©A321XLR on Flying Display_AC-EVE-2815-OPS-3245

THE ACHIEVEMENTS

In line with MAELE, an initiative launched in November 2020, Aerospace Valley continues to support the national global aeronautics sector with four major federating actions:

 

  • The emergence of low carbon aircraft, through technological innovation by supporting the main players in the commercial aviation sector and the future champions of light aviation. MAELE was thus connected to the call for projects under the aegis of France 2030. 7 consortiums including 6 accredited projects bringing together 11 Aerospace Valley members were winners in this initiative: Aura Aero, Ascendance, Elixir, Voltaero, Velica, Daher, ISP System, Beyond Aero, Akira, Serma and IRIT Saint Exupéry. Concerning commercial aviation, as part of the European framework of the “Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking” with the Occitanie Region, Aerospace Valley brought together some one hundred supply chain companies to exchange ideas with market leaders in order to identify the technological barriers which will launch European projects.

 

  • Consolidating the Supply Chain by bringing together leading companies with Aerospace Valley member SMEs to prepare for and better understand today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. The first meeting took place in Bordeaux on March 5th, 2024 between Airbus and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Aerospace Valley members. Aerospace Valley also organized a meeting with around ten companies at CORAC PME (Civil Aeronautics Research Board) in Pau in April 2023 to support their growth through innovation projects.
  • Decarbonization of air transport will be achieved by taking into account the entire aeronautics value chain including distribution of new energies as well as transformation of airport infrastructures. The Cluster teamed up with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in Jonzac in April 2023, to bring together the most active airports and aerodromes in terms of transformation projects. A workshop in November 2023 in La Rochelle brought together actors from both regions: Angoulême, Auch, Bordeaux-Mérignac, Cahors, Carcassonne, Jonzac, La Rochelle, Libourne, Niort, Pau, Perpignan, Rochefort and Tarbes. The major plane makers and operators were also present to share new use cases and energy sizing requirements. Today’s airports will be transformed into tomorrow’s energy hubs for the cities and urban areas with which they are associated.  
  • Making the aeronautics sector more attractive with the general public and young students. Aerospace Valley takes part in the educational boards of engineering schools in the region and promotes the involvement of their junior companies in technical events with representatives from the industrial ecosystem.  

 

SELECTED WEBINARS AND EVENTS

The Cluster organized or jointly organized nearly 20 events on support schemes for the aeronautics sector, new technologies to modernize industrial systems, synergies between renewable energies and green aeronautics as well as new materials in aeronautics.

The Hub took part with the Occitanie Region in the initiative to create a Power Electronics sector and is part of the interdisciplinary-sector driving committee with rail and road transport to identify new development challenges in our regions.

Aerospace Valley partnered with the Aerospace Test & Development Show in September 2023 which, for the first time, took place in France at MEET in Toulouse.

The 16th Embedded Technology conference on the challenges facing aeronautics, which is sponsored by the Ministry of the Economy, Finances and Industrial and digital Sovereignty in Bercy, provided an opportunity for the Cluster to present its actions.

Les Journées de la mobilité légère (Light Mobility Days) renamed Green Aero Days, was organized by MAELE in Pau in December, 2023. It was an opportunity to present the main strategic and industrial issues to the MAELE community as well as an exhibition of new aircraft using a low carbon approach. The event was a big success with 200 participants, 25 exhibitors and more than 600 business appointments scheduled.

 

EUROPE FOCUS

The European ECARE project funded by the Clean Aviation program, began in January 2023, and will finish in December, 2024. It aims to propose schemes for public funding synergies across the different regional, national and European levels, to achieve ambitious goals of reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. The project has already achieved a major result: development of a well-argued taxation system including 24 major R&D fields linked in particular to funding schemes and innovation projects.

To come for the last quarter of 2024: a public digital platform to easily identify funding opportunities, projects funded and the technological skills of aeronautics players. This platform will also include a discussion forum to facilitate the emergence of research projects. (2) A white book of recommendations for the creation of funding synergies, for financial backers of RDI aeronautics.

As an auto entrepreneur in the aerospace industry, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Aerospace Valley for their exceptional support. Their help has been a determining factor in the success of our project on many levels: Aerospace Valley facilitated seting up in the region by helping us to find offices tailored to the needs of our teams. Their expertise in identifying private funding and public subsidies enabled us to secure critical funding. Thanks to their network, we established invaluable partnerships with trusted suppliers. Their assistance in our public relations efforts, notably, with the DGAC, strengthened our relationships and visibility. Not to mention organizing events, networking support, and strategic advice, which continuously supported our development and our integration in the aerospace ecosystem.

Eloa Guillotin Co-Founder & CEO BEYOND AERO

©Elixir Aircraft

PROJECTS AND ACTIONS UNDERWAY SINCE MARCH 2024 AND TO COME:

Aerospace Valley, as a federating cluster and driving force for the aeronautics industry, continues to support new light aircraft manufacturers. As part of the CS23 CORAC roadmap, opportunities for collaborative consortiums are available to players to resolve the technological challenges on the path to certification.

In December, 2024, the new edition of Green Aero Days in Toulouse will be an opportunity to bring together the national low-carbon light aircraft ecosystem and, for the first time, to focus on international opportunities, with a second day devoted to world players. Technological advances, new uses, the light aviation market, changes in terms of skills and the impact on employment, regional, national and European funding opportunities, as well as the state of the art in new energies will be debated by experts in these fields. The international component will be an opportunity to exchange ideas about new economic models for aviation.

France has the densest network of airports and aerodromes in Europe. After two years of workshops with airports and aerodromes in Greater South West, Aerospace Valley has developed a methodology which enables infrastructures to collect the elements needed for their energy transformation to meet the requirements of new aircraft and new uses. This has enabled decision makers to define a strategy, a transformation roadmap, and to program the investments needed. Aerospace Valley will continue to support its members with their transportation challenges to adapt airport infrastructures into energy hubs through the massification of transport uses.