This is stated in the AIN study on the sector presented at the conference ‘The awakening of an advanced industry’, organised by the Government of Navarre. In this session, it was reported that the specific income linked to aerospace activity in Navarre has increased in just two years (between 2022 and 2024) from 65 to 90 million euros, motivated among other factors by the identification of new companies operating in the sector that have joined the study. This is a growth of 38.5%, which also represents a boost in employment with 300 new jobs, from 370 to 670 workers.
In view of these figures, the Regional Minister for Industry, Ecological Transition and Digital Business, Mikel Irujo, stated at the aforementioned meeting that the region ‘has potential’ in this field, and therefore called for ‘good public-private collaboration to turn this aspiration into a reality’.
He also pointed out that ‘with this data we can clearly start to talk about the configuration of a value chain for the sector in Navarre with component and systems manufacturers; test engineering and specialised services; machine tools and process solutions; new segment operators; data analytics; materials suppliers; O&M infrastructures; technology centres and universities’.
And he considered that ‘in Navarre we are leaders or benchmarks in industries such as automobiles or renewables, with leading companies in mechatronics or advanced engineering. We have a high level of training and technology centres. Therefore, we believe that we have the potential to be able to set up a sector in Navarre. It will depend, not only on the Government, but also on good public-private collaboration, to turn this aspiration into a reality. For our part, we are ready to work hand in hand with you’.
The study, in detail
After the introduction by Irujo and Ros, the head of consultancy of AIN, Jon Ander Crespo, has detailed the report carried out by his entity on the companies that make up the aerospace industry in Navarre. For example, he highlighted that component and systems manufacturers (25%) and test engineering and special services (22%) account for the largest number of Navarrese companies in this industry.
On the other hand, in terms of turnover and employment, the top companies are machine tool and process solutions firms, with 61.4 million euros and 51.5% of the total number of workers in the sector. In second place are test engineering and specialised services, with 5.7 million euros and 17.1% of employment.
At the same time, he highlighted the important R&D&I activity in the sector, which in 2024 allocated 4 million euros to this area. However, he warned that only between 1 % and 1.5 % of companies in Navarre identified within the value chain as Tier 1 or Tier 2 have UNE-EN 9100:2018 certification, a key requirement for OEMs.
As for the region’s position in the aerospace industry, Crespo pointed out that Navarre still lacks a clear specialisation. However, some companies, especially those linked to satellite technology, have achieved greater consolidation, while others, more oriented towards the aeronautical market, continue to focus on the manufacture of parts, components and machinery for aircraft. A situation that he blamed largely on the absence of ‘a great tradition’ and an ‘ecosystem’ made up mainly of SMEs, without specific specialisation and with many operators who do not work exclusively in the aeronautical sector, or who do not have it as their main line of business.
Lines of action
In view of the scenario described, the head of consultancy of AIN demanded as competitiveness factors to reinforce the aerospace fabric of Navarre a greater technological capacity (continuous investment in R&D&I), organisational capacity (support for business growth) and market access (promoting the specific certifications required). To this end, he proposed the creation of a working space that would allow the sector’s companies to share knowledge, address opportunities and establish common objectives, as well as providing them with visibility.
He also defended the need to establish initiatives, synergies and opportunities with other industries in the region, encourage technological entrepreneurship and promote specialised training and talent recruitment programmes.
Jon Ander Crespo also defended the importance of improving market access conditions, supporting the growth in number, size and turnover of companies in the sector, as well as their strategic alignment with the opportunities that may arise from the different national and international development programmes.
With regard to the latter, the conference was attended by the deputy director international affairs Aerospace Valley, Thilo Schönfeld, together with Raúl García, from the department of Multilateral and Dual Technology Programmes of the CDTI’s Innovation Policy Directorate. The former reminded the audience that Europe has 45 aerospace clusters that bring together more than 5,000 companies, 480 research centres and 200 public administrations. ‘In September, Zaragoza will host a meeting of the entire sector, so I invite you to stay tuned, participate, contribute to the discussions and establish channels of collaboration as a means of consolidating the idea of establishing an aerospace cluster in Navarre,’ he said.
Meanwhile, García detailed the different funding programmes for the aeronautical industry promoted by the CDTI.
Value chain
The AIN report details the aerospace value chain in Navarra, consisting of Aena, AIN, Airprona, Alambres Pamplona, Aldakin, Anteral, ATR, AZ Metrology, Bravo Drones, Coherent, Das Nano, Delmon Group, Dinabi, Eosol Aerospace, Falcon, Greentech Factory, Gurpea, Helixnorth, Hidrones, Huntsman, Imeron, Ingerlan, Ingeteam, Loxin, Microlan, MTorres, Naitec, Navardrones, Orbital, Piher, Pyrineum Lumbier, TedCas, Tracasa Global, UNICA, UPNA, Wehl & Partner.
Source: navarra.es