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Tag: Catalyst funds

Exceptional response to the Catalyst Fund second call

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

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:

  1. Impact: explicitly defined impact on, and relevance to, ATM (including U-space/UAS).
    Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 30%
  2. Innovation: contribution to advancing the state of the art, maturing TRLs, or improving concept application.
    Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 25%
  3. Quality: strength of the research plan, success measures, and the consortium’s relevant experience.
    Threshold: 7/10 – Weighting: 25%
  4. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Open ranking. The remaining proposals (including “open” topics) will be funded strictly by their rank order.
  3. Final decisions. In the event of a tie, the Board will vote, with the Chair holding the casting vote.

Engage 2 announces second Catalyst call at SESAR Innovation Days 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 will launch its second call for Catalyst Fund Projects at the upcoming SESAR Innovation Days 2025. The Catalyst Funds are designed to rapidly mature exploratory research, bridging the gap between innovative concepts and industrial application within ATM. Following the success of the first call, which funded seven ambitious projects, this second wave of funding will continue to support focused projects that align with the programme’s key thematic challenges, as well as open, innovative proposals.

More detailed information, including the official call text, application guidelines, and thematic priorities, will be published shortly on the dedicated Engage 2 Wiki where you can also explore descriptions of all past Catalyst Projects.

The call will provide financial support and access to industrial collaboration environments, thereby accelerating the development of promising ideas toward higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). Projects are expected to demonstrate an original contribution to the state of the art, addressing critical challenges such as climate impact mitigation, disruptive ATM system modernisation, and the integration of new entrants.

To ensure you do not miss the call opening and receive the latest updates, follow Engage 2 on LinkedIn and subscribe to our official newsletter.

Engage announces successful closing of first call for Catalyst Funds, we have the seven winners!

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 is happy to announce the successful conclusion of its inaugural Catalyst Funds call. The quality and diversity of the applications reflect the dynamic innovation landscape and the willingness of both researchers and industry partners to work closely together.

The seven winners have been notified. Selected projects will benefit from financial backing and will have the opportunity to work in industry environments. This support is expected to accelerate the development of concepts, bringing them closer to market readiness.

The Catalyst Funds aim to bridge the gap between industry and research, fostering closer links in the early stages of concept development. By supporting promising ideas in their early stages, the programme helps them reach a higher level of maturity and readiness for further development and commercialisation.

Engage 2 extends its gratitude to all participants and looks forward to the continued success of the Catalyst Funds programme in nurturing innovation and industry-research collaboration. Stay tuned for updates on the next Catalyst Funds call!

Engage 2 opens the first call for Catalyst Funding in Air Traffic Management

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, March 11th 2024 –  Catalyst funds provide financial support and access to industry collaboration environments. This fosters closer ties between industry and researchers during the crucial early stages of concept development, helping promising ideas reach higher maturity levels.

The application window opens on 11th March 2024 and closes on 13th May 2024 at 5:00 PM CEST. Selected projects are expected to run for a period of 12 months.

Proposals demonstrating original contributions to ATM are encouraged, either directly addressing a pre-defined thematic challenge (details available on the Engage 2 website) or focusing on open, innovative concepts.

Hot to apply and financial details

Proposals must comprise a project description and a project administrative form. Submissions, including a PDF proposal and the administrative form (MS Word format), should be emailed to engage2-coordinator@dblue.it with the subject line “Catalyst Call”.

In this first wave, Engage 2 offers €480,000 to support innovative projects – a total of €960,000 is available to support innovative ATM projects, split across two Calls. Sixteen focused projects will be awarded in two waves.

The maximum individual project grant is €60,000. Single entities or consortia of 2-4 entities are eligible to apply. Each entity must be located in a country participating in the Horizon Europe grant program. There is no minimum number of countries required for consortia.

For a complete understanding of the evaluation criteria and full details of the Call, please visit the dedicated page on Engage 2 website.