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Highlights from SESAR Innovation Days 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The Engage 2 consortium made a significant impact at the 2025 SESAR Innovation Days (SIDs), held from 1-4 December in Lake Bled, Slovenia. As the flagship event for Europe’s ATM research community, this year’s conference highlighted collaboration as the “secret sauce” behind ATM transformation, a theme that resonates deeply with Engage 2’s mission to bridge the gap between academia and the aviation industry.

Championing young talents

Since 2023, Engage 2 has been dedicated to cultivating young talent in the ATM domain and this commitment was on full display in Bled. The project supported the attendance of three of its seven funded PhD candidates, along with an MSc student who has successfully navigated the sector with the guidance of Engage 2 mentors.

Their presence demonstrated to the wider SESAR community the consortium’s proactive approach to creating opportunities for early-career researchers. By facilitating these connections, Engage 2 continues to foster links between the next generation of innovators and the established aviation industry.

Leadership in technical sessions and expanding the knowledge hub

Beyond supporting students, Engage 2 partners played a central role in the event’s technical programme. Many partners served as moderators for various technical sessions throughout the convention, underscoring the high profile and expertise of the network’s researchers within the European ATM landscape.

During the plenary session, the Engage 2 Coordinator took the stage to highlight the project’s tangible achievements. Key milestones presented included the seven funded PhDs and the series of successful joint events organised across different projects, as well as the continuous popularity of the Wiki, the platform that will host the technical papers from this year’s SIDs edition, alongside archives from previous years. This initiative reinforces the Wiki’s status as a central repository for ATM knowledge, ensuring that the research shared at Lake Bled remains accessible to the community.

Advancing AI in ATM: joint dissemination event

Following the main conference, Slovenian week ended on December 5th with a joint final dissemination event titled “AI-based innovation in ATM: enhancing efficiency, trust and safety.”This event focused on the final results and achievements of four SESAR-supported exploratory research projects (TRUSTY, ASTRA, SynthAIr and CODA-ATC). Bringing together a total of 63 participants (21 onsite and 42 joining online), the session provided a platform to showcase innovations aimed at improving the European ATM network. Attendees engaged directly with project teams to learn about tested AI-based solutions, specifically in enhancing air traffic control efficiency; building operator trust in autonomous and AI-driven systems; ensuring the highest standards of safety in a digitalised airspace.

About SESAR Innovation Days

Hosted by Pipistrel and the University of Ljubljana, the 2025 SESAR Innovation Days brought together 450 leading researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss the future of the Digital European Sky. For more information on the event and its outcomes, visit the SESAR Joint Undertaking news page.

24-25 February 2026, workshop in Athens. Passenger-Centric Digital Airports & Multimodality

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

We are pleased to invite the SESAR community to Athens for a two-day event dedicated to transforming airport operations and enhancing multimodal transport connectivity. Co-organized by Engage 2, FASTNet, JARVIS and AIA – Athens International Airport, which hosts the event celebrating its 25th anniversary, this event will bring together industry experts and SESAR projects to share insights on the “Digital European Sky” vision.

Event details:

  • Date: 24–25 February 2026
  • Location: Sofitel Athens Airport, Greece
Register NOW
Check the brochure with the AGENDA

Day 1: Workshop on Thematic Challenge #2. The first day is dedicated to a deep dive into Thematic Challenge #2: Passenger-centric digital airport. Discussions will revolve around the concept of the data-centric airport, specifically analyzing passenger dynamics and movements within airport premises, and the implementation of virtual queuing systems.

Participants will engage in round-table discussions covering three critical clusters:

  • Passenger Experience
  • Operator Experience
  • Environmental Impact

Day 2: FASTNet Demo & Airport Visit. The second day offers a practical look at emerging solutions. Attendees will witness the FASTNet project demonstration, featuring operational concepts and validation results (Solutions 0346 & 0347). The event will conclude with an exclusive visit to the Athens International Airport, providing a real-world backdrop to our discussions on multimodal integration.

From inspiration to action: Engage 2 fuels the next generation of aviation talent at Aviation 4 Girls 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 was proud to participate in the successful Aviation 4 Girls (A4G) 2025 event, hosted at EUROCONTROL HQ on November 10, 2025.

