Broadening Clean Sky Horizons
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Innovation takes off n° 23 October 2017 Broadening Clean Sky Horizons www.cleansky.eu Clean Sky Evaluations: signposting the Contents future of aeronautics research in Europe Editorial 3 Clean Sky Evaluations: signposting the future 4 of aeronautics research in Europe Clean Sky working with Member States and Regions 5 Why early involvement of certification matters to achieve 6 4 environmental protection objectives Shift2Rail and Shift2Rail and Clean Sky: part of the multimodal and 7 Clean Sky: part of competitive future EU Transport the multimodal and SESAR and the digitalisation of aviation’s infrastructure 8 competitive future EU Transport Fuel cells and hydrogen solutions for clean transport 9 Breakthrough BLADE laminar flow demonstrator makes first flight 10 Landmark Open Rotor engine up and running 12 Clean Sky at Le Bourget 2017 14 Next events 16 7 Fuel cells and BLADE laminar flow hydrogen demonstrator makes solutions for first flight! clean transport 9 10-11 Open Rotor Clean Sky at Up and Le Bourget 2017 Running! 12-13 14-15 2 Skyline 23 | October 2017 EDITORIAL Tiit Jürimäe Interim Executive Director, Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking The last few months have been very important under H2020 and, even more importantly, will interested Member States and Regions. You for Clean Sky. First and foremost, tests have serve as an input for the design of the future can read about our cooperation with SESAR successfully started for two of our landmark FP9 programme and Clean Sky 3. I invite and EASA aimed at working together on issues demonstrators – flight tests for the BLADE you to read Cheryl Atkinson’s insight into of common interest such as optimisation of laminar flow test aircraft and ground tests the reviews. Cheryl was one of the experts air traffic management and early certification for the Open Rotor engine – after 10 years involved in the review process and has shared issues related to new technologies. Beyond of preparation through the collaboration of with us the main findings of the reviews. In aeronautics, Clean Sky 2 has close links to many organisations throughout Europe. The addition to these reports, Clean Sky welcomes two European Joint Undertakings, Fuel Cells strong start to these tests proves that Clean the recommendations of the Horizon 2020 and Hydrogen (FCH) in energy and Shift2Rail Sky is a successful partnership which not only evaluation report “Research & Innovation – in rail transport, whose remits share with us stimulates cross-border collaboration, but is shaping our future”, presented on 3 July under the goals of energy efficiency and reducing also able to deliver well. Read more about the leadership of Pascal Lamy. This report the environmental footprint of a number of those two Clean Sky milestones in this issue. explicitly mentions the Joint Undertakings’ strategic industrial sectors. Finally, you will ability to build long-lasting relationships find an update on our increased cooperation Another important milestone for us has been throughout the supply chain. Indeed, halfway with regions where Clean Sky has been one the completion by the independent experts through the programme, Clean Sky 2’s figures of the pioneers at the European level and the of the FP7 Clean Sky final evaluation report speak for themselves: 462 single participants concrete projects and synergies are starting and the Horizon 2020 Clean Sky 2 interim in 25 countries of which 151 are small and to bear fruit. evaluation report. This detailed review medium companies, 63 are research centres exercise, managed by the Commission, is and 61 are universities. A truly open and Finally, we are glad to report on our joint key to not only assessing the impact of Clean inclusive European partnership! presence with the European Commission Sky, but also to drawing lessons that will help at the Le Bourget Airshow in June where Clean Sky 2 to perform at its best for the rest of Encouraged by those results and among others, the Clean Sky-supported new the programme. participation figures, we continue working breakthrough fast rotorcraft RACER project on our contribution to Clean Sky’s high-level was unveiled at our stand. I hope you enjoy The overall tone of the Clean Sky reports is objectives of improving the environment your reading! very positive, with experts clearly impressed via innovative technologies and helping by the Clean Sky performance and finding the European competitiveness. However, Clean Joint Undertaking a very effective approach Sky does not operate in isolation, so we are to research management. The reports have looking at the broad horizon around Clean also delivered critical messages and points Sky 2 with a focus on those programmes for reflection which will be translated into and projects closely related to research in measures to improve Clean Sky 2’s functioning aeronautics and working together with Skyline 23 | October 2017 3 CLEAN SKY EVALUATIONS: SIGNPOSTING THE FUTURE OF