ENAIRE launches the first edition of its Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme aimed at startups

ENAIRE, Spain's national air navigation service provider, through CRIDA, its research and development (R&D) subsidiary, is accepting applications for the first edition of the Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme until June 30.

"This annual competition aims to find startups that solve medium- and long-term business challenges in the field of air transport", notes ENAIRE's CEO, Ángel Luis Arias.

The competition is aimed at newly-created technology companies (maximum of five years on the market).

The two winning companies will implement their solutions in ENAIRE as part of a six-month acceleration programme

Companies that take advantage of business opportunities in any business sector are eligible, provided the scope of the solution is focused on the provision of air traffic/air transport services.

This competition will award a cash prize of 40,000 euros to each of the two winning startups, which will be able to validate their solutions through an acceleration programme at ENAIRE.

Activities involved

The acceleration will take place between October 2023 and March 2024, and involve the following activities:

- Day to present the accelerator.

- Creation of a roadmap to launch a proof of concept, pilot or prototype at ENAIRE.

- Weekly team work meetings via videoconference.

- Access to ENAIRE's facilities and personnel to implement the startup's technology.

- Access to the virtual campus, with 24 modules of content on entrepreneurship.

ENAIRE Open Innovation

The Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme is part of ENAIRE's Open Innovation project. This project just completed the mentoring phase offered to the five finalists of its ideas contest, and it will shortly choose the winning idea for the best business plan.

"With these initiatives, ENAIRE will promote turning entrepreneurial ideas into real projects through the Open Innovation concept, that is, by looking for talent also outside the organisation, such as in universities and among entrepreneurs in the sector", says CRIDA's director, José Miguel de Pablo. 

More info at aceleradora.enaireopeninnovation.com

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, it provides en route control services for all flights and overflights from five control centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Gran Canaria and Palma, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 45 control towers receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is Europe's fourth largest air traffic manager and participates in the A6 Alliance, a coalition of air navigation providers responsible for over 80% of European air traffic, and which is seeking to modernise the air traffic management system. It is also a member of other international alliances promoting the Single European sky, such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO and ICAO.

ENAIRE, as the agency appointed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to implement the U-space system in Spain, will be the provider of the Common Information Services (CIS), which are essential for administering U-space services to drones and Urban Air Mobility, in interaction with local air traffic control services, so that all types of aircraft can fly safely in the same airspace.

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator. It has also been awarded the EFQM 500 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.

In order to allow for these new landing and take-off procedures, ENAIRE has conducted the necessary safety studies, which were duly processed with the National Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).