Aerospace Valley has developed a strategic roadmap that lays out the research and development orientations for each of its major market objectives, to help meet the needs of customers in aeronautics, space and embedded systems. These ambitious objectives are also reinforced by the development of the cluster’s environment, which covers all industrial firms, SMEs and corporate groups, specialists in research and training, as well as all professionals contributing to regional economic development.
Taking into account sustainable development objectives, from design to end of service life is one of the cluster’s major innovation orientations.
1. The Markets
Aeronautics
For its industrial members, the cluster strives to strengthen the current market positions of its corporate groups, intermediate size companies and SMEs by maintaining technological advances, and enabling them to access new markets, brought about by technological ruptures and innovations, through participation in cooperative projects, particularly in the areas of airframes, airliners, equipment and power plants (civil and military airplanes and helicopters), energy, and autonomous aeronautics systems. In addition, in the increasingly competitive context of civil aeronautics, new manufacturers are emerging in the business and regional aircraft segments. These new manufacturers represent a risk, as well as an opportunity to enter new markets, particularly for equipment suppliers.
Space
In the sectors of launch systems, satellites and space missions, the cluster’s strategy is linked to that defined by CNES and ESA. Aerospace Valley is positioned in the new programs with two priorities:- space applications,
- propulsion,
Embedded Systems
In embedded systems, the cluster’s development priorities focus on:- the dependability and reliability of embedded systems at all levels (software/hardware)
- performance, modularity and the quality of mechanical, electrical-IT parts and energy development
- systems diagnosis and prognosis
- new modes of human-system interaction and inter-systems communication
- the design of smaller, less expensive and more powerful components in conjunction with NanoInnov, a major program
2. The Cluster’s Economic Environment
Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP)
Aerospace Valley is striving to become a global reference in research and training.The ambitions of the SWP program are to:
- improve the supply of initial and on-going training for better management of skills and professions
- anticipate quantitative and qualitative needs of industrialists in the current and future international context
- expand Aerospace Valley and its curricula to attract top talent
- promote scientific and technical culture among young people and generate an interest in such careers
- promote the training offer and the "employability" of the Aerospace Valley regions
- diffuse information on professions and resource needs in the aeronautics, space and embedded systems sectors
International development
International strategy targets 11 countries, with priority on Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Brazil and China.The strategy focuses on four main orientations:
- Strengthen relations with foreign clusters, and French clusters which have an international focus
- Encourage SMEs in their actions internationally
- Develop the cluster’s positioning in international training and research
- Contribute to the reputation and attractiveness of the Aerospace Valley regions through a sustained communication policy.
Actions in favor of SMEs
To enable SMEs to contribute to its projects as designers and developers of new solutions, the cluster has implemented a plan focused on four main orientations: - Participate in the construction of a new aerospace landscape
- Accompany the emergence of R&D projects initiated by, or involving SMEs and facilitate SMEs access to the projects of major groups, as well as local, national, and European calls for offers and government contracts
- Develop the competitiveness of members by fostering links between "large" and "small" players in the context of major industrial projects
- Make cross-sector expertise available to members.
Economic Monitoring and Intelligence
Aerospace Valley, although a leading cluster in aeronautics, space and embedded systems, nonetheless must cope with the cyclical nature of the industry in the context of global competition, as well as monetary and geopolitical upheavals. In addition, the cluster must anticipate technological developments that could affect its balance. The IRIS center for economic monitoring and business intelligence was created in April 2007. All member companies of the cluster can access it and receive a monthly press review, providing information about events in Aerospace Valley, and the link to IRIS. Moreover, a prospective strategic aeronautics and space observatory provides tools and models to players in the sector for analysis and independent forecast in the short and medium term, giving greater long-term visibility to stakeholders in industrial organizations on the economic outlook and sustainable development, while contributing to the coordination of public and private actions.
Attractive companies and skills
When the cluster began, prospecting for inward investment and the reception of new French or foreign companies was placed under the responsibility of two regional development agencies, Midi-Pyrenees Expansion (MPE) and the Aquitaine agency for industrial development (2ADI). The cluster strives to provide its support in this task by defining targets and mobilizing its members. For several years, the Midi-Pyrenees and Aquitaine regions have remained among the top five French regions for international investment.
