EACP highlights the key role of the cluster model in the development and growth of the aerospace industry in Europe

By: Nadine Sablotny

A total of 13 aerospace clusters have met in the framework of ADM Seville 2002 to analyze projects and performances carried out by the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP). EACP is the association grouping the most important European aerospace clusters.

The Andalusian aerospace cluster Hélice has been the host member of this meeting, when two new European clusters, one from Russia and the other one from Turkey, have applied to join the EACP.

EACP has currently 39 member clusters from 13 European countries, which comprise more than 4.500 aerospace enterprises, entities and technological and research centres in Europe.

The meeting has been held in the framework of the Aerospace and Defense Meetings Seville 2012, the first international aerospace event taking place in Spain which had the participation of the most outstanding aerospace companies and enterprises.

Seville, 19 May 2012. Directors, managers and representatives from the prime European aerospace cluster met in Seville last 16 May in the framework of the convention Aerospace and Defense Meetings 2012, with the objective of analyzing the international aerospace industry and enhancing the projects and performances which are currently carried out by the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP), as well as establishing new collaborating ways to keep boosting the development of such a strategic industry in Europe and ensuring Europe’s leading position in the world aerospace market.

The Andalusian aerospace cluster Hélice has been the host member of this meeting, which is held every year and where clusters have highlighted the role of the cluster model as an essential factor for the development and growth of Aeronautics in Europe and as a backbone and a dynamizing element of the aerospace activity in different European regions and countries. The concept cluster concentrates all the entities and players (enterprises, Academia, technological centres, administration, business associations and trade unions) involved in the aerospace productive chain. 

The meeting had the participation of a total of 13 EACP member clusters. EACP is the European association grouping the most signicant European aerospace clusters and has currently 39 partners from 13 different countries, amongst them the cluster Hélice. The participating clusters have been Hélice, Aera, Hegan and Madrid Cluster Aeroespacial, from the side of Spain, Aviation Cluster Hamburg, ASIS and BavAIRia from Germany; Aerospace Valley and Pégase from France; Flag (Belgium); ACA (Turkey), Aerospace Lombardia (Italy) and Pemas (Portugal). At the same time, the had the attendance of representatives from the cluster Ulyanovsk Avia, from Russia, and the cluster Ossa Defence and  Aerospace Cluster, from Turkey, which applied to join the EACP.  

In the course of the meeting, different issues were discussed like the cooperation and networking strategies among European clusters, the exchange of good practices, the development of new R+D projects in the EC 7 Framework up to 2020, the innovation transfer, competitiveness and efficiency in the sector and international cooperation among Academia.

The meeting has been held in the framework of the convention ADM Seville 2012”, in Seville from the 14^th to the 17^th of May which is the first international aerospace convention taking place in Spain. The aerospace cluster Hélice has been also the host member of this meeting, where a total of 22 promotion entities or aerospace clusters from twelve countries have participated.  

ADM has been aimed at facilitating and boosting business among OEMs, top level suppliers and auxiliary enterprises from Europe. The Aerospace and Defence Meetings have been intended to act as a platform to exchange experiences and a meeting point for the aeronautical supply chain, enabling Andalusian companies to do business and contact partners, suppliers and new customers and appeal investment towards Andalusia.

This appointment has been organized by the Trade Promotion Agency of Andalusia (Extenda), entity under the Regional Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Science, in collaboration with Advanced Business Events (ABE), a company specializing in international events for the aerospace industry.  

A total of 288 aerospace enterprises and entities from 25 countries have been participating at ADM, among there are OEMs, top level suppliers and auxiliary enterprises. Thus, ADM has involved enterprises such as EADS, Bombardier, Eurocopter, Dassault Aviation, Airbus Operations France, Thales Alenia Space, Siemens, or the Spanish tier one suppliers Alestis Aerospace, Aernnova and Aciturri.