Conscious Aerospace, a Dutch startup, has received confirmation of €73 million in funding from the Netherlands’ National Growth Fund for its Hydrogen Aircraft Propulsion and Storage System (HAPSS) program. The goal of the HAPSS program is to develop a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for regional aircraft, with plans to test a liquid-hydrogen, fuel-cell powertrain on a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 within four years. This initiative is part of the larger €383 million Aviation in Transition (LiT) program in the Netherlands. Conscious Aerospace has brought together a consortium of companies, including Aeronamic, Elysian Aircraft, and Dutch aerospace laboratory Royal NLR, to work on this project. They aim to establish a supply chain in the Netherlands for the production of hydrogen-electric powertrains. Conscious Aerospace CEO Erik Geertsema expressed confidence in the consortium's ability to deliver a certified retrofitted Dash 8-300 with the new propulsion system by the end of the decade, thanks to strong government backing. Dutch carriers KLM and Transavia have signed agreements with Conscious Aerospace and Elysian Aircraft to advise on seating and cargo design for the reengined Dash 8-300 and explore battery-electric aircraft deployment, respectively. This demonstrates a commitment to sustainability in the aviation sector, with KLM's business development executive vice president highlighting the importance of starting with innovative propulsion technologies like hydrogen fuel cells to reduce CO₂ footprint.