AERONAUTICS RESEARCH IN EUROPE Cheryl Atkinson Freelance Aeronautics Consultant y colleagues, Poitr Doerffer and Helge programme is based on years of cross border central to reducing fragmentation, avoiding MPfeiffer, and I were privileged to prepare collaboration, just as for the aeronautics duplication and capturing the industries’ the final evaluation of the Clean Sky 1 supply chain. Proportionally more funding performance in selecting development programme and the first interim evaluation has, through open calls, flowed into under- goals as well as realising them. The proud of Clean Sky 2 during the first half of this year. represented member states than to the ‘big achievements of a specific demonstrator may These reviews were timed to provide input three’ GDP producers never enter the market into the H2020 interim evaluation and the early and this will empower integrally but hundreds work on the formation of the next generation their future. We have What we most of underlying advances framework programme. The Clean Sky reviews seen that demonstrator admired, and considered in product design were part of a team effort together with the programmes are made the critical success and manufacturing SESAR and Shift2Rail reviews and it was often for SME contribution – a capability will ensure helpful to share insights with these colleagues. record participation has factor, in the Clean Sky a next generation of been realised even with programme was the globally competitive We quickly recognised that Clean Sky’s many SME contributions evidence we encountered air transport vehicles conception as a Joint Technology Initiative and not in the administrative that can meet the its management by a Joint Undertaking are ‘count’. But we have everywhere of the will to environmental standards still fairly unique to the framework programme also found that the make it work. that will be expected of scope. And the ambitious demonstrator nature of the calls for them. The metrics of a focused research agenda targets a later phase proposals that arise from successful collaborative in the research and development life cycle demonstrator programmes are so tailored and research effort on an unprecedented scale than has ever been addressed in European time sensitive that subcontracting would be remain to be invented by the Clean Sky team. Union funded research. These two features much more efficient – especially for the JU. guided our research. Thanks to the frequent The reduction of the administrative burden engagement of independent external Perhaps more significant than the based on a ‘trust-based’ relationship with reviewers of the technical programme, our technological products of Clean Sky is the beneficiaries does not seem to have come to evaluation could focus on the governance exposure of a generation of industrial, research fruition in the Horizon 2020 programme. And and programmatic aspects of the Clean Sky and academic personnel to the rhythm of the that is understandable for the broad range research programme. While it is daunting to later phases of research and development of funding instruments managed by various summarise such a broad endeavour, I will try that they would otherwise not have had agencies and directorates. But the legal to highlight our key observations here. the opportunity to experience. It has been implementation of a JTI would suggest that, with a training ground for systematic approaches more Commission trust in the JU Programme The JU is a very effective approach to research to technology down selection, assessing Office, great reduction in the time and talent management. The overhead cost is exceptionally the risk and making hard choices in research invested in administration can be realised. low and the quality of the day-to-day and hands- investments. It has taught them to expect on interventions is very, very high. We found that the obstacles that arise in realising concepts What we most admired, and considered a much lower level of Commission intervention and opportunities in performing hardware the critical success factor, in the Clean Sky would be warranted, given the dedication of within a cost-schedule framework. We have programme was the evidence we encountered the JU to ensuring that the research plans are recommended that the Clean Sky JU take everywhere of “the will to make it work”. The consistent with the societal objectives of the on a leadership role in stimulating the next Clean Sky 1 Closing Forum was clearly a family public funding contribution. We look forward generation of bright young minds to join the celebration and we hope that Eric Dautriat’s to the evolution of this research programme aeronautics community. successor as the inspirational and charismatic structure from its current focus on the leader of the Clean Sky JU will soon be in place. demonstrators to the complete management We observed that the specific management of the European Community investment instruments to monitor the most significant We have many people to thank for their in aeronautics research.