Delft University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology and Imperial College London. The three prestigious foreign universities are partners in the project, which will be coordinated by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Brno University of Technology. The aim of the BAANG project is to increase the scientific excellence of BUT by research collaboration in the field of smart aviation, which is intended to make air transport more efficient and thus save costs and protect the environment.

Aviation is one of the major economic and social engines of global development. Billions passengers are carried by the world's airlines every year. More than a third of all trade is conducted by air, making aviation a key component of trade worldwide. Despite the significant benefits, aviation faces several challenges, including environmental pollution.

Meanwhile, nature is smarter than man. Birds can naturally work with aerodynamics in their flight and changing the shape of their wings. Another inspiration is their skeleton, which makes their bodies light and allows them to fly efficiently. The researchers want to use both inspirations for the wings of the aircraft on which the joint research will focus. "The aim is to innovate the wing design to make it lighter and make better use of aerodynamics. If the aerodynamic drag of the wing and the weight of the structure can be reduced, fuel consumption will be reduced and therefore a reduction in costs and greenhouse gas emissions," explains researcher Jan Navrátil from the FME Institute of Aerospace Engineering.

In addition to international cooperation, collaboration across disciplines is expected. The research will involve experts in aeronautics, mechatronics, mechanics of materials and additive technologies. Scientists also plan to use smart materials. Six PhD students and three assistants will get the chance to kick-start their scientific careers with a six-month internship at one of the prestigious universities mentioned above.

However, science is only part of the project. An equally important part of the project is international networking and the opportunity to learn from the best. "TU Delft is one of the few institutions in the world that deals with all environmental aspects of aviation. Imperial College London is ranked among the top ten universities in the world, TU Wien is in the top 200. In comparison, our Brno University of Technology is ranked between 700 and 750. We believe we can learn a lot from our colleagues," says Michal Kotoul from the Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics, who is a project leader.

The BAANG project will last three years and is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. A total of 388 projects were submitted in the call, 38 projects competed from the Czech Republic and 9 projects were selected for funding. At the BUT, this is the second project to succeed in the Twinning call.

The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme, Reg. No. 101079091.