Engage 2 Insight Trajectory, a high-impact game designed to transform how students and young professionals experience, will take place at Airspace World on Thursday 28th May. Moving beyond traditional event tours, this career-strategy experience challenges participants with structured professional engagement.
Equipped with a Future Track Map, participants will step into the shoes of a career investigator. The goal is to navigate the exhibition floor to engage with industry experts in four key roles: Cybersecurity specialist, AI specialist, UAS Operations, and Airspace Management& Design Specialist.
The Engage 2 project successfully completed its third Open Day last week in Belgrade, marking another milestone in introducing students to the vast career landscape of ATM. Held as part of the“Transport and Traffic Business Days” (TTBD) organized by the Students’ Association of the University of Belgrade, the event fostered high levels of engagement and curiosity among the next generation of transport professionals.
Exploring the ATM career universe
On 22 April, the Engage 2 stand became a hub of activity. Students from the Department of Air Transport and Traffic, ranging from first-year undergraduates to Master’s level students, joined by peers from Logistics and Road transport departments, explored the diversity of roles within the sector. The interactive setup allowed participants to engage with project videos and detailed Job Cards, complete a digital survey to match their skills with one of the four Engage 2 job categories and take part in an “on-the-spot” ranking activity to visualize which specific roles resonated most with them.
Over 30 students completed the survey, with many others contributing to the visual ranking board. The results showed a spread of interests across the four pillars of the project:
Operational: high interest was noted in traditional and emerging roles like Air Traffic Controller and Remote Tower Operator.
Human-Centered: roles such as UX Researcher and HMI Designer saw significant engagement.
Regulatory & Planning: students showed a keen interest in Airspace Management & Design.
Technical & Innovative: the field remains a strong draw for those looking toward the digital future of aviation.
UUU
Sky Roles: learning through play
The activity continued on 23 April with the interactive workshop “Sky Roles: The Guessing Challenge” More than 20 students participated in this fast-paced quiz, using clues to identify various ATM roles mapped by the project. The session was defined by a fun and competitive atmosphere, proving that gamified learning is an effective tool for demystifying complex career paths.
The two events not only met their objectives of collecting structured insights for project reporting but also succeeded in their core mission: encouraging students to reflect on their potential future in the ATM world.
A huge thank you to the University of Belgrade and all the students who brought such energy and insight to our stand.
As the aviation industry undergoes a period of unprecedented transformation, from the integration of U-space to the push for total decarbonisation, the need for fresh perspectives has never been greater. For many years, Engage 2 has collaborated closely with CANSO to bridge the gap between today’s industry leaders and the next generation of talent.
Tomorrow’s Voices is more than just a visit to a trade show; it is a gateway to a career in aviation. Registrations are now officially open. If you are a student or a young professional eager to define the future of our skies, we want to hear from you.
We are delighted to invite students and young professionals (aged 20–30) to join us in Lisbon from 26–28 May 2026 for a unique immersive experience.
A cornerstone of the Engage 2 contribution, the Inspirational Tours, will return this year in a reimagined format. Moving beyond traditional exhibition walks, the 2026 tours are designed to be more interactive and thematic. Participants will not only observe cutting-edge technologies but will engage in direct dialogue with the experts and visionaries behind them, exploring how research is being translated into real-world operational solutions.
Stay tuned to the Engage 2 website and our social media channels for further updates on the full programme and speaker line-up.
The Engage 2 project recently delivered a workshop held on 24–25 February 2026 at the Sofitel Athens Airport, Greece. Co-organized with FASTNet, JARVIS and Athens International Airport (AIA) – which hosted the event as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations – the workshop gathered a diverse ecosystem of 80 registered participants from an initial pool of 120 applicants.
The high turnout reflected a rich variety of perspectives, bringing together airportoperators, aviation industrytech providers, researchers, European institutions and innovation consultancies to discuss the “Digital European Sky” vision.
Deep dive into the Passenger-Centric Digital Airport
The first day focused on Thematic Challenge #2: Passenger-centric digital airport. Discussions centered on the evolution toward data-centric operations, analyzing passenger dynamics within terminals and the implementation of virtual queuing systems.
Through structured round-table discussions, participants addressed three critical clusters. Drawing from the workshop’s synthesis.
Shift toward passenger-centricity
The conversation centered on a fundamental shift from operator-driven processes to a model that prioritizes the passenger at every step. Currently, the journey is often marred by fragmentation and a lack of integrated visibility across different transport modes. Participants noted that travelers face significant stress due to unreliable delay predictions and the anxiety of tight transfers.
To counter this, the vision of a travel companion app gained strong support: a digital tool capable of monitoring the entire multimodal itinerary and offering real-time rebooking. The goal is to provide a seamless experience defined by reliability and simplicity, ideally through a single ticket and one accountable system.
