25 Nov 10. Research and Development (R&D): 2010 Scoreboard. The 2010 R&D Scoreboard has been published (25 Nov 10), covering the leading 1,000 international and 1,000 UK companies by industry sector. There are 33 firms listed in the global Aerospace and Defence sector and 43 in the UK ranking. EADS leads global Aerospace and Defence R&D investment for 2009/10, followed by Boeing. Rolls-Royce, Airbus and BAE Systems dominate the UK ranking, comprising 65% of the sector total.
Comment: Only download copies of the Scoreboard are available (www.bis.gov.uk/randscoreboard). This is the final Scoreboard to be published by the Government although “this does not prevent other potential sponsors from coming forward” to ensure future publication. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/47, 10 Dec 10)

03 Dec 10. Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9919f4/nanocoatings_for_a
announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan’s new report “Nanocoatings for
Aerospace Applications” to their offering. This research service provides a detailed insight into the strategic developments in the aerospace nanocoatings domain. The service starts off with an overview of the global developments followed by a detailed description of the industry drivers and challenges substantiated with the regulatory factors and the value chain governed in this realm. A strategic evaluation of the industrial requirements along with a comprehensive evaluation of the R&D trends, technologies and innovation has been undertaken. Finally a list of pertinent patents issued and applied in the aerospace nanocoatings industry completes the study. This research service titled Nanocoatings in Aerospace Applications provides an overview of the nanomaterials and technologies employed in the aviation, defense, and space domains. The major drivers and challenges for the adoption of aviation nanocoating technologies are also evaluated. The study also captures the important global environmental regulatory factors and standards and their impact on the aviation industry. Technology Overview Nanocoatings Offer Ray of Hope for the Aerospace Industry Nanocoatings claim to have the potential to replace conventional coatings because of their unique properties and predicted environmental friendliness. They seem to be the ideal solution for overcoming numerous challenges faced by the aerospace and defense industries. However, a reality check needs to be done on these nanocoatings to determine their potential for market penetration. This is especially applicable to the aerospace industry because of the regulatory issues and technical hurdles faced at high altitudes. There is a pressing need to balance innovative ideas and existing technical know-how owing to the risk factors involved, notes the analyst of this research service. Hence, R&D management in the field of aviation nanocoatings is critical; the funding, technical expertise, and product development processes have to be carefully planned out. Aerospace nanocoatings might be the primary alternatives to chrome plating. They play a major role in thermal barrier, icephobic, and protective coatings. A combination of more than one of these properties in a single nanocoating product is a trend. For instance, most chrome-alternative nanocoatings offer additional properties such as heat resistance. Global nanotechnology initiatives have contributed to the growth of aerospace nanocoatings. Funding from governments and involvement of nations defense and space industries have contributed to more than half of this growth. Observations reveal that the focus of research is shifting toward the safety aspect of nanomaterials in terms of size and toxicity. This is likely to lead to changes in the existing nanotechnology regulations. As nanocoatings have been predicted to contribute to the safety of aircraft and spacecraft, such changes in regulations are likely to affect the future/prospects of the aerospace nanocoatings mar