BAUHAUS LUFTFAHRT EV

Their core work

Bauhaus Luftfahrt is a German aerospace research think tank that investigates future aviation concepts — from radical aircraft propulsion architectures to sustainable aviation fuels and integrated air transport system modelling. They combine systems-level analysis of aircraft technologies (hybrid electric propulsion, fuselage wake-filling concepts) with broader transport system research, including urban air mobility and intermodal transport planning. Their work bridges the gap between fundamental aerospace engineering research and strategic roadmapping for the European aviation sector.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2014–2017), Bauhaus Luftfahrt focused on conventional aviation futures — long-range transport demand modelling (DATASET2050), radical but traditional turbine engine concepts (ULTIMATE), and European mobility policy (MOBILITY4EU). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward electrification, autonomy, and new mobility formats: hybrid electric propulsion (IMOTHEP), drone operations and urban air mobility (DELOREAN, ADACORSA), and intermodal system integration (Modus). The sustainable fuels thread (SUN-to-LIQUID, HyFlexFuel) bridges both periods, showing a consistent commitment to decarbonizing aviation through multiple technology pathways.

Bauhaus Luftfahrt is moving from studying what future aviation could look like to actively developing the enabling technologies — particularly hybrid electric propulsion and autonomous drone operations — making them a strong partner for next-generation air transport projects.

How they like to work

Bauhaus Luftfahrt operates as both a project leader and a trusted consortium partner, coordinating 4 out of 11 projects (36%) — a high ratio for a small research organization. Their 138 unique partners across 22 countries indicate they are a well-connected hub rather than a repeat-partner organization. This breadth of network, combined with their willingness to both lead and contribute, makes them an accessible and experienced consortium partner for new proposals.

With 138 unique consortium partners spanning 22 countries, Bauhaus Luftfahrt maintains one of the broader collaboration networks for an organization of its size. Their partnerships are pan-European with no single dominant geographic cluster, reflecting their role as a sector-wide think tank rather than a regionally anchored lab.

What sets them apart

Bauhaus Luftfahrt occupies a rare niche: an independent aerospace think tank that combines deep technical research on propulsion and fuels with strategic transport system modelling. Unlike university labs focused on single technologies or large aerospace companies tied to product lines, they can assess entire aviation system architectures without commercial bias. Their ability to coordinate complex multi-partner projects while remaining a small, agile SME makes them an unusually effective consortium leader for ambitious aviation research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SUN-to-LIQUID
  Their largest grant (EUR 1M) and most distinctive project — solar-thermochemical synthesis of liquid fuels represents a bold cross-sector bet connecting solar energy directly to aviation fuel production.
• CENTRELINE
  Coordinated a concept validation study for fuselage wake-filling propulsion — a radical aircraft design concept that could fundamentally change airliner architecture.
• IMOTHEP
  Their most keyword-rich participation, covering hybrid electric propulsion across multiple technical dimensions (thermal management, waste heat recovery, power system architecture) for regional and medium-range aircraft.