DISCUSSION PANEL

Integrating Start-Ups in the European Aerospace Sector and Exploiting them to Enhance Europe’s Economy

Europe’s economy is rapidly transforming and relies increasingly on knowledge and innovation. This transformation has led to creation of a new stakeholder in the global economic ecosystem with increasing magnitude: start-ups. Start-ups are in many cases SMEs originating from ideas incubated at Universities and Research Establishments, are highly innovative, offer excellence on a certain subject, and their success relies heavily on remaining innovative. The aims of the present panel discussion are to critically assess the status of start-ups in the European Aerospace sector, to discuss the level of their integration in the sector, as well as the degree of their exploitation by the sector. It aims also to identify the obstacles for start-ups to retain their innovation advantage and position in the market, to critically assess the current frame for research in Aerospace and its suitability to respond to the needs of start-ups, and suggest measures which would facilitate their integration in the sector and the exploitation of their innovation potential to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of the sector. During this conversation, not only will these aspects be discussed, but concrete actions will also be proposed to increase the participation of SMEs and universities in European calls for proposals to improve the European supply chain.