Objective
Icing remains a major aviation safety risk, intensified by climate‑change‑driven extremes that increase SLD (Supercooled Large Droplets), mixed‑phase, ice‑crystal and blowing‑snow conditions. Future sustainable aircraft—more‑electric, hybrid‑electric and unconventional configurations—require new detection and protection technologies compatible with tighter energy limits. ICE‑SMART will provide the scientific, technological and regulatory foundations needed for future certification of safer, low‑energy icing systems, fully coherent with Call HORIZON‑CL5‑2026‑01‑D6‑15.
Objective 1 — Certification‑ready simulation and testing.
ICE‑SMART will develop a new numerical toolchain for Appendix C/O/P and snow, validated through large‑scale icing wind‑tunnel tests reproducing 1:1 SLD/Freezing‑Rain conditions (MVD up to 500 µm; droplets up to 1.5 mm) and mid‑scale ice‑ and snow‑crystal testing with enhanced generation systems. Traceable wind‑tunnel and flight datasets will support future MoC and harmonised procedures.
Objective 2 — Climate‑driven evolution of icing envelopes.
Using ECMWF ERA5 and ensemble reanalyses (2000–2025), the project will characterise long‑term trends in Appendix C/O/snow conditions and aircraft‑trajectory exposure, providing evidence‑based inputs to evolving EASA certification envelopes.
Objective 3 — Integrated detection and protection technologies (TRL 4–5).
ICE‑SMART will mature direct and indirect sensing (ultrasonic Local Ice Layer Detector (LILD), optical/IR, Ice Discriminator System (IDS), dissimilar synthetic‑air‑data) and low‑energy Ice Protection System (IPS) solutions combining fluor‑free superhydrophobic coatings, hybrid photothermal/electrothermal layers and lightweight piezoelectric actuators.
Through modelling, specialised testing and system‑level integration, ICE‑SMART delivers certifiable methods, datasets and prototype technologies for future sustainable aircraft.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering aircraft
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2026-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08225 Terrassa
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.