EUROCONTROL’s Director General Raúl Medina and Giuseppe Acierno, President of the Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale (DTA), have signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement to strengthen collaboration on U-space, UAS Traffic Management (UTM), High-Altitude Operations (HAO) and aviation innovation.
This agreement marks a major step in fostering structured cooperation between EUROCONTROL and DTA, combining EUROCONTROL’s pan-European coordination and technical leadership with DTA’s dynamic ecosystem of aerospace enterprises, research institutions, and test infrastructures in southern Italy.
The partnership will cover the following key areas where EUROCONTROL and DTA will combine their strengths:
- Advancing U-space and UTM integration into the wider ATM system to enable safe, efficient drone operations in increasingly complex airspace.
- Leveraging testbeds, including the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed and Bari Metropolitan Sandbox, to validate cutting-edge technologies and operational concepts and U-space solutions in real-world conditions.
- Promoting high-altitude operations (HAO) and Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) as enablers of future air transport, with a strong focus on safety, scalability and sustainability.
- Driving cross-sectoral innovation by bringing together academia, industry and public authorities to co-develop solutions for emerging ATM and aerospace challenges.
- Supporting talent development and knowledge transfer through internships, training and expert exchanges to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals.
- Strengthening cooperation within the SESAR framework by jointly contributing to European research and innovation projects. This includes advancing U-space services and IAM integration through the validation of SESAR Digital Sky Demonstrators, ensuring that results achieved at local testbeds in Puglia are effectively linked to pan-European initiatives.
“This agreement with DTA reflects EUROCONTROL’s commitment to supporting innovation and operational excellence across the aviation ecosystem. By working together on U-space/IAM, HAO, and smart airport operations — and by consolidating our collaboration within the SESAR programme — we aim to accelerate the deployment of future-ready solutions that benefit the entire ATM network.”
“DTA is proud and honored to partner with EUROCONTROL in shaping the future of aviation. Our joint efforts — both in the context of SESAR projects and through the use of strategic infrastructures such as Grottaglie and Bari — will foster a dynamic environment for experimentation, innovation and international collaboration.”
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About EUROCONTROL
EUROCONTROL is a pan-European civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. Our expertise spans research, development, operations and performance monitoring. We support our Member States and our civil and military stakeholders in a joint effort to make aviation in Europe safer, more efficient, more cost-effective and with a minimal environmental impact.
About DTA
The Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale (DTA) is a non-profit consortium based in Puglia, Italy, bringing together aerospace companies, universities and research centres. DTA promotes innovation and internationalisation through research activities and initiatives such as the Drone Living Lab and the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed.
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