Exceptional response to the Catalyst Fund second call
We are proud to o announce that the second call for the Engage 2 Catalyst Fund, which closed on 2nd February 2026, has received an extraordinary response. A total of 27 applications were submitted, a remarkable figure that highlights the incredible innovation and potential within our research community.
This high volume of proposals demonstrates the need for initiatives like the Catalyst Fund in driving the future of aviation. We are now entering the evaluation phase, where our Awards Board will assess each submission against rigorous standards of excellence. We want to thank all the consortia who submitted their visions for the future of ATM. The sheer quality and quantity of applications reinforce our commitment to supporting the next generation of aerospace research.
For further details on the Catalyst Fund, visit the Wiki: https://wikiengagektn.com/catalyst-projects/
The evaluation process
To ensure a fair and high-quality selection, all proposals will be evaluated based on four key criteria. For a proposal to remain eligible, it must meet a minimum threshold of 7/10 in every category. The final ranking will be determined by applying specific weightings to these scores:
- Impact: explicitly defined impact on, and relevance to, ATM (including U-space/UAS).
Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 30% - Innovation: contribution to advancing the state of the art, maturing TRLs, or improving concept application.
Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 25% - Quality: strength of the research plan, success measures, and the consortium’s relevant experience.
Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 25% - Integration: meaningful consultation and engagement with industry members (excluding academia).
Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 20%
How the projects will be selected
Once the eligible proposals are ranked, the Awards Board will follow a structured funding allocation:
- Thematic priority. Initially, provided they fall within the top 75th percentile, funding will be awarded to two proposals for each of Thematic Challenges 1 and 2, and one proposal for each of Thematic Challenges 3 and 4.
- Open ranking. The remaining proposals (including “open” topics) will be funded strictly by their rank order.
- Final decisions. In the event of a tie, the Board will vote, with the Chair holding the casting vote.
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