The aviation industry is continuously evolving to respond to technological advancements, mitigate risks and other factors that influence flying. The efforts on research and innovation (R&I) go beyond having newer, more modern aircraft. It can be about the passenger experience (for instance, concluding it is safe to allow the use of mobiles phones during a commercial flight), improved safety requirements, more sustainable aviation, the use of novel technologies like Artificial Intelligence and much more.
In line with its safety and environmental protection missions, EASA supports and fosters research and innovation to remain at the forefront of conceptual and technological developments and play a leading role in R&I. This includes:
- launching and funding research projects
- keeping ties with academia and institutions which can support the Agency in facing new challenges and accompanying transformations.
It’s important that EASA is an integral part of the technological developments from the very beginning to ensure a high safety level and support the growth of the European industry.
Topics of EASA research
| Health | E.g. Flight time limitation, pandemic measures |
| Environment | E.g. Making flying more sustainable, less noisy |
| (Cyber) Security | E.g. Countering any sort of threats |
| Digitalisation | E.g. Improving services and processes |
| Novel Technologies | E.g. Electric or hydrogen propulsion for aircraft, new materials for aircraft components, unmanned aerial vehicles |
Check past and ongoing EASA research projects on EASA Pro: Research Projects | EASA
EASA publishes the outcomes of its research projects (such as reports, recordings of webinars, etc) so that those who are interested can benefit from this knowledge!
The Aviation Authorities’ Research Agenda
Strategic research planning is key to ensure that the European aviation industry and authorities can benefit from and contribute to the new challenges in civil aviation. EASA experts, Industry and Member States can propose common research topics, which are annually prioritised and assessed according to the Agency’s strategic objectives for R&I. Once agreed, the chosen topics become the annual Aviation Authorities’ Research Agenda, which has a three-year planning cycle. The Agency then sets out to get funding for these topics. Research in EASA can be funded through EU financing programmes (such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe), as well as through existing partnerships between private and public sector (such as SESAR & Clean Aviation JU).
Research and the European Plan for Aviation Safety
Those research projects which receive funding are included in the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS), which defines strategic priorities and main risks affecting European aviation and proposes actions to mitigate those risks and to further improve aviation safety. Read more on the EPAS: European Plan for Aviation Safety | EASA
How EASA is supporting innovation coming from industry
EASA offers Innovation Services to European industry for developing novel technologies. The main idea is to help introduce innovative solutions to the market by providing technical advice prior to or during a certification procedure and a regulatory framework that allows industry to develop safe, innovative products.
Read more on Innovation Services: Innovation Services | EASA