UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Grant Funding Programme: Early Impact Evaluation
Client: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
SQW was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in conjunction with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK, to undertake an early impact evaluation of the ATI grant funding programme. The overall objective of the study was to establish the actual and expected effects of ATI funding on outputs and outcomes (focussing on short-term outcomes).
The UK Government's Industrial Strategy recognises aerospace as a priority given its role in driving leading-edge (high risk) innovation and R&D, and high levels of productivity. The ATI funding programme was launched in 2013 as part of the Industrial Strategy. It is a partnership between the civil aerospace industry and government aiming to sustain and achieve competitiveness and market share of the UK Aerospace sector, through targeted investments in industry-led R&D (higher-risk) projects. The programme provides grant funding for R&D projects with matched contributions from industry. By 2018, c. £1bn of government grants had been allocated to over 200 strategic and collaborative R&D projects (of which c. 100 were completed by 2018). Programme funding equates to c. £150m p.a. (in nominal terms), which was considered a step change in funding for aerospace R&T (research and technology) support from c. £50m p.a. prior to the programme. The funds are delivered and managed by Innovate UK on behalf of BEIS.
SQW's early impact evaluation involved four phases of activity: set-up, research design and monitoring review; stakeholder interviews and technology mapping; in-depth case study fieldwork; and analysis of evidence, reporting, and dissemination of findings.
