx.)
Participants	Multiple aerospace companies, research centres, universities
Region	European Union

Clean Sky 2 Clean Sky 2 was a large European public–private partnership initiative launched to accelerate research, development and demonstration of low-emission, low-noise and fuel-efficient aircraft technologies. It brought together major aerospace manufacturers, research institutes and universities across the European Union, coordinating projects aimed at reducing environmental impact in line with regulatory frameworks and industrial strategies. The programme operated alongside initiatives by the European Commission, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and national agencies to translate research into industrial applications.

Overview

Clean Sky 2 was the second phase following an earlier aeronautics initiative, conceived within the framework of Horizon 2020 and linked to strategic agendas set by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. The programme targeted emissions and noise reductions for subsonic transport, involving industrial leaders such as Airbus, Saab AB, Leonardo S.p.A., and suppliers like Safran and Rolls-Royce Holdings. Research institutions including Cranfield University, DLR (German Aerospace Center), ONERA (French Aerospace Lab) and universities across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden provided scientific capability and test infrastructure. Funding mechanisms combined contributions from the European Commission and the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking industry members to create integrated technology demonstrators.

Objectives and Scope

The principal objectives aligned with emission-reduction targets articulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization and ICAO environmental goals, seeking improvements in fuel burn, nitrogen oxide emissions, and acoustic footprint. Specific targets echoed European strategic plans such as the Flightpath 2050 roadmap and coordination with the Single European Sky initiative. Scope included regional, short-haul and long-range narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, rotorcraft, engines and onboard systems, as well as airport-ground systems influenced by stakeholders like AENA and Schiphol Group. The programme emphasized technology readiness levels suitable for maturity progression toward certification under EASA rules.

Structure and Governance

Governance rested on a public–private structure managed by a Joint Undertaking constituted under EU law, with oversight by the European Commission and a board of industrial partners including OEMs and suppliers. Operational management coordinated Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs) grouped by themes and technical domains, overseen by representatives from Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation, MTU Aero Engines, and national research agencies like CNRS and INRIA. Project selection and contracting followed Horizon 2020 procedures, while intellectual property and exploitation were governed by consortium agreements aligned with European Patent Office practices and national funding rules.

Research Areas and Key Technologies

Research areas spanned aerodynamics, advanced materials, propulsion systems, systems integration, and noise-abatement technologies. Aerodynamics work drew on experimental facilities such as wind tunnels at ONERA and DNW and computational tools developed at ISAE-SUPAERO and Imperial College London. Materials research explored composites and additive manufacturing with partners like Aernnova and EADS supply chains, while propulsion efforts involved core technology for combustors, turbomachinery and hybrid-electric concepts from Rolls-Royce Holdings and General Electric. Systems integration included avionics and flight control research involving Honeywell International and Thales Group, and cabin systems with inputs from Porsche Engineering and Zodiac Aerospace.

Major Projects and Demonstrators

Major demonstrators included full-scale and component-level demonstrators for fuel-efficient wings, quiet landing gear, advanced nacelles, and hybrid-electric propulsion testbeds. Notable demonstrator efforts coordinated testing at facilities such as Cranfield Airport, Farnborough, and national laboratories in Germany and Italy. Projects interfaced with aircraft platforms and testbeds from Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo-Finmeccanica, and regional aircraft manufacturers like ATR and Bombardier Aerospace to validate technologies in representative flight conditions. Noise-reduction demonstrators linked with airport operators including Heathrow Airport and research initiatives at NASA Centres via transatlantic collaboration.

Consortium and Partners

The consortium encompassed a wide network of aerospace manufacturers, tier-one suppliers, research organisations, universities and small-to-medium enterprises. Key industrial partners included Airbus, Safran, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Leonardo S.p.A., Thales Group, Honeywell International, SAAB AB, and MTU Aero Engines. Research partners included DLR, ONERA, Cranfield University, Imperial College London, Politecnico di Milano, TU Delft, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, CSIC laboratories and national labs across Spain and Portugal. The consortium structure promoted technology transfer among multinational corporations, SMEs, and academic actors, engaging policy stakeholders such as the European Parliament committees concerned with transport and environment.

Impact and Results

The programme reported reductions in projected fuel burn and noise levels for targeted configurations, contributing to technology pipelines adopted in commercial programmes by manufacturers like Airbus and engine upgrades from Rolls-Royce Holdings and Safran. Outputs included scientific publications from institutions such as ISAE-SUPAERO and TU Delft, patents filed through pathways involving the European Patent Office, and enhanced testing capabilities at national facilities like DLR and ONERA. The initiative influenced subsequent EU research frameworks and partnerships, informing policy dialogues in the European Commission and technical standards considered by EASA and ICAO. Economic and environmental assessments referenced by European Investment Bank analysts indicated benefits for competitiveness across the aerospace sector and for regional clusters in Toulouse, Hamburg, Milan and Madrid.

Category:Aeronautics research programs