The Campania Region and the SESAR Joint Undertaking signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to align research and innovation efforts (R&I) and maximise the impact of regional and European investments in air traffic management modernisation.
This is the first such cooperation agreement between SESAR and a European region, reflecting the key role that regional actors can play in promoting Digital European Sky and contributing to the achievement of European environmental and connectivity objectives.
The Memorandum establishes a strategic framework to identify and activate synergies between the work programme of the SESAR JU and the innovation strategies of the Campania Region. Cooperation will focus on three main areas:
- Development of a joint technical roadmap to align research and innovation priorities;
- Identification of additional sources of funding at European, national and regional level;
- Involvement of local stakeholders, including SMEs and academia, to strengthen participation in SESAR activities.
The agreement supports Campania’s strategic priorities on advanced air mobility, with a particular focus on on-board and ground technologies, human-machine interfaces, autonomous systems, cybersecurity and electric-powered aviation. The Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) the Region and national collaborations, such as the one with the Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC), provide a solid basis for coordinated innovation.
"This is the first time that SESAR has signed a formal agreement with a European region," said Andreas Boschen, Executive Director of the SESAR JU. By joining forces with the Campania Region, we can create the necessary synergies to turn the vision of Digital European Sky into reality. This cooperation will help accelerate innovation, support skills development and bring SESAR solutions closer to the deployment phase.”
“Through this Memorandum of Cooperation, we will work together with SESAR to build a shared technical roadmap that aligns regional research and innovation priorities with those of the European Digital European Sky programme. A commitment that will attract investment, activate synergies and create new skills, with the common objective of making European airspace more efficient, safe and sustainable. Today we are not just celebrating an agreement: we are starting a strategic partnership that strengthens Campania’s role in the European aerospace landscape and opens up new opportunities for our territories, for businesses, for young people”.
‘This agreement recognises Campania’s long-standing commitment to innovation and its industrial excellence in the aerospace sector’, said Vincenzo De Luca, President of the Campania Region. “It will enable us to work more closely with Europe’s leading air traffic management programme, attract investment on the ground, support our SMEs and research centres, and equip our workforce with the skills needed for the future of aviation”.
English (UK)