The event welcomed nearly 200 young participants from over 20 nationalities on-site, with an additional 400+ livestream viewers joining remotely. Through captivating stories, live demonstrations and hands-on workshops, participants discovered the magic and limitless possibilities within aviation. The feedback from the attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many leaving inspired to pursue careers in the industry, a testament to the impact of all the partners involved.

Highlighting future careers and innovation

In collaboration with AviAll – Aviation for All, Engage 2 played a role in showcasing the diverse career paths within ATM and the broader aviation ecosystem. We presented our Job Cards, offering the young audience a tangible look at the wide variety of roles available, helping to break down stereotypes and make the sector more accessible. Furthermore, attendees were given an exclusive first look at the matchmaking app, currently under development. This innovative tool is designed to help connect talent with opportunities, ensuring the next generation of professionals can easily find their place and thrive in the industry. The participation of Engage 2 and AviAll underscores a shared commitment to fostering a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce that will shape the future of aviation.

Engage 2 joins “Aviation for Girls 2025 – Girls in Command”

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

On Monday 10 November, Engage 2 will take part in Aviation for Girls 2025 – Girls in Command, an inspiring event dedicated to encouraging young women to explore careers in aviation organised by AviAll, the association founded in 2021 by Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) practitioners from across the aviation industry, working together to build a more diverse and inclusive sector.. 

As part of our commitment to fostering the next generation of aviation professionals, Engage 2 will bring its Inspirational Tour activity and a selection of Job Cards designed to showcase the wide variety of roles and career paths within Air Traffic Management and aviation.

Through these interactive materials, we aim to break stereotypes, promote inclusion, and empower young women to imagine themselves as future innovators, engineers, controllers, and leaders in the aviation domain.

This participation aligns with Engage 2’s broader mission to connect knowledge, people, and opportunities across the aviation research community, ensuring that the sky of tomorrow is open to everyone.

SESAR-supported projects to host a joint final dissemination event on AI-Based ATM Innovation

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The final results and achievements of the SESAR-supported exploratory research projects TRUSTY, ASTRA, SynthAIr, CODA-ATC, alongside the transversal project Engage 2, will be presented at a joint final dissemination event focused on the application of AI in ATM. Registration is mandatory for both on-site and online attendance, register now.

Agenda

Event information

Date: 5th December 2025

Location: Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia

Time: 9:00 – 14:00 CET

Format: Hybrid (On-site and Online)

The event “AI-based innovation in ATM: enhancing efficiency, trust and safety” will showcase innovations aimed at improving efficiency, trust and safety across the European ATM network. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the project teams and learn about the tested AI-based solutions in areas such as enhancing air traffic control efficiency, building operator trust in autonomous and AI-driven systems and ensuring the highest standards of safety in a digitalised airspace.

This joint event underscores the collaborative effort within the SESAR framework to accelerate the delivery of the Digital European Sky through high-value research and innovation.

The detailed agenda and the online connection details will be distributed to registered participants in the coming weeks.

Engage 2 at EASN International Conference 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The Engage 2 project successfully showcased its efforts in shaping the future of the aviation workforce during the recent EASN International Conference. The project’s participation reinforced its commitment to bridging the gap between academic training and industry requirements through strategic initiatives and collaborative partner efforts.

A key highlight of Engage 2’s presence at the conference was the dedicated presentation of its innovative Job Cards and interactive videos. These resources, which are crucial for defining and communicating the skills needed in the modern aviation sector, were presented thanks to the invaluable support of the SESAR organisation. The Job Cards generated lots of interest, demonstrating a clear demand for structured educational and career development tools within the European aerospace research community.

The second Engage 2 Open day

Beyond the main conference activities, the project partner EASN played an important role in promoting young talent engagement. EASN organised the Second Open Day as part of the Students & Young Researchers Networking Event: Shaping the future workforce of the Aviation Sector. This dedicated networking event provided a dynamic platform for more than 130 participants, including students and young professionals, to connect with leading researchers and industry experts.

