Strengthening the Ecosystem & International Collaboration

The goal of this project is to strengthen the Dutch ecosystem by supporting it in positioning itself within key global value chains. In doing so, it supports companies—including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups—that play a crucial role in innovation. These companies are often hindered by a lack of access to the requirements and demands of OEMs and other parties in the aviation value chain, as well as by the specific technical and/or process knowledge they require.

The Netherlands holds a strong position in aviation. However, for a successful transition to sustainable aviation, reinforcement is needed. There is a demand for competencies, technologies, and infrastructure that are not present in the current ecosystem.

The Dutch aviation manufacturing sector comprises dozens of small and large companies, along with knowledge institutions. For the Netherlands to maintain a future-proof role in a sector where significant innovations are on the horizon, breakthrough technologies will be decisive. In particular, SMEs, startups, and scale-ups can make the difference. By unlocking and bundling knowledge from other sectors and seeking international collaboration, disruptive innovations can reach the market more quickly.

This project makes topics such as certifiability, intellectual property, financing opportunities, and new industrial processes accessible so that the entry barriers for new companies are lowered and innovations have a greater chance of breakthrough success.

By promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange with, among others, world-leading manufacturers, the Dutch sector gains a stronger starting position within the supply chain. This supply chain is expected to represent enormous value in the coming decades, making it a significant economic opportunity for innovative Dutch players.

Together with the innovations emerging from LiT, we can help lead the way in transitioning aviation toward “net-zero” and eventually climate neutrality from the Netherlands. In doing so, we lay the foundation for new generations of aircraft and their systems, and generate high-quality employment and revenues for many decades.

• Ecosystem Mapping: The first steps have been taken to map out the ecosystem. This mapping will be used, among other things, to connect parties within the ecosystem with each other and with funding opportunities. Extensive cross-sector research has demonstrated interesting synergies between the applications of hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric propulsion in the maritime, automotive, and aviation sectors. This report is available upon request.
• Knowledge Initiatives Launched: Supply and demand have been connected through events, online meetings, and training sessions. Topics include certifiability, intellectual property, subsidies and financing, batteries in aviation, and 3D printing. Want to know more or get involved? Please get in touch.
• International Collaboration: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with RTX and its subsidiaries—Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon—to strengthen cooperation with the Dutch ecosystem. With more than 185,000 employees and nearly $70 billion in revenue, this is the world’s largest Tier 1 supplier.

• Ecosystem Survey: Extensive in-depth interviews will be conducted to map the current needs, opportunities, and obstacles among parties in the Dutch ecosystem. It is possible that, under the sub-project “Strengthening the Ecosystem,” an initiative will be taken to collectively remove barriers and realize untapped opportunities. This survey will serve as input for connecting knowledge and promoting/initiating collaboration.
• Ecosystem Overview: We will explore intelligent ways of mapping the ecosystem to visualize various cross-sections. In the short term, the focus will be on the Dutch aviation ecosystem; in the long term, cross-sector and international parties will also be incorporated.
• International Collaboration: International collaboration can increase the likelihood of success for LiT. Within this sub-project, an overview will be created of the relevant research and development needs of OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, ultimately aiming to initiate new joint research, development, and innovation projects.