Embraer and Finep signed an agreement for the improvement of platforms that will serve to demonstrate new aeronautical technologies. (Photographs: Embraer)
Embraer and Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep), a government organization inside Brazil’s Ministry of Science and Technologies, will companion to create and demonstrate new aviation technologies, which includes these associated to electric propulsion and autonomous operations.
Embraer mentioned the 3-year project will draw from BRL180 million ($36 million) in funding, which includes two-thirds—BRL120 million—coming from Finep. Embraer will also contribute “complementary resources” to the project.
An Embraer spokesperson told Avionics International that the project’s aim is “to create platforms to demonstrate low-mature technologies,” adding: “The fees connected with [such research] are as well higher … and the dangers are as well higher for a single business to assume.”
Brazilian greater education institutions, such as the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica and the College of Engineering of São Carlos, a element of the University of São Paulo, will be involved in the project as nicely. The Embraer spokesperson referred to as this the “triple helix model of innovation,” describing it as “a partnership involving academia, business, and government to foster financial and social improvement.”
Embraer and Finep will guide “pre-competitive research” on new aviation technologies more than the course of 3 years. “The objective is to evaluate future technologies that will be utilized for electric or hybrid propulsion, in remotely operated aircraft and in tests of autonomous operation,” the Embraer spokesperson mentioned.
The Embraer-Finep project will concentrate on building ground test benches, computer software, and a remotely operated modular aircraft, which will “carry out tests in true flight situations, aiming to raise the [technology readiness level] of these new technologies,” according to an Embraer statement.
Henrique Langenegger and Elias Ramos de Souza
Embraer Chief Engineer Henrique Langenegger mentioned technologies created as element of the Finep project could lead to “the spillover of expertise to other sectors of the Brazilian economy, advancing the planet’s decarbonization agenda and producing socioeconomic positive aspects for Brazil, via innovation, science, and technologies.”
Finep Director of Innovation Elias Ramos de Souza mentioned the model becoming deployed—government subsidizing financially risky investigation carried out by business and academia—“offers terrific prospective for innovation.” He added: “It is a model to be followed in quite a few locations to resolve technological [challenges] led by anchor firms,” such as Embraer.
Embraer noted that governments offering subsidies for firms to investigation innovation is “a policy instrument extensively utilized in created nations [and adheres to] the norms of the Globe Trade Organization.”