Fact Finding Mission Nantes

The NAG Invites all members to join the fact-finding mission to Nantes & St. Nazaire from 21 to 23 September. The mission is part of the PIB Dutch ACES. You can join the mission and the rest of the PIB programme. 

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Are you active in the field of aviation and engaged in research, development or production aimed at new sustainable aircraft technology? And do you want to join forces with the French aeronautics sector and learn more about business opportunities? Then join the Fact-Finding Sustainable Aviation Mission to Nantes Saint Nazaire, France. This mission is part of the PIB Dutch ACES.

Central to this mission is to meet the stakeholders in this sector in the Nantes Saint Nazaire region and to explore cooperation in business, R&D and production of the aircraft of the future.

For whom?
For all companies, entrepreneurs and R&D organizations that are active in the field of sustainable aviation. The mission mainly focuses on R&D managers, business development managers, CTOs and CEOs of interested companies (SMEs and large companies) and knowledge institutions.

Why Nantes Saint Nazaire?
Nantes Saint Nazaire is the second largest hub of Airbus in France, specializing in core structural components and fuselage assembly. In the region you will find 2 production sites of Airbus, the recently created Airbus Innovation Center / Sustainability Hub and companies such as Airbus Atlantique (ex-Stelia), Daher, Cetim and an ecosystem of SME’s, techno centers and innovation centers.

Nantes Saint Nazaire is the composites material hub for aviation in France specializing in advances composites materials for aerospace and working on sustainable composites materials with the presence of the Technocampus Bouguenais with Jules Verne IRT and its technology platforms (Composites Technocampus, Smart Factory Technocampus, Ocean Technocampus, the Fabmake) and the EMC2 Competitiveness cluster.

Goals
Dutch industry and knowledge institutions must continue to secure a place in the sustainable future of aviation. This sustainable aviation fact finding mission contributes to the development and expansion of knowledge and business opportunities for Dutch companies and R&D institutes.

During the visit to Nantes Saint Nazaire the goals are to:

• Explore the theme of sustainable aviation in Western France
• Identify shared industrial challenges and concrete projects
• Boost innovation and business links between the industries and research centers of Nantes Saint-Nazaire and The Netherlands
• Strengthen cooperation with the local innovation and business ecosystem

Background
With its economic recovery and investment plan 'France Relance' and strategic industry plan 'France 2030', the French government wants to support public-private partnerships in breakthrough innovations involving the entire value chain: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), SMEs, and knowledge institutions. By stimulating innovation, the French government aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, more digital and more competitive industry. The aerospace sector is one of the key sectors in these plans. These French ambitions are in line with the ambitions of the Dutch Aviation Policy Document and the Sustainable Aviation Table in the Netherlands.

Concept program
The mission program is still under development. We try to take into account the specific wishes of the participants as much as possible when determining the final program.

Concept program/activities:

Day 1 - Nantes
- Flight from Amsterdam to Nantes
- Visit of Technocampus Bouguenais (Technocenter Airbus, Cetim, Loir etech)
- Official dinner

Day 2 – Saint Nazaire
- Visit Airbus St Nazaire or Stelia Airbus
- Visit Spirit or GE Wind (circular composites material project)
- Networking event

Day 3 – Nantes
- Visit Daher
- Visit IRT Jules Verne
- Return flight to Amterdam

Costs
The costs for participating in the Fact-Finding Mission are €750 excluding VAT per person.

This includes: participation in the collective program, transfers to and from program components, lunch and dinners if stated in the program.

Participation excludes: travel and accommodation costs, all individual costs.

Participation
Would you like to participate in this Fact-Finding Mission? Then register before September 5th, 2022 via the online registration form.

The mission is small-scale with a maximum of 20 participants (excluding organization). Final participation depends on the number of places available. We also look at how well your technology fits within the substantive focus and purpose of this mission. Your registration and the automatic confirmation of receipt therefore do not mean that you have been automatically admitted. You will receive a final confirmation of your participation after the registration period has closed.

Knowing more?
Do you have any questions about this Fact-Finding mission? Please contact:

Liselotte Zoetmulder - Netherlands Aerospace Group
Liselotte.Zoetmulder@nag.aero

Maret Reinders – NBSO Nantes
m.reinders@nbso-nantes.fr

COVID-19 clause
There is currently no travel advice in the field of Covid within the EU. If the situation changes substantially in the next 2 months, the organization reserves the right to cancel the mission.

In addition, this fact-finding mission is part of a multi-annual program organized by RVO, the Embassy of the Netherlands in France, NAG and NBSO Nantes to develop innovation and business relations between the Netherlands and France in sustainable aviation. It is a follow-up of the Innovation Mission to Toulouse beginning of July, 2022. Also, part of the program is the bilateral (summit) conference “Erasmus-Descartes” in November 24, 2022 and in June 2023 a mission to the Paris Airshow Le Bourget.