The fire-side chat event was orchestrated by Dimitri Mavris and Prajwal Shiva Prakasha, who commenced the event with an inspiring talk on “Navigating a Sky of Opportunities: The Career Journey in Aerospace Real experiences. Real challenges. Real inspiration.” The event, which took place at the glamorous Domo of the Universidad Politécnica De Madrid, and was followed by a networking session with several elite senior professionals in the aerospace sector, who initiated interactive discussions and mentorship opportunities on career options and opportunities. Marcello Kivel Mazuy, representing SESAR JU, specifically acted as a mentor for Engage 2 Open Day during this event, actively engaging with the participating audience, and guiding the young researchers on the pathways that can help in career enhancement within the ATM sector. 

The Open Day event is central to Engage 2’s dissemination strategy, directly fostering the next generation of aviation specialists. 

The success of the Open Day was warmly received by the attendees. Reflecting on the event’s importance, Marcello Kivel Mazuy – RTD and Innovation Manager at SESAR – stated: It was an honour and a burden for me! Guiding and mentoring the next generation of aeronautic experts was a great challenge because we will rely on their passion and work. This is what I told to all… be yourself, enjoy your work, and live with passion each single day! This is what will really change our lives! Your energy and engagement! I will always be your best fan! Enjoy the future, it’s yours!

The comprehensive participation in the EASN International Conference marked a significant milestone for the Engage 2 project, strengthening its outreach and underscoring the critical role it plays in advancing aviation skills and competence across Europe.

A week of learning and collaboration in Braunschweig

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The second edition of the Engage 2 Summer School took place from 22 to 26 September 2025 in Braunschweig, Germany, hosted by Technische Universität Braunschweig. The event gathered 20 participants from across Europe, selected from 41 expressions of interest, to explore key research themes in ATM and foster collaboration among early-career researchers and professionals.

According to Thomas Feuerle, responsible for the organisation of the event: The Engage 2 Summer School 2025 in Braunschweig went very well from my perspective. We had more than 20 participants from all over Europe. The spirit was very open and we had many good discussions, not only after the presentations, but also within the different breaks or at the social event. The broad bandwidth of presentations clearly showed the complexity of the ATM system. I am very happy with the five intensive days, with the quality of the presentations, the engagement of the participants and the feedback I received so far.

The programme combined lectures from leading institutions – including TU Delft, the University of Trieste, the University of Westminster, TU Braunschweig, and EUROCONTROL – with presentations from PhD candidates, six of whom are directly involved in Engage 2. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from modelling and simulation techniques to system-level challenges in ATM research.

Feedback collected from participants confirmed the high quality of the event’s content and organisation. The majority rated the overall experience, communication, and logistics between 4 and 5 out of 5, describing the Summer School as a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and build networks across the ATM research community. Participants particularly appreciated the diversity of topics and the openness of discussions, noting that the format encouraged active interaction and peer learning. Many expressed interest in attending future editions, highlighting the Summer School as a key event for knowledge sharing and professional growth in the field of ATM research.

Suggestions for future improvement included dedicating more time to hands-on sessions and practical case studies, alongside the existing mix of lectures and PhD presentations. The Summer School once again demonstrated Engage 2’s commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers and strengthening the links between academia, industry, and institutional stakeholders in the SESAR research framework.

Engage 2 at the15th EASN International Conference with the second Open day on the 16th October

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 will partecipate in the forthcoming 15th EASN International Conference. This high-profile event is a gathering for experts, researchers, industry leaders, academics and policymakers from around the world, and this year is set to feature a significant ATM presence.

Thanks to the direct involvement of our partner, EASN, this conference will be the setting of the second Open Day, as part of the Students & Young Researchers Networking event, on “Shaping the future workforce of the Aviation Sector”.

The event will serve as a strategic opportunity to reach a wide audience of early-career professionals and students. The session, which will take place on October 16, will involve approximately 100 students, organised into small groups (5–10 participants each), engaging with 10–15 expert mentors from various sectors of the aerospace domain. These mentors, drawn from both academia and industry, will deliver brief, impactful talks and facilitate informal discussions to highlight diverse career paths, with a particular emphasis on ATM and Airport operations. The day will conclude with a relaxed networking event designed to promote further exchanges.

