Borolo: More context would be appreciated. "Pilot award/research" occur in many fields (and should not be confused with the aviation field, although there are those too in the aviation field, e.g. the "Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award" https://www.faasafety.gov/content/masterpilot/

https://www.sfari.org/grant/pilot-and-research-awards-reques...
Pilot Awards are intended for investigators who are requesting support for small-scale projects or early-stage experiments that will build on preliminary data or a prior track record and lead to competitive applications for funding by xx or other organizations.

Ayudas a la investigación - Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San ...
www.idissc.org/idissc/.../ayudas-investigacion-convocatoria...
***Beca Piloto: Apoyo para investigaciones piloto que tienen un alto potencial para llegar a la posterior Beca Completa*** ... Clinical pilot and feasibility awards 2018.

So, Beca Piloto/Apoyo para investigaciones piloto.