Dear members and partners,
The 2025/2026 financial year for the Aerospace Valley Cluster took place against a generally favourable market backdrop for our sectors, but the reduction in regional and national public funding has hampered the momentum for innovation and industrial roll-out.
The aerospace sector has continued to increase its production rates, despite an increasingly turbulent international environment, in order to meet a historically high order book. It is developing disruptive innovations in the commercial aviation sector and has already begun to implement them in general aviation.
The space sector is undergoing major change, with significant industrial consolidation currently taking place in the satellite sector, as well as new opportunities opening up for future launch vehicles.
Finally, the drone markets are booming, with priority given to defence applications that can be deployed immediately in theatres of operation.
Against this backdrop, the Cluster has decided – going beyond its traditional roles of connecting stakeholders and accelerating innovation – to develop the ‘Cap Industrie’ strategic plan to help medium-sized enterprises, SMEs and start-ups equip themselves with industrial capabilities capable of meeting their production rate and competitiveness challenges.
It has also consolidated its international action plan to help businesses capitalise on the commercial and partnership opportunities that are multiplying as defence markets grow and the geostrategic landscape shifts.
However, with the end of the France 2030 plan, it has noted a sharp reduction in public support for research and innovation for our laboratories and businesses; contrary to the recommendations of leading economists and the inspiring speech given by Louis Gallois at our Aerospace Valley Forum in June. This year, however, 120 projects supported by the Cluster received funding totalling €57.7 million.
Despite these difficulties, by building on the management efforts already made and counting on substantial growth in European public funding and improved access to private funding, the Board of Directors has adopted a proactive strategy for the upcoming 2027–2031 phase, based on the following five pillars:
1. To lead and unite the aeronautics, space and drone ecosystem in the Greater South-West
2. To stimulate innovation and facilitate its funding
3. To accelerate the strengthening of our regional ecosystem’s industrial capacity
4. To build a leading regional defence industry
5. To ensure the availability within the region of the skills required by our sectors
In these circumstances, and with the support of our regions and metropolitan areas, the Cluster will rise to the challenge and continue to foster the prosperity of the Greater South-West’s aerospace ecosystem – a unique global asset that is the envy of all!
