The Valencian Community, known for its rich history, vibrant culture and stunning coastline, is emerging as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship in the aerospace sector. This sector is showing significant potential to become a relevant player within the Spanish aerospace landscape.
At the heart of this transformation is the city of Valencia, which is not only the capital of the community, but also the epicenter of a movement that seeks to position the region as a point of reference at national and international level. All this with the support of institutions, universities and research centers, and the collaboration between companies.
The aerospace industry is a strategic sector that represents almost 7% of Spain’s industrial GDP, and from Espai Aero – the first aerospace association of the Valencian Community – is working to ensure that the Valencian Community represents a high percentage of that turnover and contributes significantly to the industrial and technological fabric of the region.
Regional business fabric: aerospace and aeronautics
The Valencian space sector is marked by the presence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) covering a wide range of the value chain. Although each segment has a limited number of companies, this diversity is a potential strength, as it encourages specialization and collaboration.
PLD Space, based in this region, is a clear example of the dynamism of the space sector. The company has secured an investment of €120 million – of which €42 million from the PERTE of a Spanish space launcher, driven by the Government of Spain, which the company won at the end of January 2024. Such investment reflects confidence in its potential to make a significant contribution to the sector. With the successful launch of its Miura 1 rocket and the planning of the Miura 5, PLD Space is positioned as a driving force in the industry, supporting the vision of the Valencian Community to become an aerospace innovation hub.
In terms of the aeronautics sector, the region stands out for its competence in MRO (maintenance, repair and operations). Although there is a notable absence of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 tractor companies (TIER1), the Valencian Region sees a significant opportunity in the UAV/drone sector. With accumulated experience in MRO, Valencian companies are well positioned to take advantage of the growing drone market, especially in commercial and surveillance applications.
Aerospace cluster
In this evolving context of the aerospace industry, Espai Aero – the first aerospace association of the Valencian Community – is born, a clear example of the ambition and collaborative spirit that drives the sector. Its objective is clear: to develop a comprehensive strategy to boost the growth of the aerospace sector in the Valencian Community, working in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, from companies, cross-cutting entities, government agencies to educational institutions and research centers.
Based in the city of Valencia, where most of the entities are located, they have grown from 6 to 20 partners in a single year: 2 startups, 2 universities, 1 public institution, 2 technology centers and 13 companies. Expectations go much further, since in the mapping that they update regularly, there are 80 companies that could contribute to the sector (63% in Valencia).
One of the companies to join this Association has been Deimos Space, an Invest in Valencia success story. The company specializes in a wide range of activities within the aerospace and engineering sector. Its focus ranges from design, project and development to production, construction and assembly of aerospace systems.
The president of Espai Aero and CEO of Comet Ingeniería, Pepe Nieto, highlights the unprecedented growth of SMEs in the space sector in the Valencian Community and the importance of joining as an association to generate synergies and join efforts. This collaboration is key for industrial and technological development, as well as for the creation of high added value employment in the region.
Here is the complete list of partners: NAX, ARKADIA SPACE, COMET INGENIERIA, PLD SPACE, ORBITAL EOS, FENTISS, UPV, UJI, AIDIMME, AIMPLAS, WEITEC, LOGO 2, CALSENS, DEIMOS, FI GROUP, AEROCAS, ABIONICA, URJATO, BOLLORE LOGISTICS, EQUIP ELECTRONICS.
Universities
The universities of the Valencian Community are pillars of knowledge and experience in the aerospace sector. They offer specialized educational programs and host active research groups at the forefront of aerospace technology.
The city of Valencia is home to the School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design (ETSIADI) of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), where the aeronautical engineering degree has been taught since the 2005/2006 academic year. As well as the Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. This institution has been instrumental in the training of a hundred engineers annually, who are contributing to the growth and innovation of the sector.
An outstanding example of active research groups is the UPV’s drone group, which not only contributes to the development of drones in the region, but also drives innovation at a national level.
Valencia also boosts entrepreneurship, and in fact there are already several spin-offs in the sector that have emerged from the UPV, such as fentISS, which specializes in the development of system software for critical real-time systems onboard satellites, and DAS Photonics, which develops products based on photonic technology.
Conclusion
In summary, the Valencian Community, with Valencia at the forefront, is positioning itself as a center of excellence in the aerospace sector. Through education, innovation and collaboration, it is laying the foundations for a bright future in which the sky is not the limit, but the starting point towards new frontiers and opportunities.
