This is a visionary partnership of industry, local government, national government, regulators and academia.
These include Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and East Devon Councils; the University of Exeter; Met Office; Exeter and Yeovil Colleges; Connected Places Catapult; the Regional Aerospace Alliance (WEAF); Leonardo Helicopters and the Rigby Group – owner of Exeter Airport.
Exeter Airport is an ideally placed regional airport that has already hosted the first electric test flight in England. Located next to the Exeter Aerospace MRO facility and linked to the Future Skills Centre.
Plymouth Smart Sound Connect 5G Testbed is supported by a digital twin and 5G maritime testbed to enhance the understanding of the ocean and leading the transition to a future of integrated autonomous operation, resilient smart ports and short sea shipping. Through cross-sector collaboration and learning, the testbed can support the development of smart and sustainable future flight technologies.
Exeter & East Devon Enterprise Zone (Skypark) covers four major employment sites Skypark is one of the regions most significant business parks combining office, industrial and distribution space with hotel, local facilities and a combined heat and power plant in a landscaped environment of over 100 acres.
Exeter Science Park is a significant centre of activity for businesses in science, technology, engineering and maths. The Park provides inspirational incubation and grow-on space, as well as support for innovative businesses.
Gravity Enterprise Zone is a 616 acre site close to Bridgwater, providing an immersive, connected, intelligent and sustainable mixed use campus with scope for significant advanced manufacturing facilities.
iAero (Yeovil) Centre drives research, development and innovation through the supply chain. Dedicated to rotorcraft technologies, it enhances design and manufacturing capabilities across the South West, supporting the development and introduction of new innovative processes to the market. iAero strongly encourages and facilitates engagement with SMEs as well as knowledge and technology transfer.
The Centre for Clean Future Mobility partners with businesses to develop low-emissions, high-efficiency integrated power systems for applications in the marine, off-highway, rail, defence and energy sectors.
It has expertise in powertrain design and test for optimal fuel efficiency, ranges and cost.
University of Exeter has world leading engineering researchers with dedicated programmes focussing on areas including drone technology and via the Turing Institute Project Bluebird exploring the use of AI within air traffic control.
The University of Plymouth hosts the advanced composites manufacturing centre and similar for electron microscopy.
The West of England Aerospace Forum is a membership trade organisation for the South West focused on aerospace and defence associations in Europe. It provides a strong voice, representation and access to prominent regional, national and international decision makers in both industry and government.
Based in Exeter, the Met Office is the national meteorological service for the UK. It provides critical weather services and world-leading climate science. With world-leading technology underpinning the Met Office’s scientific capabilities, it has a reputation for continually pushing the boundaries of scientific, technological and operational expertise. Its investment in data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence will support the development of future flight technologies.
Local Authority Partners Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and East Devon Councils are important stakeholders in our region supporting planning and local development for future flight technologies as well as championing their local communities in terms of public perception and acceptance.
Located next to Exeter Airport, Exeter College Future Skills Centre delivers current aviation skills required via apprenticeships, technical and higher education routes. Working with industry partners, it is scoping out the future skills requirement for smart and sustainable aviation.
Yeovil College trains the future engineers who will develop future flight technologies to deliver decarbonisation of the current aviation industry and advanced air mobility. They provide a personalised study programme tailored to the specialist knowledge that employers need.
Both Colleges are part of an Institute of Technology that respond to the Industrial sectors requirements.
