Airbus Endeavr: Project case study

Context: Airbus Endeavr

The Airbus Endeavr research and innovation programme invests in research collaborations with Wales-based universities and SMEs and has been running since 2010. The programme has strengthened the Welsh research and tech-SME ecosystem, contributing to Airbus’ research and technology pipeline as well as helping to anchor its presence across Wales. It is a jointly funded initiative between Welsh Government and Airbus Defence and Space, supported by Cardiff University and other partners.

The Endeavr programme has evolved over the last 15 years of operation, and Wavehill has been involved at several stages through the evaluation of its delivery, helping to demonstrate its impacts and to provide recommendations on how the scheme can continue to be refined.

Approach

In 2021, Wavehill conducted a detailed evaluation of the programme. In 2024, we produced an updated review which tracked the progress made against our 2021 recommendations. Our review included:

• A detailed theory of change. This outlined the rationale for the investment from the Welsh Government and from Airbus, the activities being delivered, expected outputs and outcomes, and underlying assumptions.

• Contextual reviews. This assessed shifts in economic and policy conditions, including the impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit on programme delivery.

• Consultations. These were conducted with key partners from the Welsh Government, Airbus, academia, and SMEs to assess the programme’s effectiveness and impacts.

• Programme data reviews. This benchmarked the programme processes against other UK research and innovation schemes to identify lessons for future delivery.

The evaluation concluded with a set of key findings and recommendations for how the programme could be adjusted to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, to both enhance and better document programme impacts.

In 2024, we undertook an updated review of the programme. In part, this tested the extent to which previous recommendations had been implemented and had been effective. It also drew out several further recommendations for the next phase of the programme.

Impact

The 2021 review coincided with a reorientation of the Endeavr programme. Wavehill's recommendations played an important role in shaping the changes; many of the implemented adjustments directly responded to recommendations from our review.

For example, the programme began aligning research briefs more closely with Airbus' technical needs, facilitating more effective development of intellectual property and increasing experts' involvement in decision-making: all key recommendations.

As a result, the 2024 review found that the Endeavr Programme was more deeply integrated into Airbus’s wider operations, leading to a greater likelihood of projects being adopted into the Airbus portfolio. This, in turn has enhanced the programme’s impact on Airbus, the Welsh economy, and the research landscape.