1) With regards to potential R&D funding from the European Commission, the FP6 « aerospace » thematic priority clearly focuses its objectives on the aircraft vehicle, including its systems and components, for commercial transport, and calls for research to improve the technology base and develop innovative concepts or breakthrough technologies to pave way for step change in aviation. Actual opportunities for SOI-based electronics and MNT solutions exist in the following specific proposals: Maintenance; Aerodynamics; Structural weight reduction; Equipment weight and power take-up reduction; Cabin environment; Improving aircraft safety and security.
However, it remains to be seen whether the EC is actually willing to fund the development of new innovative and risky technologies such as MNT, rather the incorporation of existing smart sensors in new aircrafts. MNT R&D is indeed funded by the EC through the FP6 “Nanotechnologies, Materials, Processes (NMP)” priority and we have not heard of specific calls linking “NMP” and “aerospace” priorities.
2) The EC and the ESA have signed an agreement for targeting a common and concerted long-term EU strategy in the aerospace R&D area. There is however no actual implementation yet and no funding expected before the 7th framework program.
3) Other possibilities, such as direct industrial or venture funding, remain unknown to us but should be considered for example, in order to upgrade existing “small” Si chip foundries (e.g. ITE, Poland) now focused on conventional micronic CMOS and sensors fabrication, towards the co-integration of harsh-environment dedicated SOI CMOS and MEMS.
