Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many expressions of interest were submitted to the Aerospace Technology Institute’s Research and Development Funding for Smaller Businesses fund; how applicants will be assessed; and when will this funding be announced.

A total of 32 expressions of interest were submitted. The full stage applications are assessed in parallel by the ATI, Innovate UK and BEIS based on technical, market and economic criteria. Applicants will be notified of the results of the full stage competition on 14 May 2021, with public announcements expected once the grant offer process is completed.