Boeing and Embraer to open joint research centre

Boeing and Embraer are opening a joint research centre to advance a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.

Under a memorandum of understanding, the two aircraft manufacturers will carry out biofuel research together, as well as fund and coordinate research with Brazilian universities and other institutions.

The research will focus on technologies that address gaps in a supply chain for sustainable aviation biofuel in Brazil, such as feedstock production and processing technologies.

‘Brazil has tradition in the area of alternative fuels and enormous potential yet to be explored in bioenergy research,’ says Mauro Kern, executive VP, engineering and technology, Embraer.

Last year, Boeing, Embraer and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP) completed the Flightpath to Aviation Biofuels in Brazil action plan, which identified gaps in a potential biofuel supply chain. The joint research between Boeing and Embraer aims to address those gaps.