Overview
The aeronautics sector has a strong strategic character, as much in its civil scope as in military, given its consideration as a sector of high technology and its industrial importance.
In Spain production and maintenance activities in the sector registered in 1988 a volume of business of 300,000 MPTA, with more than 16,000 jobs. The forecast of growth in the world market substantiates a favourable effect, that is to hope that the aeronautical sector exerts on the creation of particularly qualified use. This requires strong investments in research and technical development.
- Position and strengthen to the Spanish aeronautics industry as a centre of technological excellence and technological specialisation in specific areas;
- Facilitate the participation of Spanish companies in international aeronautics programmes and consortia, especially in the Macro Programme of the European Community for RTD actions.
- Transmit technological knowledge to subcontractor companies, providers of hardware goods, and in general to all the direct and indirect participants, in the creation of value of the aeronautics sector.
- Induce in the sector a culture that develops the choice of innovative investments which has an immediate profitability but that assures the survival and long-term viability of aeronautics companies.
The aids corresponding to the National Programme of Aeronautics and their strategic actions on structures, advanced aeronautical systems, aerodynamic and propulsion, and management of the aerial traffic, are regulated by means of the Programa de Fomento de la Investigación Técnica (PROFIT), included in the National Plan of Scientific research, Development and Technological Innovation (2000-2003)
Funding
Financial aid to projects and actions of research and technological development can be granted in accordance with the following criteria:
a) Reimbursable advance payments:
- Industrial research projects with moderate technological development;
- Technical viability projects previous to industrial research projects, with moderate technological development;
- Pre-competitive development projects with moderate technological development;
- Technological demonstration projects with moderate technological development
b) Funding:
- Industrial research projects with advanced technological development;
- Technical viability studies to previous industrial research activities with advanced technological development;
- Pre-competitive development projects with advanced technological development;
- Technological demonstration projects with advanced technological development;
- Special actions;
- Projects and actions in the participation in the EUREKA and IBEROEKA programmes, Framework Programmes of the European Community for research, demonstration and technological development, and other international co-operative scientific research and technological development programmes.