NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER INSTITUTE

Their core work

Based in Zhukovsky — Russia's primary aviation research city and home to TsAGI (Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute) — this institution conducts applied research on next-generation aircraft propulsion systems. Their H2020 work centers on hybrid-electric propulsion for regional aircraft: investigating and maturing the underlying technologies (thermal management, waste heat recovery, power system architecture) and working toward actual aircraft integration at the 50-seat class. They contribute both engineering analysis and roadmap development, helping European consortia bridge the gap between laboratory-scale propulsion concepts and certifiable aircraft systems. Their participation in two complementary European projects signals a deliberate strategy to engage with the EU aviation research agenda on clean regional aviation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both projects began in 2020, so there is no long temporal arc to trace; the evolution visible in the data is thematic rather than chronological. The first project (IMOTHEP) is positioned at the investigation and maturation phase — keywords cluster around thermal management, waste heat recovery, and overall power system architecture, indicating foundational systems engineering work. The second project (FUTPRINT50) shifts toward aircraft-level integration and external constraints — energy harvesting, energy storage, and notably regulatory framework enter the picture, suggesting a progression from component-level analysis toward flight-ready integration and certification readiness. The trajectory points from "can the technology work?" toward "how do we get it into a certifiable aircraft?"

The organization is moving from foundational technology investigation toward full aircraft integration and certification pathways, making them a relevant partner for consortia targeting TRL 5–7 on hybrid-electric regional aviation in the coming funding cycle.

How they like to work

This organization participates exclusively as a consortium member — never as coordinator — across both of its H2020 projects. Despite that, both projects are large international RIA consortia: together they account for 44 unique partners across 16 countries, which for just two projects signals deep integration into the European aviation research network rather than peripheral involvement. This profile suggests a specialist contributor that brings specific technical capability (propulsion, thermal, systems architecture) that large consortia seek out, rather than an organization that drives project management or consortium formation.

With 44 unique consortium partners spanning 16 countries across just two projects, this institute operates within densely connected European aviation research consortia. The reach is pan-European, consistent with the broad international partnerships typical of Clean Sky and Horizon transport RIAs.

What sets them apart

This is a Russian national research center participating as a technical partner in European hybrid-electric aviation projects — a relatively rare configuration that reflects both the institute's recognized expertise in aircraft propulsion and the openness of H2020 RIAs to third-country participants. Their location in Zhukovsky, the historic center of Russian aviation science, points to deep institutional roots in aeronautical research that European consortia have chosen to tap. For a consortium building a team on regional aircraft electrification, they bring a non-EU engineering perspective alongside established aerodynamics and propulsion knowledge.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IMOTHEP
  The longer-running project (2020–2024) and broader in scope — investigating and maturing the full range of hybrid-electric propulsion technologies, making it the more foundational of the two and the likely anchor for this institute's European presence.
• FUTPRINT50
  Targets a concrete aircraft class (50-seat regional) with a defined integration goal, providing a real-world validation context for the propulsion technologies explored in IMOTHEP — the two projects together form a coherent technology-to-aircraft pipeline.