AED Cluster Portugal has launched the Technology Roadmap – Aeronautics in Portugal. This strategic document outlines the vision and key priorities for the sustainable and competitive development of the national aeronautics sector. It addresses the challenges of decarbonisation, digitalisation, and global competitiveness.
The roadmap is the result of an in-depth analysis of Portugal’s aeronautics value chain, assessing the sector’s technological maturity and identifying concrete opportunities for growth and innovation. It sets out clear strategic objectives and proposes a structured plan of actions and investments to position Portugal as a technological benchmark in the European aeronautics landscape.
This initiative contributed to the structuring of the cooperation between Portugal and the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU), formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on 18 March, during the Clean Aviation Annual Forum in Brussels. The signing was attended by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), the National Innovation Agency (ANI), and CAJU.
The AED Roadmap supports the implementation of this European commitment by promoting a more holistic approach to the sector, encompassing all stages of the value chain – from research and development to commercialisation and the training of highly qualified talent.
The document is structured around three main intervention axes:
- Strengthening funding networks and channels.
- Accelerating the transfer of technology to market.
- Attracting and retaining talent in areas such as engineering, electronics, and digital technologies.
It also identifies three priority technological domains:
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
- Sustainable solutions for aeronautics (Aeronautics X for Sustainability).
- Transition from preventive to predictive maintenance, leveraging digital technologies such as the Digital Twin.
The paper further proposes an R&D investment strategy of between 6% and 10% of the sector’s annual turnover over the next five years, intending to double the turnover of the Portuguese aeronautics sector by 2035, thereby enhancing its integration into global value chains.
AED Cluster Portugal thanks ANAC and ANI for their commitment and for valuing the industry’s involvement in this strategic process, which represents a decisive step towards a more sustainable, competitive and innovative future for aviation in Portugal.