IPN aims to promote innovation and technology transfer, establishing the link

between the scientific and technological environment and the production sector. Created at the initiative of the University of Coimbra (UC) in 1991, it develops its activities on three fronts that reinforce and complement each other (1) Research and technological development (R&D), consultancy and specialized services through its 5 laboratories (materials, automatics, informatics, geotechnic, corrosion and pythopathology); (2) Incubation and acceleration of technology-based companies; (3) Specialized training.

With about 160 employees, IPN thus forms an integrated model that operates in all phases of the cycle of transferring knowledge and qualification of entrepreneurship, generating synergies, and enhancing complementarities in the areas of specialized training, including R&D, valuing the knowledge generated and culminating in the incubation and acceleration of companies. It houses ESA BIC Portugal, one of the 20 current incubation centres of the European Space Agency (ESA).

With extensive experience in the implementation of projects, IPN has more than 60 R&D projects per year in close collaboration with companies; it participates in more than 170 dissemination activities per year, including its active contribution in the 35 national and international networks of which it is a part. IPN is a VET Provider, equipped with highly qualified internal and external employees to respond to the training needs of young entrepreneurs, researchers, companies, and recently graduated students, being a training entity certified by the respective national authority (DGERT). In close collaboration with all IPN units, the Training department also actively collaborates in mentoring and coaching activities for the same audience. 

IPN has two of its R&D Laboratories with accredited tests according to ISO 17025 standard, LED&MAT and FITOLAB. It also has a laboratory, LAS, certified according to the EN ISO 13485 standard, as a result of their activity in the Medical Devices Sector.

GEOSAT is a leading European Earth Observation (EO) company, owning and operating advanced satellites that deliver Very High-Resolution (VHR) imagery and geospatial analytics. GEOSAT offers near-real-time solutions tailored to the needs of individuals, businesses, and institutions, enabling informed decision-making with precise and actionable data. Its services support a wide range of

applications, from disaster management and environmental monitoring to urban planning and security operations. As part of Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Facility (PRR) agenda, GEOSAT leads the New Space Portugal initiative, aiming to position the country as a key player in the global space sector. This PRR will build satellites that will monitor the Atlantic Ocean and VET/HEI courses for people to pursue opportunities in the Space sector.

The Basque Aerospace Cluster – HEGAN - is a private, non-profit association established in 1997 to promote and strengthen the Basque Aeronautics and Space sector. As a Cluster Association, it represents and fosters collaboration and innovation among companies and research entities to enhance competitiveness. HEGAN has 77 members, including 43 SMEs, 5 universities, and 10 research bodies, employing 5,500 people globally. Its key focus areas are Aerostructures, Engines, Systems, and Space.

Over the last decade, R&D investment has averaged 7% of sales, with around 250 R&D projects carried out annually at international, national, and regional levels. A proactive member of the European Aerospace Clusters Partnership (EACP) since 2009, HEGAN supports Europe's innovation and global

competitiveness. It is also a registered agent of the Red Vasca de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (RVCTI), contributing to research excellence and economic development in Euskadi through the RIS3 strategy.

QSR is a strategic consultancy company, focused on human capital for High Technological Intensity Sectors, such as Aerospace. Our Innovation Center analyses human and organisational consequences of the technological disruption, integrating academia and industry in the same ecosystem and enhancing alignment of workers with market’s present and future demands. QSR is part of various industry associations, leading the Skills Working Group of EACP – European Aerospace Cluster Partnership, and representing the Portuguese cluster Pact for Skills for Aerospace and ASD Skills Working Group.

With wide experience in aerospace, and specific needs of European industry at local and international level, QSR’s mission is to develop and deliver the best methodologies and solutions to attract, develop, and retain specialized talent for these sectors. QSR develops both national and international projects in areas such as: needs analysis, traineeships, international mobility, behavioural and technical training, and organisational performance improvement. Our expertise and strong network allow us to give a meaningful contribution informing and implementing sectoral policies at local, national, and international level.

The European Science Foundation (ESF) is a non-governmental, internationally oriented, non-profit association established in France in 1974. ESF is committed to promoting the highest quality science in Europe to drive progress in research and innovation.

ESF works closely with their members and partners, sharing their expertise and offering solution-orientated scientific support aimed at increasing the quality and effectiveness of science and science-related activities in Europe.

ESF partners with diverse institutions by leading successful projects, facilitating informed decision-making through a broad range of science support partnerships: Research Project Grant Evaluation, the coordination and participation in European projects, funding programmes and the hosting scientific platforms.

