During the Aerodays in Warsaw earlier this year, the AREANA Synergy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed. What began with seven signatories has since expanded, as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) joined in July 2025, bringing the total to eight ministries and funding programmes representing five European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and the United Kingdom).
The signatories have committed to jointly promote synergies in European aeronautical research, fostering stronger collaboration and alignment between national and European programmes.
The Signatories
- Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur (BMIMI), Vienna, Austria
- Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi), Berlin, Germany
- Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (MinIenW), The Hague, Netherlands
- Autoritatea Națională pentru Cercetare (ANC), Bucharest, Romania
- Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Cranfield, United Kingdom
- Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG), Vienna, Austria
- Stichting Luchtvaart in Transitie (LiT), The Hague, Netherlands
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Swindon, United Kingdom
To ensure effective coordination, the General Assembly (GA) of the signatories has now been established. Ron van Manen (LiT) has been elected as Speaker of the GA, with Vera Eichberger (FFG) as Deputy Speaker. In addition, a Steering Committee (SC) has been formed to handle the day-to-day business and support the recruitment of additional members. The SC is composed of:
- Chris Low (ATI)
- Daniele Mocenco (INCAS, representing ANC)
- Judith Jegers-Boekel (MinIenW)
- Polina Wilhelm (FFG)
- Hartwig Hagena (DLR, representing BMWi) – Speaker of the SC
For further enquiries on the AREANA MoU Signatories and how to join, you may reach out to us by email to [hartwig.hagena@dlr.de] (AREANA Synergies work package leader).
The establishment of these governance structures marks an important step in strengthening cooperation and coordination across Europe’s aeronautical research landscape. The AREANA Synergy MoU continues to build momentum, and further members are expected to join in the months to come.