A new research institute to come up with ways to better manage air traffic over and beyond Singapore skies will be set up within a year.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will partner the Nanyang Technological University test will roll out innovative air traffic management solutions so that Changi Airport can increase air traffic capacity in the long run.

All these moves are aimed at ensuring Changi stays ahead of the potential congestion and delays that an increase in travel demand will bring.

Giving more details, CAAS director-general Yap Ong Heng said on Wednesday that the Authority will pump in $50 million while NTU will make a $22 million in-kind contribution over the next five years.

The money will be used to fund selected post-graduate projects that will cover areas such as better weather forecasting, and more efficient but safe aircraft-to-aircraft separation.

The research institute will draw together not just air traffic management researchers but those who run day-to-day airport operations like air traffic controllers and engineers.