Skyportz Australia has secured $250,000 in matched funding from the Australian Government to advance a prototype of its modular, elevated Aeroberm vertipad, designed to enable safe and scalable electric air taxi operations in urban and regional environments.

The Aeroberm design is protected by patent and features integrated downwash and outwash air management, acoustic dampening and an onboard fire suppression system. It is intended to solve some of the most pressing operational and safety concerns around eVTOLs operating in built environments. The vertipad system is designed to be modular and adaptable to rooftops, carparks and other bespoke structures.

“This grant will help us take our patented vertipad technology from concept to prototype,” says Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown OAM. “We're focused on delivering a safe, affordable and deployable solution that will enable property owners and developers to future-proof their sites for the coming era of electric air taxis.”

Matched by Skyportz to form a $500,000 research and development pool, the funds will support patent, design and technical development work. The project is supported under the Industry Growth Program, with Skyportz’s work also aligned with Australia’s broader AAM strategy including vertiport regulatory development by CASA and Airservices Australia.

Skyportz is pursuing international research partnerships in the US, UK, India and China to promote Australian-developed AAM solutions abroad.