Northern Ireland joins NATEP
NATEP is a £40m Aerospace Growth Partnership initiative aimed at supporting aerospace supply chain companies, including small and medium sized suppliers, to develop new technologies, secure new business and diversify their customer base.
NATEP is managed by ADS, the national organisation for the aerospace industry, and is supported locally by Invest Northern Ireland.
A Northern Ireland Regional Advisor Panel has been established which includes representatives of major companies such as Bombardier, Airbus and Rolls Royce. These companies contribute in-kind to the programme through the Regional Advisory Panel which will assess and support project funding proposals. Financial assistance for Northern Ireland based companies wishing to participate in collaborative research and development projects through NATEP will be managed by Invest NI.
Welcoming the NATEP announcement at Farnborough International Airshow, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: “Northern Ireland aerospace, companies make an important contribution to the local economy. This NATEP programme is designed to help deliver the Aerospace Growth Partnership strategy to more than double revenues from aerospace, defence, security and space sectors in Northern Ireland to over £2billion per year.
“Industry partnerships can make a positive impact on businesses by improving their competitiveness, productivity and performance and I welcome the emphasis that is being placed on research and development, as well as collaboration to help local companies compete for export business and diversify their customer base.”
“Industry partnerships can make a positive impact on businesses by improving their competitiveness, productivity and performance and I welcome the emphasis that is being placed on research & development and collaboration to help local companies compete for export business and diversify their customer base.”
Dr Leslie Orr, ADS Northern Ireland Manager commented: “We are delighted that Northern Ireland companies can now benefit from the NATEP programme. As well as helping our companies to develop new aerospace technologies, it also links our companies to the major Aerospace primes and new markets for these technologies.
Calls for outline project proposals are scheduled for August 2014, December 2014 and May 2015. This timetable allows companies to plan ahead, seek collaborations and prepare strong bids.