New call for operational challenges for our user-driven innovation projects

These innovation projects aim at solving 'Operational Challenges' defined by our operational stakeholders, such as airspace users, air navigation services providers (ANSPs), airports. We aim to improve the way we serve and connect with our operational partners by working closer with them to develop agile, digital solutions and services that address their real needs.

Solutions will be developed through an agile innovation cycle based on selected stakeholder operational challenges/needs.

Call for operational challenges/needs

Any European aviation stakeholder delivering operational services can prepare and pitch an idea for an innovation project responding to the operational challenge.

The ideas will be presented in a dedicated pitch session. They will be first prioritised among the stakeholders and then assessed for feasibility, desirability and viability by a committee of EUROCONTROL experts.

Pitch presentations should cover the following sections (not exceeding four slides):

• Problem description: please provide a short description of the operational challenges/needs proposed to be solved, when possible, including stakeholders involved, the applicability and relevance of the problem to more than one stakeholder and geographical location, current practices and the flow of data and goods as relevant.
• Expected benefits: please provide a qualitative estimate of the benefits expected from solving the operational challenges/needs.
• Previous and related work: please summarise when possible, what has been done already or related ongoing initiatives to address the operational challenges/needs if any.
• Applicant's contribution: please state the resources your organisation is willing to contribute to the project (data, software, manpower). A minimum of one-person month operational expertise involvement will be required.
• IPR & confidentiality: please state any constraints concerning intellectual property rights and confidentiality. Note that any prototype developed by EUROCONTROL will be public domain.

Submissions should be provided via a set of slides (max four slides). Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit proposals at least one week before each planned pitch session in order to have the opportunity to present it to other operational stakeholders and to EUROCONTROL expert panel.

Funding and duration

EUROCONTROL is developing the prototype. However, the applicant organisation is encouraged to complement the EUROCONTROL team's resources with their own. The involvement of other R&D organisations and manufacturers for non-funded collaboration will be looked upon favourably.

Innovation projects apply an agile approach with a view to shorten innovation cycles; therefore, projects are scheduled for six to maximum twelve months followed by a go/no-go decision for handover to industrialisation.

Deadlines

Proposals for Operational Challenges/Needs should be submitted by email by 11 September.

The pitch sessions will take place in September 2026.

All pitch sessions will be virtual (MS Teams) and registration is required!

Prepare your proposal now & do not miss this great opportunity.

If you would like to discuss your idea prior to the submission, get in touch with the EATIN team as soon as possible.

Submit your proposal!