SESAR 2020 is an innovative programme for researching the future of air traffic management in Europe. It builds on its predecessor, SESAR 1, to deliver high-performing operational and technological solutions for uptake by the aviation industry. With a budget of 1.6 billion between now and 2024, SESAR 2020 will support projects to deliver solutions in four key areas, namely:
The research projects are categorised into three strands: Exploratory research, Industrial research and validation and Very large-scale demonstrations. These strands have been designed as an innovation pipeline through which ideas are transformed into tangible solutions for industrialization.
SESAR Solutions refer to new or improved operational procedures or technologies that aim to contribute to the modernisation of the European and global ATM system. Framed within the European ATM Master Plan, these solutions address all parts of the ATM value chain, from airports, air traffic services to the network, as well as the underlying systems architectures and technological enablers, which are validated in real day-to-day operations.
SESAR 2020, which is co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, publishes both open and closed calls. Calls relating to exploratory research and very large scale demonstrations are open, while only SESAR Joint Undertaking members can apply for industrial research calls.