FDC is an independent consultancy and research company created in 1989, specialised in the field of space applications and based in Vincennes (France). With a team of engineers with an average above 15 years’ experience in Satellite Navigation, Communications and/or Earth Observation, FDC has acquired a unique knowledge spanning from the early definitions of space infrastructures and services to the design of application terminals and chipsets. FDC has been supporting the European Commission and its Agencies since the very early stages of the EU Space Programme participating in more than 250 European projects related to elements of the Space Programme and successfully coordinating more than half of them. Specialised in Space and Security and Defence, a pioneer of the Galileo PRS in 1996, a major contributor to the definition of services such as OSNMA and CAS since the early 2000’s, FDC is

currently coordinating the EDIDP GEODE project and the EDF Navguard project co-sponsored by 7 EU Member States aiming are preparing the use of Galileo for Defence, and paving the way towards EWSS implementation, developing for EUSPA the first EWSS prototype receiver.

Over the past 35 years, FDC has provided expertise to private and public stakeholders of both civilian and the military domains. FDC’s main clients are the European Commission, the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA), CNES, CNRS and several French Ministries as well as major private

corporations (e.g. Airbus, Continental, Indra, Kongsberg, Thales and SES). Finally, FDC is a founding member of the Space Y association and of EARSC.

CenSec's strategic core competence lies in leveraging its extensive European defence-related network and trust-based relationships to conduct effective stakeholder management across industry, academia, and authorities, addressing industrial goals while enhancing education and training capabilities. 

Its tactical core competencies include matchmaking, by connecting defence stakeholders, particularly industry with educational and training institutions; dissemination, by raising awareness, sharing progress, and success stories at political, industrial, and academic levels; internationalization, by expanding projects to gain European and global recognition; and management and leadership, drawing on Klaus Bolving’s 36 years of leadership experience in the Armed Forces and security-related education. 

CenSec’s mission is to develop business networks for SMEs in the defence, security, and space sectors while supporting members with market insights, skills development, and education to enhance their participation in these industries.

AVIASPACE BREMEN is an association of companies and application-oriented research institutes supporting the aeronautics and space industries in and around the federal state of Bremen. It plays a key role in implementing Bremen’s aerospace strategy by fostering cooperation, driving innovation, and

strengthening the region as a hub for business and science. AVIASPACE BREMEN connects companies, scientific institutions, and authorities, focusing on networking, technology transfer, and economic growth through the promotion of start-ups and young entrepreneurs. Its scope includes aeronautics, space, and related technologies, with expertise in materials science, high-lift systems,

engineering, manufacturing technology, earth observation, and robotics. Currently, over 50 companies and institutes from Bremen’s aerospace sector are part of the network, contributing to a dynamic and collaborative ecosystem.

Fondazione E. Amaldi (FEA), co-founded by the Italian Space Agency and the Hypatia Research Consortium, supports technology transfer in the space sector. Headquartered at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, it also operates in Turin through a joint lab with Links Foundation at the Polytechnic of Turin. FEA has extensive experience in project and financial management and is part of the ESA Space Solutions Network, promoting satellite-based products and services. Since 2019, it has been a Copernicus Relay contact point, advocating for Copernicus data applications and training. In cybersecurity, it co-leads a Competence Centre for Space Cybersecurity with La Sapienza University, focusing on training and education.

In finance, FEA is a key player in Primo Space Fund, Italy’s first space-focused Venture Capital Fund, advising and investing in start-ups and SMEs in the New Space Economy. It also established the Space Finance Observatory (ESALab) in 2020. FEA has a strong track record in European programmes, including ESA Business Applications, ESA InCubed+, EUSPA Cassini, Copernicus Relay, and Horizon Europe. It specialises in market and technology analysis, business performance assessment, start-up evaluation, and financial instruments development. Operating through six departments—Business Applications, Finance for Innovation, Earth Observation and Telecommunications, Electronics and New Materials, Life Sciences, and Advanced Manufacturing - FEA plays a pivotal role in technology transfer, innovation, and investment in the European space sector.

Astech Paris region established in 2007 as a non-profit organization funded by the State, Paris Region, and its members, is one of France’s three key competitiveness clusters in Aeronautics, Space, and Defence. It aims to strengthen the region’s leadership in Business Aviation, Space Launch,

Propulsion, and Equipment sectors through innovation, supporting research, fostering SME opportunities, and preparing future technological breakthroughs. Representing over 75,000 jobs, including 53,000 in the Paris Region, ASTech works to enhance industrial visibility, attract talent, and sustain the aerospace sector’s 100,000 jobs. With a network of 200+ members representing 300+

establisments, 50% of which are SMEs, it actively participates in the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP) and co-leads its Skills Working Group, maintaining strong connections with consortium partners. ASTech also organizes expert-driven working groups, including one focused on

Training, Research, and Employment, which could be valuable for the project.

