CORAC Budget in 2025: French Aerospace Maintains Its Course Toward Transition

As the aerospace sector undergoes the fourth major revolution in its history—following the challenges of flight, safety, and democratization—the environmental transition now demands an unprecedented transformation. In this context, the decision to maintain the budget of the Council for Civil Aeronautics Research (CORAC) at €285 million for 2025 sends a strong political stance. GIFAS welcomes this commitment, which supports a pioneering industry engaged in the decarbonization of aviation and serves as a guarantor of France’s industrial sovereignty.

On April 4, 2025, in Toulouse, the ministerial CORAC meeting was held and attended by Marc Ferracci, Minister for Industry and Energy; Philippe Tabarot, Minister for Transport and President of CORAC; Bruno Bonnell, Secretary General for the Investment Plan; as well as Guillaume Faury, President of GIFAS, and Yannick Assouad, Chair of CORAC’s Steering Committee. On this occasion, the renewal of CORAC’s 2025 budget, matching the 2024 allocation of €285 million, was confirmed. This renewal comes after weeks of uncertainty and the active mobilization of the industry to safeguard this essential resource for technological innovation.

GIFAS commends this strong political choice, especially in a context of broad fiscal constraints. It reflects a shared vision between the government and industrial stakeholders: making aerospace a major lever for reindustrialization, competitiveness, and ecological transition while maintaining France’s leading international position in the sector. GIFAS reiterates that what is not developed in France will be developed elsewhere: preserving national technological investment means preserving the country’s industrial sovereignty. This decision provides the visibility the industry needs to prepare for future technological breakthroughs and to make low-carbon aviation a reality.

For over fifteen years, the French aerospace sector, united within CORAC, has been at the forefront of innovation aimed at decarbonizing aviation. CORAC acts as a catalyst for disruptive innovations: aircraft architectures, hybrid or electric propulsion, lightweight materials, and advanced aerodynamic concepts.

With more than 320 active projects, CORAC provides a framework for synchronizing research efforts: it aligns upstream R&T work and collaborative research to ensure technological building blocks are available when needed. This coordination is essential to guarantee fast innovation and maximum collective impact.

Alongside private investment from industry, public funding—covering up to 50% of the selected collaborative projects’ expenses—is vital, accounting for about a third of the sector's total R&T effort. It activates the collective strength of an ecosystem composed of SMEs, mid-sized companies, major groups, and research labs throughout the country.

CORAC mobilizes the entire French aerospace value chain. Between 2020 and 2024 :

• 329 companies and public organizations were involved, including 241 SMEs and mid-sized firms
• 520 industrial sites across the country participated
• €360 million in support was directed to SMEs and mid-sized firms during this period
• 23% of aid in 2024 was allocated to these businesses

This support enables these companies—at the heart of innovation—to contribute to tomorrow’s structuring projects. It also ensures strong territorial grounding, which is a true pillar of the industry’s resilience and competitiveness.

Speaking before the National Assembly on May 5, 2025, Guillaume Faury emphasized the urgent need to preserve the sector’s competitiveness amid rising global competition. At a time when China seeks to assert its model—particularly with the Comac C919—and other regions are rolling out the red carpet for European manufacturers, France and Europe must continue to invest in innovation, simplify regulations, and ensure fiscal stability.

For GIFAS, maintaining CORAC’s funding represents a strong political decision that reinforces France’s technological edge and its ability to remain a pillar of both European and global aerospace. The shared objective is clear: equip Europe with the key technologies needed for a generational leap in aviation, preparing the successor to the A320 by 2035, while ensuring that this industrialization occurs on European—and specifically French—soil.

This government support also ensures a coherent roadmap for the next stages. The 2025 Paris Air Show will be the next major milestone, featuring a dedicated strategic committee for setting the 2026–2027 orientations, with preparations already underway for the post-2027 phase.

" France possesses an unparalleled aerospace industrial fabric. CORAC is the spearhead of our collective ambition: to reconcile industrial excellence, ecological transition, and strategic sovereignty. GIFAS welcomes the renewal of the 2025 funding and will continue to champion a committed, competitive, and forward-looking industry."