This November, the European Aerospace Science Network Association (EASN) and the Airport Regions Conference (ARC) have reaffirmed their cooperation with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming at pursuing joint activities for the development and promotion of mutually beneficial scientific, technological, and organizational advancements in aviation and air transport, particularly in the field of airport operations.
Both EASN and the ARC share a common conviction: the future of aviation depends on stronger collaboration between research, industry, and air transport innovation ecosystems. To advance this, the two associations are dedicated in their commitment to enable active exchange among their members and to stimulate knowledge flow across the aeronautics research community. Their collaboration is structured around several core cooperation pillars:
- Cross-promotion within the research community (including at major fairs, congresses, and international events) towards more global aviation activities.
- Where interests converge, provision of mutual support in position papers, policy statements, and public stances on emerging aviation challenges.
- Organization of thematic sessions and workshops by ARC within the annual EASN Conference Series, highlighting airport-focused research.
- Organization of dedicated workshops, webinars, and thematic knowledge events designed to improve understanding between stakeholders operating at the critical airport interfaces.
- Cooperation in collaborative research and innovation activities, pursuing involvement in European or regional funding initiatives, while also motivating their respective members to engage in bilateral cooperation under shared projects.
- To strengthen communication impact in EU-funded activities involving ARC partners, provision of support by EASN through its dedicated dissemination and outreach channel, the EASN Technology Innovation Services.
As Europe advances toward its most ambitious aviation milestones, this partnership stands as a model for how academic networks and airport research communities can align forces by combining complementary expertise and widening channels for exchange.
The European Aerospace Science Network Association (EASN), officially established in 2008, is an international association based in Brussels, self-funded and self-sustainable, and coordinated and run by a board of directors which is elected by the General Assembly for a 3-year term. Presently, the EASN Association has more than 350 members, including individuals, laboratories, departments and universities, representing a big number of European Universities dealing with Aviation and Space research. The long-term goal of establishing EASN is to build up an open, unique European platform to structure, support and upgrade the activities of the European Universities which are active in aviation and space research, as well as to facilitate them to respond to their key role within the European Aviation and Space research Community in incubating new knowledge and breakthrough technologies. The primary aim of the EASN Association is the advancement of aviation and space science and technologies.
The Airport Regions Conference (ARC) is the association of regional and local authorities with an international airport situated within or near their territories. ARC represents the interest 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 to minimise their environmental impact.