Public-Private Partnerships Overwhelmingly Favored By Conference Participants

During ILA Berlin on September 12th, the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking and the European Commission jointly held an Industry Consultation about the extension of Clean Sky under Horizon 2020. Gathering around 120 representatives and stakeholders from across the aerospace industry, it provided an excellent forum for discussion and attendees had the opportunity to get a better insight about the progress and current proposal on Clean Sky 2.

This consultation followed the review performed by a blue-ribbon panel tasked on behalf of the European Commission to examine the Preliminary Program Outline submitted to the Commission by the industrial parties currently actively building a detailed proposal for a Clean Sky 2. Alongside the Stakeholder Event and the Panel review, the third core ingredient necessary in the evaluation of the case for a renewed Aeronautics JTI was a Public Consultation, launched early July and closed on October 4th. This results of this web-based open consultation, in the form of a questionnaire, are very encouraging.

Of the respondents, 95% considered it appropriate to set up a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Aeronautics under Horizon 2020. Most of the participants agree (39%) or strongly agree (50%) with the fact that the PPP in aeronautical research should focus on large-scale demonstration of promising new technologies. In addition, the majority of the respondents (41% favourable and 33% very favourable) are in support of the use of a dedicated ‘vehicle’ or Joint Undertaking with a lean and light administrative approach to executing the program. The overall conclusion of the public consultation is therefore resoundingly positive with respect to the proposed approach of a new aeronautical JTI program – i.e. Clean Sky 2, under the management of an efficient and purpose-driven entity such as the JU.

FMI: www.cleansky.eu