Objective This project aims to bring ionic air-breathing propulsive systems beyond the pioneeristic phase, exploring their capabilities and improving their performance. Non-thermal plasma for atmospheric propulsion is a subject of recent investigations: model airplanes and vertical lifters have recently flown with this type of propulsion, but the potential of this technology is much higher. Many open aspects in this field deserve to be investigated, from fundamental research on ion production to geometric optimization of electrodes and integration of propulsion systems in existing aircraft. To this purpose, a complete research program is proposed, starting from breakthroughs in fundamental research to be achieved through theoretical, numerical and laboratory studies. The following steps will lead to develop improved and optimized propulsive units, with the objective of designing and building an airship model (technological demonstrator) with ionic propulsion. A further objective is the conceptual design of a full-scale stratospheric airship: for this aircraft the high risk approach of the project will give rise to different possible choices about propulsion, depending on the results achieved in the first steps. In particular, for this airship concept at least fully ionic propulsion and combined conventional/ionic propulsion will be considered.A major long-term impact is expected for ion-powered airships, which could act as stratospheric platforms replacing many satellite functions, such as telecommunications, remote sensing, disaster risk management in civil protection, offering these services at much lower costs, with the benefit of being recoverable systems. A fully successful program may lead to top-level, fully ion-powered airships: thanks to the propulsive units without moving mechanical parts, powered by solar energy, they would have extremely long operation times, low maintenance and very low pollution levels. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraftengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringremote sensingnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionsocial sciencessociologygovernancecrisis managementengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunications Keywords electrohydrodynamics (EHD) electroaerodynamics ionized gas ionic wind corona discharge EHD thruster ionic propulsion ionic air-breathing propulsion ion-powered airship stratospheric airship Programme(s) HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme Topic(s) HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01-01 - EIC Pathfinder Open 2022 Call for proposal HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants Coordinator POLITECNICO DI MILANO Net EU contribution € 697 500,00 Address PIAZZA LEONARDO DA VINCI 32 20133 Milano Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 779 375,00 Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. FONDAZIONE POLITECNICO DI MILANO Italy Net EU contribution € 81 875,00 Address PIAZZA LEONARDO DA VINCI 32 20133 Milano See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 81 875,00 ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA Italy Net EU contribution € 406 975,00 Address VIA ZAMBONI 33 40126 Bologna See on map Region Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 406 975,00 KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE Germany Net EU contribution € 302 553,75 Address KAISERSTRASSE 12 76131 Karlsruhe See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 302 553,75 VON KARMAN INSTITUTE FOR FLUID DYNAMICS Belgium Net EU contribution € 386 705,00 Address Waterloose Steenweg, 72 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Halle-Vilvoorde Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 386 705,00 INSTITUT SUPERIEUR DE L'AERONAUTIQUE ET DE L'ESPACE France Net EU contribution € 298 385,00 Address AVENUE EDOUARD BELIN 10 31055 Toulouse See on map Region Occitanie Midi-Pyrénées Haute-Garonne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 298 385,25 CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 460 000,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 460 000,00 AERONORD DI ENZO CISARO & C. S.A.S. Italy Net EU contribution € 166 000,00 Address VIA ALSERIO 23 20159 MILANO See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 166 000,00 TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN Germany Net EU contribution € 200 000,00 Address HELMHOLTZSTRASSE 10 01069 Dresden See on map Region Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 200 000,00