NOEMI Aerospace Secures €3M Innovation Norway Grant to Advance Electric Amphibious Aircraft Flight-Test Programme

Norwegian aerospace startup NOEMI Aerospace has announced it has received a €3 million public grant from Innovation Norway to support the flight-test programme for its electric amphibious aircraft. The public funding will be matched by €4 million from private investors, bringing total project funding to €7 million.

Largest Single-Project Grant of the Year

Announced on 15 July 2026, the award is the largest single-project grant Innovation Norway has issued so far this year. The funds will be used for ground, water, and flight testing of the company's first full-scale prototype, covering initial systems testing, the inaugural flight, and a subsequent full flight-test campaign.

A Multi-Role Aircraft That Requires No New Infrastructure

The aircraft developed by NOEMI Aerospace is designed to operate from both water and land surfaces without requiring new ground infrastructure. Its primary role is regional passenger transport, but the platform is also capable of supporting cargo operations, medevac, search and rescue, military missions, aerial firefighting, and a range of other applications.

Full-Scale Prototype Build in Progress

Construction of the first full-scale prototype is already underway at a facility on the grounds of Torp Sandefjord Airport. Wing production is in progress, and the motors, inverters, and battery systems have been installed. The electric propulsion system test bench is expected to become operational in August. Aircraft rollout is planned within the next 12 months, with first flight targeted before the end of 2027.

Leadership Voices Confidence

NOEMI Aerospace founder and CEO Eric Lithun said the grant represents important recognition of the company's progress and technical capabilities, noting that the flight-test programme is one of the most critical phases of any aircraft development effort.

Leon Bakkebø, Head of Financing at Innovation Norway, underscored the role public risk capital plays in long-cycle technology projects. "Innovation Norway's mandate is to step in where market forces alone cannot do the job," he said. "For companies developing new technologies with global ambitions, public risk capital can be the catalyst that brings in private investment and moves a project to its next stage."

Eirik Sandal, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at NOEMI Aerospace, said the size of the grant "strengthens the confidence of existing shareholders and new investors alike, and reinforces our position in international fundraising as we progress toward type certification and market entry."

Lene Sælen, Senior Adviser at Innovation Norway's Vestland office, noted that Norway has significant potential to lead in zero-emission aviation solutions. Electric amphibious aircraft, she added, can address regional connectivity challenges in coastal and remote communities while substantially reducing carbon emissions compared with conventional aircraft.

Building a Norwegian Zero-Emission Aviation Export Industry

The programme draws on Norwegian and international expertise in aviation, advanced composite materials, electric propulsion, and manufacturing. The long-term goal is to establish an entirely new export industry in Norway and to secure a leading position in the global zero-emission regional aviation market.

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