INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE TURBOMOTOARE - COMOTI

Their core work

COMOTI is Romania's national research institute for turbomachinery — gas turbines, compressors, and aero-engine components. In H2020, they focused on aircraft noise reduction (fan-stator interaction acoustics, low-noise engine configurations) and turbine seal characterization. Their work spans from aeroacoustic testing and noise impact management to experimental validation of rotating labyrinth seals in low-pressure turbines, providing both measurement data and design insights to European aviation consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

COMOTI's early H2020 involvement (2017) centered on broader aviation noise topics — noise impact management (ANIMA) and low-noise technology for innovative aircraft configurations (ARTEM). By 2019, their focus sharpened toward specific component-level testing: labyrinth seal characterization in turbines (AIRSEAL, which they coordinated) and detailed aeroacoustic analysis of fan-stator interaction (InnoSTAT). This shift suggests a move from participating in large noise-assessment programs toward leading hands-on experimental work on turbine and engine components.

COMOTI is moving from broad noise-reduction participation toward specialized experimental testing of turbine and fan components, positioning itself as a go-to lab for component-level aeroacoustic and seal validation.

How they like to work

COMOTI primarily joins consortia as a participant (3 of 4 projects), contributing specialized testing capabilities to larger European aviation research programs. They coordinated one project (AIRSEAL), indicating growing confidence in leading focused experimental campaigns. With 42 unique partners across 13 countries, they maintain a broad European network typical of Clean Sky and aviation noise research communities.

COMOTI has collaborated with 42 unique partners across 13 countries, reflecting deep integration into Europe's aviation research ecosystem. Their network is built through large transport and Clean Sky consortia rather than bilateral partnerships.

What sets them apart

COMOTI is one of very few Eastern European research institutes with dedicated turbomachinery test infrastructure contributing to major EU aviation noise programs. Their combination of aeroacoustic measurement capability and rotating machinery seal testing is unusual — most noise-focused labs lack hands-on turbine component expertise. For consortium builders, they offer competitive testing costs with EU-grade experimental rigor, plus geographic diversity that strengthens proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AIRSEAL
  Their only coordinated project — focused on labyrinth seal airflow characterization, signaling their strongest independent research capability in turbine components.
• InnoSTAT
  Largest EC funding (EUR 566,250) and most keyword-rich project, covering detailed fan-stator aeroacoustics — represents their deepest technical engagement.
• ARTEM
  Five-year noise reduction project connecting low-noise technology with innovative aircraft configurations, showing COMOTI embedded in long-term aviation research roadmaps.