Contact
Alexandre Solé Carretero
Nexus II Building
Jordi Girona, 29
08034 Barcelona
Spain
+34 93 206 3959
+34 93 206 3965
ascarretero(at)bcnaerospace.org
Website
BAIE - Barcelona Aeronautics & Space Association
Cluster Description
Facts & Figures
| Number of companies | 50 companies (mainly SMEs) |
| Number of employees | 850 direct employees in the aerospace sector in Catalonia |
| Number of research institutes | 3 Universities, 3 Research centers and 1 Technological center |
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Cluster Management
| Organizational form | BAIE is a non-profit association with a General Assembly of members and an Executive Committee as its main decision bodies. In addition, several Technical Committees address topics in specific areas like Quality, Air Transport & Infrastructures, Security & Defense, Aeronautics, Space and Outreach. |
| Financing | BAIE is mainly financed through its member fees, which come both from public and private members. Other sources of financement are specific project funding and bank loans. |
Main Actors
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Cluster Competences and Strategy
Strengths & Competences
Overall, the members of BAIE, the Aerospace Cluster of Catalonia, have a very wide range of competencies in both the aeronautics and space fields. The 15 main capabilities and strengths of the cluster could be summarised as being:
- Systems Engineering
- Software and Critical Software Development
- Robotics and Processes Automation
- Big Toolings and Fixtures
- Aircraft Interiors Design and Development
- Precision Metal Machining
- Ground and on-board electronics
- Airport Management
- Design & Development
- Testing and Certification
- High Performance Parachutes
- Textiles development
- Balloons and Inflatables Development
- Research and Development
- Education and Traning
Other fields of expertise in the cluster include the development of technologies and equipment for human spaceflight, projects in space tourism, GNSS, instruments & sensors engineering, General Aviation, Consultancy, Composite Materials and Structures, and Virtual and Immersive Reality among others.
Science & Research
AQUILES – Regional project of a small-sized rover for safety missions in airports and aircraft developed collaboratively by cluster 2 companies (Gutmar, Promaut) and a technology centre (CTAE).
ESTICBE – Regional project on models of comfort in aircraft passenger cabin, led by the cluster member INGENIA, with participation of companies (Applus+, IDOM, Compass, Italdesign, SnellOptics) and research and technology centers (CIMNE, CTAE).
CAMP – Collaborative mission planning for a UAV network, with the particpation of a cluster technological centre (CTAE).
MELISSA – ESA international program to develop a regenerative microecological closed-loop life-support system with a very significant participation of local universities (UAB hosting MELISSA’s Pilot Plant) and companies (NTE).
MENDESMACO – Non-destructive Test for Composite Materials, a national collaborative project of industrial applied research with the participation of 2 cluster companies (Mapro, Composites ate).
PARIS – ESA development of a passive satellite sensor for oceanographic studies involving cluster companies (Starlab), research centers (IEEC) and universities (UPC, UB).
SMOS – ESA mission in remote sensing with a very significant Catalan participation, in some cases since its very early stages: enterprises (Mier Comunicaciones, Gutmar, Starlab), universities (UPC, UB) and research centers (ICM).
International Collaboration
Aeronautics: AIRBUS, BOEING, EADS-CASA, EUROCOPTER, LATECOERE, LOCKHEED MARTIN, BE AEROSPACE.
Space: EADS ASTRIUM, ESA, NASA, ARIANESPACE, THALES, CNES, VITROCISET, TELESPAZIO, LORAL.
Main Challenges
BAIE has identified several strategic lines of work that match our members’ capabilities and expertise and offer a potential for growth, consolidation and cohesiveness of the aerospace sector in Catalonia.
These strategic lines of work are analysed in the BAIE Strategic Plan 2008 – 2012, and will help face the challenges ahead for our industry. They include increasing our activity in areas such as Aircraft Interiors & Comfort, Aircraft Maintenance, Satellite Applications, UASs development, General & Corporate Aviation and Human Spaceflight.
Some of the main challenges ahead for the Catalan Aerospace Sector could be summarised as the need to:
- Attract one or more Tier 1 manufacturer/s or systems integrator/s to our region.
- Increase the level of collaborative efforts, specially in R&D, among the cluster stakeholders and between the cluster members and international partners.
- Harness increased political and financial support to the regional aerospace industry.
- Launch one or more big regional project in aeronautics and/or space, in line with the BAIE Strategic Plan 2008 -2012.
- Increase our outreach efforts and the level of social support to the Cluster and its activities.