A design team at Shorts in Belfast is being tasked with developing a quieter, lighter and more efficient nacelle - the cowling that houses an aircraft engine.

The work will be carried out in conjunction with researchers from Queen's University, and is due to be completed by 2010.

The Environmentally Friendly Engine (EFE) programme is being led by Rolls-Royce in England and the objective is to develop an engine with reduced noise, fuel burn and emissions.

The part of the programme being carried out by Shorts is budgeted to cost £6.1m, £1.1m of which is to be funded by Invest NI.

In addition, the London-based Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills is providing support worth £2m for the Shorts project, £161,500 of which is earmarked for Queen's University.

Rolls-Royce said that the programme would make a major contribution towards reaching industry targets of cutting engine emissions by up to 80% and noise by 50% by 2010, compared with 2000.

Shorts said the new nacelle would be more aerodynamic and would help make engines lighter and quieter.

The company said this would help to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, as well as cutting down engine noise.

Michael Ryan, vice president and general manager of Bombardier Shorts, said engine nacelle technology would play a key role in helping to ensure that future aircraft were more environmentally friendly.

He added: "This programme is an excellent opportunity for us to hone our skills in nacelle design and to further develop some of the technologies we have already been working on.

"Bombardier takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and over the years we have continued to invest in and apply new technologies to our aircraft programmes to offer customers products that are more fuel efficient with lower emissions and with lower operating costs."

Tracy Meharg, Invest Northern Ireland's managing director of innovation, said: "Bombardier's involvement in this strategic national programme will encourage knowledge transfer and collaboration throughout the local sector.

"This can only strengthen its position as the industry responds to the challenge of developing more environmentally friendly solutions."

The EFE programme will bring together research technologies being developed around the UK and test them to ensure effectiveness before they are incorporated in the development of new aircraft engines.

The scheme will help deliver the long term environmental and technological goals set by the National Aerospace Technology Strategy.

Last December, Shorts announced its involvement in another research project, the integrated wing programme, aimed at developing a new generation of aircraft wings.