Moderator

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. The panel will include participants from industry, academia, research establishments and the public.

Moderator

The long route to gender equality in Aerospace: status, challenges, obstacles, and the way forward

Gender equality is a declared target of the Aerospace sector. Yet, despite several efforts and measures undertaken by the private stakeholders of the sector, the Commission, and Europe’s Member States, this target is still far from being achieved. The negative consequences of this fact are not limited only to the obvious social aspects but also have a clear negative impact on exploiting talented and highly skilled human power to ensure the sustainability of the sector and the prosperity of society. The aims of the panel discussion will be to present the steps made so far towards achieving gender equality in the sector, discuss the challenges which must be addressed to hit the target of gender equality, critically discuss presently implemented policies and measures, and outline the necessary steps to undertake in the near future.The panel will include participants from industry, academia, research establishments and the public.