CINEA showcases EU-funded sustainable aviation projects at ILA Berlin 2026

CINEA participated in ILA Berlin 2026, one of the world's leading aerospace exhibitions, held from 10 to 14 June in Berlin, Germany. At the European Commission stand, visitors had the opportunity to discover several innovative projects managed by CINEA, supported through EU funding programmes.

The projects on display reflected Europe's ambition to accelerate the transition towards climate-neutral aviation while strengthening the competitiveness of its aerospace industry.

Supporting innovation from research to deployment

The projects showcased at ILA Berlin illustrate how EU funding supports the entire innovation cycle, from research and development to industrial deployment.

Through Horizon Europe, the European Union supports cutting-edge research and demonstration activities, while the Innovation Fund helps innovative low-carbon technologies reach commercial scale and enter the market.

This complementarity is essential for accelerating the market uptake of clean aviation solutions. By combining support for research, demonstration and deployment, the EU creates a coherent innovation ecosystem that helps European companies bring pioneering technologies from the laboratory to commercial operation.

Delivering impact for clean aviation

The projects mock-ups presented at ILA Berlin demonstrate the potential of European innovation to reduce aviation emissions and strengthen industrial leadership.

Examples include:

HERMES (AURA AERO)

The HERMES project aims to bring to market the world's first 19-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft, ERA. According to AURA AERO, the aircraft is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% compared with conventional aircraft of similar size and avoid around 10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent during its first ten years of operation. The project is also expected to support the creation of more than 1,600 direct jobs by 2036.

ENGINEUS PULL (Safran Electrical & Power)

Supported by the Innovation Fund, the ENGINEUS PULL project aims to industrialise production of Safran's certified ENGINeUS electric motor. The project recently received €14.7 million in Innovation Fund support to help scale up manufacturing and contribute to the decarbonisation of aviation.

MINIMAL (Chalmers University)

Supported by Horizon Europe, the MINIMAL project is developing climate optimised propulsion systems based on composite cycle engine technology. By integrating constant volume combustion into a gas turbine core, the project aims to deliver operational flexibility while reducing climate impact. The technology has the potential to cut contrail by 80%, reduce the effect of net-Nox emission by 52%, and lower fuel consumption by 36%.

The broader impact of EU aviation funding

The projects showcased at ILA Berlin are part of a broader EU effort to transform aviation into a cleaner, safer and more competitive sector. According to CINEA's recently updated "Transforming EU Aviation for a Sustainable Future " thematic page, CINEA's portfolio of aviation projects encompass 359 projects worth €4.5 billion since 2014 through Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the Innovation Fund and the LIFE Programme. These projects support the development of next-generation aircraft, sustainable aviation fuels, cleaner airport operations and modernised air traffic management systems.

By supporting breakthrough research, demonstration activities and first-of-a-kind industrial deployment, CINEA contributes to the development of a more sustainable, resilient and competitive European aerospace sector.