Empowering the operator in a multimodal world
As the system grows more complex, the experience of the operator is also evolving. The workshop highlighted that improving this experience is not just about deploying AI, but about a holistic socio-technical transformation. Operators today face the challenge of coordinating across disparate modes (air, rail and maritime) often hindered by siloed data and limited trust between stakeholders.Experts agreed that higher levels of automation do not actually reduce the need for expertise; instead, they increase the demand for high-level decision-making and data literacy. For AI to be a true enabler, systems must offer transparency, clear confidence indicators and robust fallback procedures to build calibrated trust over time.
Data governance and the environmental horizon
Bridging these two experiences is the critical role of data, which serves as both a primary enabler and a significant constraint. While data sharing is crucial for managing disruptions and optimizing capacity, it is currently slowed by legal hurdles like GDPR, cybersecurity risks and unclear liability frameworks.
Beyond the digital infrastructure, the Environmental Impact cluster reminded participants that the future airport must balance commercial interests with sustainability. This requires moving from transactional relationships topartnership models that can support long-term resilience and a Digital European Sky that respects both the passenger and the planet.
Airport site visit and practical validations
Day 2 provided participants with a practical, hands-on experience focused on emerging solutions. This included a demonstration of the FASTNet project, where its operational concepts and validated results were showcased.
The event ended with an exclusive visit to Athens International Airport, providing a real-world backdrop to the discussions on multimodal integration and celebrating the airport’s 25 years of operational excellence.
As the aviation industry gathers in Geneva from 2-4 June for the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE 2026), Engage 2 will be at the forefront of the conversation regarding the evolution of the sector’s workforce. And there’s more: day 3 of the convention (4 June) will offer complimentary passes for students. This is a huge opportunity for students to visit the exhibition, engage with experts, experience the unique EBACE environment and get to know better this very special Business Aviation world.
How to claim your free student pass
To secure your registration code, please follow these steps:
As the SESAR 3 Knowledge Transfer Network, Engage 2 remains committed to driving excellence in ATM research. We are pleased to outline our strategic calendar for 2026, featuring a series of high-level events designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, support the next generation of aviation professionals, and foster technical innovation across Europe.
Advancing transport research: TRA2026
The spring season will commence in Lisbon at the Transport Research Arena (TRA2026), taking place from 18 to 21 April 2026. As a cornerstone of European transport dialogue, TRA2026 provides an essential platform for Engage 2 to contribute to discussions on the digitalisation and decarbonisation of the aviation sector. We invite stakeholders to join us in exploring how our network’s research outputs are shaping the future of European mobility.
Local engagement: Belgrade Open Day
On 22 and 23 April 2026, Engage 2 will host an Open Day in Belgrade. This event is specifically designed to bridge the gap between education and industry, offering high school and university students a unique window into the future of aviation and ATM professions. Through interactive sessions and expert guidance, we aim to showcase the evolving career paths that will define the sector in the decades to come. Specific venue details and the full agenda will be published shortly.
Empowering the next generation at Airspace World 2026
From 26 to 28 May 2026, our focus shifts to Lisbon for Airspace World. We are happy to confirm the return of Tomorrow’s Voices, the programme dedicated to young professionals and students. Central to this initiative will be a new series of Inspirational Tours, offering participants curated access to industry pioneers and cutting-edge technologies. This programme remains a vital link between academic study and professional career paths in ATM.
Collaborative innovation: Hackathon #2 in Zagreb
In the final quarter of the year, Engage 2 will lead a technical Hackathon in Zagreb on 20 and 21 October 2026. This is a joint event organised in collaboration with the DIALOG and AWARE projects. By pooling expertise across different SESAR initiatives, the hackathon aims to solve complex operational problems through rapid prototyping and collaborative coding. It represents a unique opportunity for data scientists and ATM experts to work at the intersection of various research domains.
We are excited to introduce the testing version of the Engage 2 Ma tchmaking App, a dedicated community designed for everyone who wants to explore and learn about the aviation world. Whether you are a student, an enthusiast, or a professional, this platform offers a focused environment where information is clear and networking feels purposeful.
The app brings together tools to help you connect and explore. It allows you to discover aviation-focused content and connect with others through interest-based matches.
Any feedback? Fill this form and tell us about your experience!
What you can do
Connect through Matches: Find people with similar aviation interests or goals and start meaningful conversations.
Explore Companies & Universities: Access official profiles to discover industry insights, view academic programs, and connect with verified representatives.
See Relevant Content: Filter your feed to see posts connected specifically to your focus areas.
Collaborate & Grow: Share experiences, ask questions, and engage with a community built around aviation knowledge.
Whether you are preparing for a career, exploring study options, or expanding your network, this platform helps you stay connected to the heart of aviation.
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 nationalitieson-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.
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.
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.
