Invitation to Innovation seminar sustainable aviation: Exploring French-Dutch cooperation projects
On the occasion of the visit of the Dutch Delegation on Sustainable Aviation to Toulouse on 4-6 July the Netherlands Aerospace Group and the French technological cluster for innovation Aerospace Valley organise a seminar on sustainable aviation.
The seminar will take place on 5 July, starting at 16h00 at the famous B612 building in the Toulouse aerospace district, followed by a networking dinner cocktail.
Are you engaged in research, development or production aimed at new sustainable aircraft technology? And do you want to join forces with the Dutch aerospace sector? Then this seminar could be of interest for you.
If you want to participate in the seminar: please send your request with company and contact details to PAR-RSVP@minbuza.nl
Background information
Why an innovation mission on sustainable aviation to Toulouse?
The Dutch delegation is composed of 28 companies, research institutes and government representatives, all involved in sustainable aviation. Exploring collaboration in research, development and production of the aircraft of the future is central to this innovation mission.
Toulouse is the center of aerospace in France. It is the city of the AIRBUS Group, ATR, Thales, Safran, Dassault and knowledge institutions such as ISAE-Supaero and ONERA. Together with a large number of SMEs and start-ups, these parties form an innovative ecosystem.
During the visit to Toulouse the goals are to gain insight into the latest developments and challenges surrounding sustainable aviation and to strengthen cooperation with this innovation ecosystem in South West France.
Besides site visits to Airbus and ATR, the seminar on 5 July will be the occasion for Dutch and French R&D managers, business development managers, CTOs and CEOs of startups and SMEs as well as large companies and knowledge institutions to further explore concrete research collaboration projects by linking Dutch knowledge and technology to French sector peers and vice versa.
About the Dutch aviation industry
The Dutch aviation industry is an important sector and consists of more than 100 companies, with an estimated combined revenue of € 5.5 billion per year and providing over 20.000 jobs. This makes it a truly vibrant and diverse industry. The most relevant innovations of the Dutch aviation industry are focused on critical components and materials. Examples are hydrogen tanks and required infrastructure composite materials for construction and fuselage parts, aerodynamic optimization, advanced sensing technologies, thermoplastic materials, the maintenance of a new generation of aircraft and smart manufacturing technologies. In the past few years, the Dutch government has initiated support programs for the aerospace industry of which the National Growth Fund and Mobility Fund are notable examples. The Dutch aviation ecosystem itself also strongly invests in new aAviation in transition
The aviation ecosystem faces an enormous challenge to become climate neutral by 2050. To this end, the Dutch government keeps investing in the aviation industry, to thrive innovation for sustainability and earning capacity. Via a national program (called National Growth Fund), the government invests together with private parties in the industry, a total of €768 million. This program is led by a consortium consisting of industry, the knowledge institutions Lucht-en Ruimtevaart Nederland (NLR), Technical University Delft and their partners. The preceding proposal is supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management as the proposing ministry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
The Dutch aviation industry can be a leading pioneer in Europe in the transition to sustainable aviation in the field of developing sustainable ultra-efficient demonstration aircraft with breakthrough technology for hydrogen propulsion, materials and systems.
French-Dutch cooperation
The objective of the innovation mission to Toulouse is to initiate and stimulate bilateral cooperation between France and the Netherlands. Next to the fact that France and the Netherlands share an airline AirFrance-KLM Group, this includes promoting trade and sustainable innovation cooperation between both countries. On December 16, 2021, the Air France-KLM Board of Directors made the decision to move forward on the Group’s goal to improve its economic and environmental performance through the introduction of next generation aircraft with a firm order for 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft - with purchase rights for 60 additional aircraft, to renew the fleets of KLM and Transavia Netherlands, and to renew and expand the fleet of Transavia France.
World class knowledge institutions
The Netherlands research institutes Royal NLR, TNO and Technical University (TU) Delft are all committed to climate action. Together they cover aviation research in the Netherlands, from fundamental research right through to preparing innovations for industrial market uptake. Towards sustainable aviation, the institutes join forces how to reach the goal from a technological perspective and support setting up a dedicated national research and innovation program for sustainable aviation.
Connect both French and Dutch players in sustainable aviation
If you want more information on the Dutch aviation industry, feel free to contact the Netherlands Innovation Network Team at the NL Embassy
If you want to participate in the seminar: please send your request with company and contact details to PAR-RSVP@minbuza.nl
N.B. Places are limited and subject to company profile requirements