AeroTechNW | Aviation and Space Innovation Hub

Overview

AeroTechNW is an aerospace and space innovation campus located at the Warton Enterprise Zone in Lancashire. The development is designed to bring together industry, universities, government and technology companies to accelerate research, innovation and commercial growth in the aviation, defence and space sectors.

The site combines access to world-class aerospace expertise with modern research facilities, flexible business accommodation and specialist flight testing capabilities. It is intended to support organisations ranging from start-ups and SMEs to established aerospace companies. The development is supported by partners including BAE Systems, the University of Lancashire and the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

The LinkedIn Group Aerospace Engineering Innovation has been created by Stephen Kirkup at the University of Lancashire to connect the people interested in the aerospace field. You can also link to the LinkedIn profile Aerospace Engineer.

Site Profile

Feature	Description
Location	Warton Enterprise Zone, Lancashire, England
Primary Focus	Aviation, aerospace and space innovation
Key Industries	Defence, civil aviation, autonomous systems and space technologies
Business Model	Research, innovation, incubation and commercial collaboration
Major Partners	BAE Systems, University of Lancashire and regional authorities

Facilities

AeroTechNW has been designed as a flexible innovation campus supporting research, development, manufacturing and collaboration.

Research and development laboratories.
Engineering workshops and manufacturing space.
Business incubation and office accommodation.
Collaboration and networking facilities.
Training and education suites.
Data visualisation and digital engineering facilities.
Enterprise Zone planning benefits.
Large indoor flight-testing facilities for uncrewed aircraft systems.

One of the site's most distinctive features is one of Europe's largest
indoor testing environments for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), supporting
safe development and evaluation of drone technologies. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Research and Innovation Areas

Autonomous and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Drone technologies.
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Sustainable aviation.
Space technologies.
Robotics and autonomous systems.
Artificial intelligence and data science.
Digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Hybrid and electric propulsion.
Future air mobility.

The campus is intended to support both defence and commercial aerospace applications while encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Altitude Innovation Facility

A major component of AeroTechNW is the Altitude air and space innovation facility operated by the University of Lancashire.

Altitude provides expertise in:

Drone and UAV development.
Prototype design and manufacturing.
Payload integration.
Indoor and outdoor flight testing.
Software and autonomous systems.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).
Professional training and degree apprenticeships.
Collaborative research with industry.

Strategic Partners

Organisation	Role
BAE Systems	Aerospace and defence expertise.
University of Lancashire	Research, innovation and workforce development.
Lancashire County Council	Regional economic development.
Fylde Council	Enterprise Zone support.
Lancashire Combined County Authority	Regional investment and innovation.

Business Opportunities

Research collaboration.
Technology incubation.
Engineering consultancy.
Prototype development.
Office and laboratory accommodation.
Manufacturing facilities.
Investment opportunities.
Skills development and workforce training.

The development aims to create a collaborative ecosystem where businesses, researchers and public-sector organisations can work together to develop next-generation aerospace and space technologies. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Timeline

Enterprise Zone Development
Planning begins for a dedicated aerospace innovation campus.

Industry Partnership
BAE Systems and regional partners establish AeroTechNW.

Innovation Facilities
Research laboratories, collaboration spaces and engineering facilities are developed.

Altitude Launch
The University of Lancashire opens the Altitude air and space innovation facility.

Future Growth
Expansion of aviation, defence, drone and space technology research.

The Future of AeroTechNW

AeroTechNW is expected to become one of the UK's leading centres for future aviation and space innovation. Its focus includes sustainable aviation, autonomous flight, advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence and next-generation aerospace systems. The development seeks to strengthen Lancashire's position as one of Europe's major aerospace clusters while supporting economic growth, research excellence and high-value employment. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

"Bringing together industry, academia and government to accelerate the future of aviation and space innovation."

Interesting Facts

AeroTechNW is located within the Warton Enterprise Zone in Lancashire.
The campus supports both civil and defence aerospace technologies.
The University of Lancashire's Altitude facility is located on the site.
The development includes one of Europe's largest indoor UAS flight-testing environments.
Research focuses include autonomous systems, eVTOL aircraft, robotics and space technology.
The project aims to strengthen Lancashire's position as one of the UK's largest aerospace clusters.