The Universidad de Sevilla (US) is a historic university, founded in 1505, the second largest in Spain in number of students, with a relevant and robust comprehensive formation, internationally recognized for its academic excellence, research and technology transfer background. Indeed, US is a recognised Campus of International Excellence as part of the Ulysseus European University. Universidad de Sevilla has 70 000 students in 26 teaching centres, as well as other highly-equipped centres. The Universidad De Sevilla is a world-class research university with 63 186 scientific papers published and more than one million citations. Such a solvent research culture enables us to win a great amount of competitive domestic and international grants. US ranks 1st in international patents in Spain, as the US is fully committed to the transfer of technology. US provides a strong expertise in coordinating European

consortia, only in 2022 the US was granted with 36 EU granted projects. The School of Engineering of the US (ETSi) is a centre with 6000 students and 500 lecturers in 16 departments. The school ranks 101-150 in areas such as Automation & Control or Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Shangai

Ranking. Half of the activity of the US related to direct collaborations with companies is accomplished by the ETSi. The ETSi is member of the PEGASUS network connecting 30 aeronautical engineering school across Europe. Through the TIME network the ETSi promotes the double degrees for master engineering with Ecole Centrale in France, Politecnico di Milano, Universidade de Lisboa or Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II.

The European Welding Federation (EWF) is an international non-profit association pioneering the establishment of harmonized qualification systems for manufacturing personnel in welding, joining, cutting, and additive manufacturing. Since 1992, EWF has been committed to ensuring that skills development in advanced manufacturing aligns with industry needs, maintaining consistent quality standards across training environments. Its qualification systems guarantee that knowledge and skills are recognized across Europe and accepted by enterprises, professionals, training institutions, and certification bodies.

The first International Welding/Joining Qualification System (IWJQS) was launched in 1992, and since then, EWF has worked with key industry and education stakeholders across 31 European countries to enhance training opportunities. It developed the first fully harmonized European qualification scheme for welding and joining technologies, covering all levels from craftspeople to professional engineers. More recently, EWF initiated the International Qualifications System in Additive Manufacturing (IAMQS), aligned with the ManuFUTURE Vision 2030 Strategy.

EWF's qualification systems are implemented through a network of 50 Authorized Nominated Bodies, 700 Authorized Training Bodies, and over 50,000 companies and SMEs. These systems operate in both VET centers and higher education institutions. EWF collaborates with major European and international stakeholders, including CEDEFOP, Pact for Skills, CEN/TC438, ISO/TC261, DG Education and Culture, DG Employment, DG Research, EFFRA, ESCO, ETF, and the Manufuture platform.

The ResLab research group at Laurea University of Applied Sciences focuses on societal resilience, encompassing crisis management and proactive community-driven initiatives. ResLab applies systems, futures, and design thinking in its Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) projects within Laurea's

ecosystem. Laurea is an internationally recognised, research-oriented university of applied sciences with six campuses in the Helsinki region, known for its multidisciplinary and multistakeholder co-creation between public, private, and third sectors, as well as higher education institutions. Its Learning by

Developing model integrates real-world experiences into education. Laurea has received multiple awards, including the Quality Label for Excellence in Higher Education from FINEEC (2023). Laurea actively participates in Horizon, Erasmus+, and other international and national projects, currently

managing around 100 externally funded RDI projects addressing regional and global challenges. Its Master’s programmes cover areas such as sustainability, circular economy, cybersecurity, strategic foresight, service design, digital innovations, and technology law.

Key RDI expertise includes sustainable social and healthcare, security, circular economy, entrepreneurship, and pedagogy co-creation. Laurea plays a leading role in AI Trustworthiness evaluation as part of the Z-inspection process and engages in international networks such as the European Network of Living Labs and the European Network of Security. It excels in business expertise,

ecosystem development, digital services, and sustainability, leveraging co-development, service design, foresight, and Living Lab environments in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Drillster is a smart microlearning app that guarantees that critical knowledge and competencies are efficiently acquired and remain top of mind all year long, so students and employees can deliver top performance, using the right skills at the right time. Drillster was founded in 2011 by Thomas Goossens and Marco van Sterkenburg when they became frustrated with how short the effect of traditional learning programs was, while so many employees and students worldwide rely on it. The forgetting curve prevents people from having the right competencies at the right time. Marco and Thomas figured that the world would be better if people could perform better by anchoring and retaining knowledge and skills. Keeping these top-of-mind results in higher exams results, fewer incidents and accidents, higher productivity, lower costs, and consequently satisfied employees, students, and customers. A proprietary algorithm drives personalised learning. The Drillster app even calculates future proficiency and notifies the learner just before crucial knowledge tends to decline. This makes Drillster the ideal tool to learn faster, more efficiently, and retain what has been learned, year-round.