Furthermore, Engage 2 is proud to be one of the projects showcased at the SESAR booth. We will be sharing key materials and insights, such as our job cards, videos, and other valuable resources, demonstrating our impact on the aviation sector.

Engage 2 Summer School 2025 – Registration now open

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Registrations are now open for the second edition of the Engage 2 Summer School, taking place from 22 to 26 September 2025 in Braunschweig, Germany. This training opportunity is designed for PhD students, early-career researchers and young professionals working in or studying ATM.

After a successful first edition in Belgrade, the 2025 Summer School will focus on key topics in ATM modelling and simulation, with expert-led sessions and hands-on activities.

For more information, visit the Wiki.

How to register

Link to registration form: https://forms.gle/8wxSydq6HhvYiV4z5

Deadline: 31 July 2025, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Participation is free of charge, but places are limited.

Please note: submitting the registration form is not a final confirmation of participation. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Engage 2 PhD students are guaranteed admission.

What you will learn

Participants will explore a range of cutting-edge tools, methods, and applications, including

  • Agent-based fast time simulation in ATM
  • Mathematical programming techniques for modelling air traffic
  • Mercury simulation tool
  • BlueSky simulation tool
  • How synthetic data can support airline disruption management
  • Event-driven airport simulation

This Summer School provides a unique platform to enhance your technical skills, expand your professional network and engage with the European ATM research community.

Engage 2 at Airspace World 2025: inspiring aviation careers

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 took an active role at Airspace World 2025, held in Lisbon by contributing to the second edition of Tomorrow’s Voices, an initiative led by CANSO in collaboration with Engage 2 and Firstfruits Services. The programme is designed to bring young professionals aged 20 to 30 closer to the world of Air Traffic Management (ATM), offering them direct exposure to the sector, opportunities for dialogue with industry representatives and insights into the future of airspace management.

Thematic workshop. The future workforce in the Era of new entrants

A central moment of Engage 2’s participation was the first thematic workshop titled The Future Workforce in the Era of New Entrants. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities related to the integration of new airspace users, such as drones and advanced air mobility solutions, into the ATM ecosystem. The workshop highlighted the growing need for new interdisciplinary roles, such as architects specialised in urban drone operations and urban planners familiar with U-space design. Participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds engaged in open discussions, with younger attendees in particular pointing out a disconnect between academic training and practical industry needs. Many expressed the need for more hands-on learning and support in navigating the technical language commonly used in aviation.

Panel discussion: exploring career pathways in the evolving aerospace industry

The following day, on 15 May, Engage 2 contributed to the panel Exploring Career Pathways in the Evolving Aerospace Industry”, moderated by Micol Biscotto (Deep Blue, coordinator of the project). The panel brought together experts from leading organisations across the aviation and aerospace sectors – George Vergara (RTX), Snežana Tomčić (AviAll – Aviation for All), Nicola Ni Riada (IFATCA), Romulo Gallegos (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Sabina Zaharescu (CINEA) and Sue Meeks (Infina, Ltd) – who explored the skills required for the future, emerging roles and how to build a meaningful career in a rapidly evolving landscape. One key insight that emerged was the demographic shift currently underway: with a significant portion of the ATM workforce approaching retirement, the sector is at risk of losing valuable mentorship capacity. In this context, Engage 2’s mission to connect junior and senior professionals becomes even more vital, helping ensure that knowledge and experience continue to be passed on to the next generation.

Inspirational Tours: a guided journey through the aviation professions

Among the most engaging activities of the event were the Inspirational Tours, a new format developed by Engage 2 to guide young participants through thematic routes across selected exhibitor stands. Each tour focused on key professional profiles in aviation, including air traffic controllers, AI engineers, cybersecurity experts and U-space service providers. The tours offered an accessible and tangible introduction to both traditional and emerging roles within the sector, with particular attention to future-focused domains such as drone integration and advanced air mobility. Accompanied by a dedicated Career Passport, participants were invited to collect stamps at each stop and take part in short, structured conversations with industry experts. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and plans are already in motion to refine and expand the format for upcoming editions.

Engage 2’s presence at Airspace World 2025 reaffirms its commitment to supporting the future of aviation by facilitating meaningful connections, inspiring curiosity and bridging the gap between today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders in airspace innovation.