Aerospace Districts: Acceleration of the Strategic Transfer of Regional Advancements

Project Information

AD-ASTRA

Grant agreement ID: 101070786

DOI

10.3030/101070786

Project closed

EC signature date 9 August 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2024

Funded under

• European innovation ecosystems

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 499 968,00

Coordinated by

ART-ER-SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AD-ASTRA (Aerospace Districts: Acceleration of the Strategic Transfer of Regional Advancements)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

AD-ASTRA (Aerospace Districts: Acceleration of the Strategic Transfer of Regional Advancements) is a project about the positive interconnection among innovation ecosystems, with a focus on aerospace sectors. The project aims at the development of a connected, competitive, interregional innovation ecosystem between five European (EU) regions (Emilia-Romagna, Madrid, Occitania, Puglia and South Holland) with:

- a shared interest in fostering aerospace sectors, enhancing the cross-contamination to and from other innovative sectors (e.g. automotive, biomedical, agri-food, big data);
- different innovation readiness levels;
- aerospace districts with different levels of maturity and consolidation.

“Diversity generates wealth”: the collaboration of these markedly diverse regions, furthermore represented by partners from different spheres of the Quadruple Helix, will be a growth opportunity. The establishment of a solid and long-lasting collaborative EU network, able to exploit complementary skills, experiences, territorial and industrial vocations, will contribute to create a “critical mass” in EU strategic sectors such as innovation and aerospace, where global competition leads to a confrontation with actors of increasing size and requires innovative models and approaches.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The AD-ASTRA project aimed to strengthen aerospace innovation across five European regions by mapping regional ecosystems, establishing an interregional network, and developing a collaborative action plan. These main results were obtained through various steps; initially, the project partners conducted a comprehensive analysis of their aerospace ecosystems, cataloging strengths, specializations, skills, assets, and infrastructures. This effort enabled a cross-regional connection analysis that highlighted existing collaboration networks among companies, research centers, and clusters. Expanding on this, the project explored technological and societal megatrends relevant to aerospace and related fields like automotive and health. All this information made it possible, at a later stage, to perform detailed SWOT and TOWS analyses identifying areas for strategic collaboration while uncovering shared challenges, such as talent shortages and innovation barriers. Moreover, AD-ASTRA partners focused on building an interregional network through co-creation workshops organized across the five regions. These workshops, along with site visits to key facilities, connected local stakeholders and regional representatives, fostering partnerships and paving the way for future collaboration. The AD-ASTRA tool was introduced to facilitate ongoing interregional connections, allowing stakeholders to share contact information, competencies, and collaboration needs, effectively linking the ecosystems and supporting knowledge exchange. In the final phase, to further develop regional aerospace districts, it was written a Joint Action Plan, outlining strategies for collaborative growth and using the Quadruple Helix model to engage academia, industry, government, and civil society in promoting talent development, education, and cross-regional partnerships. In addition, the accompanying Report on Foreseen Impacts and Potential Beneficiaries assessed the anticipated benefits, including technological advancements, economic growth, and increased job opportunities. Together, the Joint Action Plan and the Report on Foreseen Impacts and Potential Beneficiaries created a strategic roadmap to ensure sustainable aerospace innovation across the regions, establishing a foundation for Europe’s continued leadership in the aerospace sector.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The AD-ASTRA project made significant progress in fostering aerospace innovation across Emilia-Romagna, Madrid, Apulia, Occitania, and South Holland by enhancing collaboration and creating a sustainable framework for interregional partnerships. Key results include a detailed mapping of each region’s aerospace ecosystem, identifying unique strengths, specializations, and gaps, which facilitated a comprehensive network analysis. This analysis underscored critical areas of alignment and existing collaborations among companies, research centers, and clusters, which, along with an examination of relevant technological and societal megatrends, allowed the project to define strategic collaboration opportunities and address shared challenges, such as talent shortages and innovation barriers. To strengthen interregional connectivity, the project introduced the AD-ASTRA tool enabling stakeholders to exchange information on skills, resources, and needs, fostering an integrated ecosystem. Additionally, a Joint Action Plan was developed, outlining strategies for long-term collaboration based on the Quadruple Helix model, bringing together academia, industry, government, and civil society to foster innovation, education, and cross-sector partnerships.
The anticipated impacts of AD-ASTRA’s initiatives include enhanced technological advancements, economic growth, and job creation across the regions. However, sustained success will depend on addressing several key needs, including further research to keep pace with technological advancements, demonstration and pilot initiatives to validate cross-regional collaboration models, and access to both private and public financing for continued innovation. Commercialization support, effective IPR management, and regulatory alignment will also be crucial, as will the continued involvement of policymakers to harmonize the implementation of the Joint Action Plan. Although the full impact of the project will materialize over time, initial results demonstrate strong interregional connections and clear sectoral priorities, establishing a solid foundation for Europe’s leadership in aerospace. The groundwork laid by AD-ASTRA’s first phases, combined with ongoing policy dialogues, ensures that the consortium is well-positioned to continue bridging innovation gaps, ultimately creating a competitive, interconnected aerospace ecosystem across Europe.

Logo of the project AD-ASTRA