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UK Invests $340 Million in Clean Tech for Air Travel
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 16, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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The UK is investing $340 million in clean tech for air travel, focusing on zero-emission innovations and sustainable manufacturing to boost the aerospace industry.
UK invests $340 million in clean tech for air travel
PARIS (Reuters) -Britain said it would invest 250 million pounds ($340 million) in technology to make air travel greener, backing research into zero-emission flying, laser-beam manufacturing and cutting aircraft drag, to help boost the country's aerospace industry.
Britain said the funding for research and development projects led by Airbus, Rolls-Royce and a number of smaller companies and academic partnerships, would attract more private investment into the sector and add new jobs.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones is due to announce the new funding at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, backing a number of projects which include the development of infrastructure for testing liquid hydrogen systems, fuel cell systems and developing lightweight materials.
The funding announcement came ahead of the government's industrial strategy, expected to be published later this month, and which will aim to help grow the country's defence and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Jones said supporting the major contractors was "incredibly important", but the government also wanted to encourage more start-ups in the sector.
"Getting the supply chain of smaller businesses ready is the challenge, and that's what we want to build up in the UK," she said in an interview.
Airbus UK chairman John Harrison said the funding gave the industry the confidence and stability needed to fuel innovation.
"It's initiatives like these that are absolutely critical to accelerating our decarbonisation journey and advancing sustainable, cutting-edge manufacturing," he said.
($1 = 0.7351 pounds)
(Reporting by Paul Sandle, writing by Sarah Young, editing by William James)
Key Takeaways
- •UK invests $340 million in clean tech for air travel.
- •Funding supports zero-emission flying and sustainable manufacturing.
- •Projects led by Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and academic partnerships.
- •Focus on hydrogen systems and lightweight materials.
- •Aims to boost aerospace industry and create jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK invests $340 million in clean tech for air travel
1How much is the UK investing in clean tech for air travel?
Britain is investing 250 million pounds, which is approximately $340 million, in technology aimed at making air travel greener.
2Which companies are receiving funding for clean air travel projects?
The funding will support research and development projects led by Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and various smaller companies and academic partnerships.
3What is the purpose of the UK government's investment?
The investment aims to back research into zero-emission flying and to attract more private investment into the sector, enhancing the supply chain of smaller businesses.
4What did Industry Minister Sarah Jones say about the funding?
Sarah Jones emphasized that supporting major contractors is crucial, but the government also aims to encourage more start-ups in the clean tech sector.
5What is the expected impact of this funding on the industry?
Industry leaders believe that this funding will provide the confidence and stability needed to fuel innovation and accelerate the decarbonisation journey in aviation.
