María Ángeles Martín Prats is a full Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the Higher Technical School of Engineering of the University of Seville (Spain), leading the Avionics research team since 2003.
She is Co-founder, President, and CEO of Skylife Engineering, a spin-off company from the University of Seville, established in May 2011. She has participated in more than 100 industrial and research projects, and to date has been responsible for over 70 aeronautical projects involving technology transfer to industry.
Since 2024, she is serving as representative of European aviation SMEs on the Governing Board of the European Commission's Clean Aviation initiative.
Why is it crucial for European aviation SMEs to participate in R&D consortia (such as Clean Aviation or Horizon Europe), and what main barriers do they face when applying?
Participation in R&D consortia allows SMEs to access cutting-edge technologies, secure non-dilutive funding, and collaborate directly with aerospace giants (Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs). This positions them at the forefront of the transition toward sustainable aviation (e.g., hydrogen and electric propulsion). However, SMEs often struggle with high administrative burden, complex compliance rules, and the long, unpaid timelines required to prepare competitive European proposals, which heavily strain their limited cash flow and human resources.
How are European aerospace SMEs integrated into the aerospace supply chain, and what risks do they face within this structure?
SMEs are the main source of innovation and the backbone of the European aerospace supply chain, generally operating as Tier 2 or 3 suppliers that offer specialized components, advanced materials, and specialized engineering services. While this gives them great agility, it also makes them highly vulnerable to discontinuous work and cash flow disruptions. Due to their position at the bottom of the chain, they must absorb sudden fluctuations in production rates dictated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), often facing long payment terms and intense pressure to reduce margins without the financial backing enjoyed by large corporations.
What are the primary bottlenecks that European aviation SMEs face when trying to scale up, industrialize their innovations, and remain globally competitive?
The transition from a proven prototype (high TRL) to full-scale industrial production is often referred to as the "Valley of Death" for European SMEs. The main bottlenecks include:
- Access to Scale-up Capital: Europe excels at funding early-stage research but lacks sufficient venture capital and industrial growth funds compared to the US, making it hard for SMEs to finance expensive manufacturing facilities and automated machinery.
- Regulatory and Certification Costs: Navigating EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) certification is incredibly slow and expensive, demanding resources that SMEs rarely possess.
- Energy and Talent Costs: High energy prices in Europe and a severe shortage of specialized aerospace engineers limit their ability to compete on price with overseas markets, forcing them to focus strictly on high-value, high-quality differentiation.
How could universities and SMEs benefit from a closer cooperation and what should be done to facilitate such a cooperation?
Closer collaboration between European universities and SMEs fosters a dynamic ecosystem that accelerates regional innovation, strengthens industrial competitiveness, and drives sustainable economic growth. To harness this synergy, universities must proactively develop and promote cutting-edge knowledge that anticipates future market needs, while establishing highly effective engagement tools to seamlessly connect academia with industry. Furthermore, Europe must implement robust mechanisms to scale up and industrialize homegrown technologies, ensuring that pioneering laboratory breakthroughs successfully transition to large-scale production capable of revitalizing and expanding the European aerospace industry. Unlocking this full potential will require policymakers and institutional leaders to urgently streamline bureaucratic funding frameworks, implement standardized intellectual property (IP) models, and realign academic incentives to value knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship on par with traditional research metrics.
Join the discussion at this year’s EASN Conference
We invite you to join the continuous dialogue at our upcoming discussion panel during the 16th EASN International Conference, where leading voices of the European Aerospace sector will gather to exchange on how start-ups operate and how they can contribute to Europe’s sovereignty.