Aviation Innovation Summit
The Aviation Innovation Summit is a one-day event bringing together UK airports, industry partners and innovative startups to explore emerging challenges and discover new opportunities across sustainability, operational efficiency and the future of passenger experience.
Designed to spark insight, collaboration and practical innovation, the summit creates a focused space for the aviation community to connect and move forward together.
Applications close on 16th January 2026.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
About the Summit
The Aviation Innovation Summit is a high impact, one day event developed by Plus X Innovation and supported by the Greater London Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The summit is designed to accelerate innovation across the aviation sector by bringing together airports, industry partners and startups working on practical solutions that address the sector’s most pressing needs.
The programme explores key areas including sustainable aviation and low carbon ground operations, circularity and resource efficiency, data and compliance, operational flow and accessibility. Throughout the day, participants will take part in roundtables, challenge led discussions and curated startup showcases that highlight emerging opportunities across the sector.
Startup teams selected for the summit will take part in a structured experience that includes the opportunity to pitch to airport and industry stakeholders. Facilitated conversations throughout the afternoon support meaningful introductions and create clear pathways toward further collaboration and potential pilot projects.
For airports and partners, the summit offers early access to vetted innovators working on solutions aligned with operational, sustainability and passenger experience priorities. The event is designed to support long term relationship building and to strengthen innovation activity across the aviation ecosystem.
How Startups Benefit
Opportunities to grow, connect and move closer to live pilots
- Meet directly with airport leaders and industry partners through facilitated one to one conversations.
- Pitch your solution to UK airports for targeted visibility with real decision makers.
- Gain a clear understanding of procurement requirements and what airports need to progress a pilot.
- Receive practical feedback from airport and industry stakeholders on feasibility, fit and next steps.
- Access defined pathways to pilot opportunities, including scoping discussions that can lead to live testing.
- Build relationships with operational teams to shape your solution for real-world airport environments.
- Learn from innovation best practice across the sector to strengthen your commercial readiness.
How Airports and Industry Partners Benefit
Ways to connect with emerging solutions and shape future innovation
- Early access to a curated group of high potential, vetted startups tackling sustainability, efficiency and passenger experience priorities.
- Collaborate on pilot opportunities and explore implementation pathways with companies ready for testing.
- Participate in roundtables to shape challenge areas and influence future innovation needs.
- Gain operational insight from peers and share best practice across the aviation ecosystem.
- Identify pilot-ready solutions and begin structured conversations that support trial or adoption.
- Stay informed on emerging technologies that align with your organisation’s strategic goals.
Why Plus X Innovation?
This programme is delivered in partnership with:
For more infomation visit Mayor of London and GOV.
The people I have met here make it a dream coming in a few times a week! I don't see myself being able to go back to working from home the same way I did before coming to Plus X Innovation, I don't think I could leave the sense of community behind. It really is something everyone who is working from home should try!
Central Research Laboratory has contributed to our journey in many ways: access to a network, manufacturing, procurement services, and workshop facilities. CRL enables us to feel like a slightly bigger company than we would otherwise be if left to our own devices. Being here at CRL as a cohort member, makes it feel a lot more real and plugged in into the ecosystem.
Besides the workshop facilities, the best thing about working in the Brighton hub has got to be being able to collaborate with people in the same building as you. The variety of expertise and experience in the building is awesome.
We could not be in a better place to grow as a company. We get amazing support from the Plus X Innovation staff, plus collaboration opportunities with the other inspiring residents and companies. We feel like we’re living in the future of workplaces in the present and that is pretty damn cool.
Through my time at Plus X Innovation my business has turned from a student project into a registered R&D company. My favourite thing about being at Plus X Brighton is having a mini family in the office and a beautiful space to be the best you and make the best connections.
Facilitators
The summit is designed and facilitated by the Plus X Innovation team, bringing deep expertise in:
- startup–industry collaboration
- innovation programme delivery
- challenge-led problem solving
- creating pathways to pilots and commercial partnerships
Eligibility
- You must have a business registered in London, UK. Or, registered elsewhere but must have a London operating address
- Participating in this activity contributes to your Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) allowance. Your business must have not exceeded maximum level of Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) which is maximum of £315,000 in any 3-year period.
Apply for the Aviation Innovation Summit
Join a network of innovators shaping the future of aviation and connect with the busisnesses ready to make it happen. Spaces are limited, and startups will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Apply early to be considered - applications close on 16th January 2026.