Ege University, Turkey’s fourth oldest university, was founded in 1955 and, by 2023, comprised 15 faculties, 9 institutes, 5 graduate schools, a State Conservatory, 11 vocational schools, and 35 research centres. It is a leading scientific institution with a strong research infrastructure, including accredited

centres such as ARGEFAR, EGEPAL, EGEMATAL, FABAL, BESTMER, TEKAUM, and 785 laboratories, along with the Ege Teknopark Technology Development Zone. As the region’s first university, Ege University is committed to high-quality research, education, and knowledge transfer, integrating academia with industry, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and is a key player in the Fourth

Generation University Concept. The Ege University Aviation Higher Vocational School (HVS), established in 2015, offers Civil Aviation Management (CAM) and Aircraft Technology (ATECH), ranking among the top state university programs in the 2024 entrance exams. It was the first public university to receive a "Recognized School Authorization Certificate" from Turkey’s Civil Aviation Authority in all A1–A4 categories (2019). In 2024, the CAM program also earned full four-year accreditation from Turkey’s Higher Education Quality Authority.

The Paris CDG Alliance’s main goal is to develop the inhabitants and workers’ professional skills as well as answering the companies’ needs by experimenting with solutions in terms of employment and professional skills. Furthermore, Paris CDG Alliance participates in the economic development of the

territory, promoting the area, meeting the needs of businesses and developing the skills of residents and workers. It has a broad and diverse network of committed partners serving the territory: companies, employment agencies, public structures, training organizations, professionals in integration and

guidance... Thanks to an agile working approach that enables rapid development of operational solutions, and a multidisciplinary vision allowing for the conception of innovative and hybrid solutions, its team is able to coordinate consortia of public and private actors facilitating collective intelligence and identifying common solutions.

PCA’s ambition is to develop a virtuous ecosystem around the Paris-CDG and Paris-Le Bourget airports, to enable residents to benefit from employment opportunities in this area, help businesses find the right profiles among the territory's residents and promote the establishment of foreign companies.

KU Leuven is one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned universities, with 65,189 students (2022-2023), including 13,689 international and 7,172 PhD students. With over 14,000 staff, it offers education at Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral levels. It is Belgium’s largest university in research funding (€522 million in 2020) and a LERU charter member. Ranked 42nd worldwide by Times Higher Education (2023) and Europe’s most innovative university in Reuters’ Top 100 (2021), it has participated in over 540 EU research projects and over 100 H2020 projects.

KU Leuven is highly active in Space research, covering upstream and downstream applications. The Spatial Applications Division (SADL) will contribute to this project. SADL covers policy and application areas such as agriculture, environment, transport, and urban planning and was the scientific and technical coordinator of the EO4GEO Erasmus+ project. Other KU Leuven groups include the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics (RAM), and Mechanical Engineering. The Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies specialises in legal and governance aspects of Space. KU Leuven also offers a Master in Space (60 ECTS) covering both technological and non-technological aspects.

IMH, Instituto de Máquina Herramienta, is an educational centre for Advanced and Digital Manufacturing that offers specialised, flexible and employment-oriented training, prioritising the dual model, as well as innovation services for SMEs. It offers vocational and university studies. Its mission is to contribute to

the increase of innovative capacity and business dynamism in the industrial sector, through actions that promote the competence development of people and companies. IMH was the first higher education institution in Spain to develop dual training combining on-the-job training and academic studies.

PRZ, a technical university based in Rzeszow, offers education across seven faculties, including the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics. It provides 36 degree programmes, notably in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Production Engineering, with a student body of approximately 10,700. The university employs 1,600 professionals, including over 840 academic staff and researchers. PRZ maintains strong industry collaborations, particularly within the aerospace and automotive sectors, and is a member of Aviation Valley. Additionally, PRZ provides pilot training and operates the Aviation Training Centre in Jasionka and the Glider Training Centre in Bezmiechowa.

The Space Skills Alliance is the think-tank and backbone organisation addressing the skills shortage in the space sector. We work to ensure that its growth is not constrained by a lack of access to talent, and to make space careers as attractive and rewarding as possible.

We collect and publish data and analysis to inform decision making, promote and advise on best practice in recruitment, retention, and training, and run events that bring key stakeholders together to network and learn from each other.

