Sora Aviation Secures Innovate UK Funding for Recycled Carbon Fibre Aircraft Structures Project
BY Composights
Published: 26 Apr 2026
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Sora Aviation, a UK-based aerospace startup focused on sustainable aircraft development, has secured funding from Innovate UK for its RACES research project. The initiative will explore the use of recycled carbon fibre composites in aircraft structures to support the development of lower-impact airframes.
The RACES project is centred on integrating recycled carbon fibre materials into structural aerospace applications. The research aims to develop lighter components while maintaining required performance standards, with a focus on enabling practical pathways for the adoption of recycled composites in aircraft manufacturing.
The project is supported by Innovate UK and aligns with broader UK government efforts to advance sustainable aerospace technologies. Sora Aviation CEO Furqan A. stated, Support from Innovate UK and the UK government is instrumental in enabling companies like Sora to pursue ambitious, high-impact research. Projects such as RACES allow us to accelerate the development of more sustainable aircraft technologies while strengthening the UK s leadership in advanced aerospace innovation. Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, added, The West of England is proud of our world-class strengths in aerospace engineering, advanced materials, and clean technology. These are key sectors as part of our ambitious Growth Strategy for the next decade. Companies like Sora Aviation show how our part of the world is innovating to help lead the transition to sustainable aviation, while creating new jobs across the fastest growing regional economy in the country.
The use of recycled carbon fibre composites is gaining attention in aerospace due to its potential to reduce material waste and lifecycle emissions. Applications include primary and secondary aircraft structures where weight reduction and sustainability targets are critical.
For the composites industry, the project reflects a growing shift toward circular material use and scalable recycling solutions. The development of validated pathways for recycled carbon fibre integration could support wider adoption across aerospace manufacturing and supply chains.
Sora Aviation is expected to provide updates as the RACES project progresses and advances toward practical implementation.