GISIG is a European Association specializing in Geographical Information, recognised as a non-profit SME. With extensive experience in GIS tools across various domains such as land planning, risk management, and nature conservation, GISIG facilitates technology transfer from research to industry. It

promotes joint geospatial data projects, supports thematic networks, and enhances capacity-building through e-learning. Over the past 30 years, GISIG has coordinated EU programs in Education, Training, Research, and Innovation, including the EO4GEO Blueprint project. As coordinator of the EO4GEO

Alliance, it leads the SPACE4GEO Large-scale Skills Partnership under the Pact for Skills, which launched the SpaceSUITE Blueprint in January 2024. GISIG also contributes to research on land planning, natural risk mitigation, and climate change adaptation through projects like H2020 RECONECT and Horizon Europe 100kTREEs. Additionally, it leads the DEP project DIS4SME, advancing digital skills for SMEs in data interoperability and entrepreneurship.

Eupportunity is a versatile and multidisciplinary consultancy with extensive experience in Brussels, composed by former European Parliament, Commission and Council advisers; C-level staff of EU Associations and Agencies; Representatives of public sector, both at Government and local levels; and private sector, e.g. law firms, business consultancies and corporate communications. Thus said, Eupportunity has also been working in Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation activities namely through policy recommendations and broad dissemination to policy makers at EU level.

Additionally, Eupportunity works alongside several business sectors by helping define tailor-made strategies for their clients. This is only possible through an internally developed monitoring system of all EU-related initiatives which results in know-how in several different areas. Not only does this hold true for topics with a scope solely within the EU, but also for topics such as external cooperation, be it through the monitoring of legislative procedures or through funding streams and opportunities to deepen such relations with third countries.

Space Y represents key players in Europe’s space downstream industry, aiming to create value through application development and sector growth. The association emphasizes that space investments must align with real user needs and generate tangible socio-economic benefits – this is why Europe invests in space. For nearly 20 years, Space Y has collaborated with European decision-makers, including the European Commission, European Parliament, the Council of the EU, EUSPA, ESA, and national space agencies, providing a unified voice for the industry. It also connects with umbrella organizations like EUGIN, EURISY, EARSC, NEREUS, GSOA, and ERTICO at European and national levels.

ARC is the association of regional and local authorities with an airport situated within or near their territories. ARC represents the interests of its members and brings together a wide range of expertise at the interface of airports and air transport with local and regional policies. A common concern is to maximise the benefits generated by airports and minimise their environmental impact in order to improve the life quality of citizens living nearby airports. ARC’s vision is to bring together a region and an airport and to facilitate their interaction and cooperation on all levels, ranging from governance, economy, environment, urban planning and mobility, allowing them to work together to improve residents’ quality of life, to avoid, prevent, minimise and compensate the negative impacts of airport activities and providing its members with tools and knowledge to plan, invest, share and maximise the benefits of the aviation sector. Employment is a key topic for the ARC member regions.

AZULchain, founded in 2023, develops innovative digital learning solutions for corporate clients and educational providers, with a primary focus on blockchain-based services. Operating as a Digital Competence Centre, AZULchain supports individuals and organisations in integrating new technologies into learning and human resource management workflows. The company runs a digital platform for managing micro-credential issuance workflows, using evidence-based assessment to validate learner achievements before issuing credentials. Additionally, AZULchain specialises in website development, web communities, web applications, and e-commerce solutions for both private companies and public institutions.

EfVET is a pan-European umbrella professional association, established in 1991, with the main purpose of building a network of practitioners VET institutions, to secure a voice across Europe in both European policymaking and practice arenas. EfVET currently represents 260 associations in 37 countries (including in Africa, South Asia and Australia), with a reach of approximately 200 000 VET professionals and 2.000.000 learners.

EfVET key areas of work can be grouped in 4 categories, namely: representation at European level with the main purpose of influencing policies and decisions directly and indirectly affecting VET systems in Europe (by taking part in the working groups set up by the European Commission and other European

Agencies whose work is directly related to VET); the promotion of networking opportunities among Members facilitating their access to relevant information, resources and tools and acting as a key dissemination partner in different projects and initiatives carried out by both Members and EfVET.

One of the highlights in terms of activities is EfVET Annual Conference, bringing together annually over 250 participants from all over Europe and high-level speakers being simultaneously a cornerstone in terms of networking and sharing successful practices from Members with a widescale reach in terms of

impact and dissemination. Accordingly, EfVET has signed the EU Pact for Skills in 2021, Large-Scale Skills Partnership in the Digital Ecosystem in 2022 and the Space Data, Services and Applications Pact for Skills in 2023, and has been a member of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships since 2016.