Collaboration and innovation at the heart of sustainable aerospace
Our Aerospace Xelerated team attends the Boeing Innovation Forum in Glasgow and officially launches Cohort 3.
We were delighted to recently take part in the Boeing Innovation Forum, hosted by The Boeing Company and Glasgow International Airport.
Over the course of the two-day event, we had the chance to meet and hear from industry experts in aviation and our partners in Scotland, discussing how to build a sustainable future in UK Aviation and engage the next generation of aerospace leaders.
The first day opened with a keynote address from First Minister Nichola Sturgeon. The First Minister spoke on Boeing and its investment in Scotland through the R&D facility managed by the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland in Inchinnan, and the wider partnership between Boeing and Scotland — Scottish Enterprise in particular.
I was thrilled to chair an important discussion on opportunities to engage startups in accelerating a more sustainable form of aviation. We also got an inside look at the ecoDemonstrator, where we’ve partnered with Alaska Airlines to flight test about 20 technologies on a new 737–9 to enhance the safety and sustainability of air travel.
The highlight for me personally was getting our Aerospace Xelerated portfolio companies together, hearing their perspectives on some of the panels and celebrating their success at our launch party.
Here are my key takeaways from this fantastic event and the many conversations on accelerating innovation for a sustainable future.
Collaborating for success and sustainability
When we talk about sustainability, it’s imperative that we discuss policy and the potential of new technologies and how these elements will shape the future of sustainable aviation.
British Airways’ Head of Sustainability, Carrie Harris, said it best:
“At British Airways, we are determined to continue to lead the industry’s efforts to tackle climate change […] I’m realistic and know we can’t change the way we operate overnight. It will take time and to do so we need the support of our industry partners and effective Government policies”
I believe collaboration will be at the heart of everything we do. I was delighted to host the Opportunities for Startups Panel and discuss the role that innovation will play in unlocking environmental sustainability and how aerospace and aviation sectors can drive this. I was joined by Kerry Sharp, Director of Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise, Dupsy Abiola, Head of Global Innovations at IAG, Dave Hughes, Founder of Scottish-based Novosound, alongside founders from our portfolio teams — Dan White from Signol and Anne Roberts from Aiber.
ecoDemonstrator and working towards Net Zero
Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme accelerates innovation by taking promising technologies out of the lab and testing them in the air to solve real-world challenges for airlines, passengers and the environment.
To date, eight airplanes have already served as flying test beds for the programme, since it began in 2012. Our partnership with Alaska Air will see us flight test around 20 technologies on a new 737–9 where, so far, 1/3 of these have been implemented — including the new the AT winglet on 737 MAX (reducing drag and reducing fuel burn by 5%) — and 1/3 are still in development. It was an amazing opportunity for our industry partners in Scotland to see our partnership with Alaska Air first-hand.
Inspiring young people into aviation
On the second day of the event, we placed a strong emphasis on careers in aerospace and aviation. We shared the skills that the aerospace industry is looking for and how to find roles in the sector. Aerospace doesn’t just mean engineering, Boeing offers careers in areas from finance to IT and data analytics.
The Newton Flight Academy at the Glasgow Science Centre is our latest initiative. The programme will inspire the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to develop the ideas and technologies that will shape the future of a greener, more sustainable aerospace industry.
Hear Nicola Sturgeon talk about this important piece of work at the forum.
We still have a long way to go with diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. At Aerospace Xelerated, we celebrated Ada Lovelace Day last week to recognise the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). We talk about what this day means, why it matters and the team interviewed inspirational female founders and leaders, have a look on our Medium for the spotlights. In a recent interview, I spoke with We Are Tech Women about my own journey, existing career challenges for women in STEM and redefining what working in technology means.
Launching Aerospace Xelerated Cohort 3
Applications for the third Aerospace Xelerated cohort recently launched (and closed!) and we’re excited to be working with the next group of startups developing cutting-edge technology for the aerospace sector. During the Boeing Innovation Forum, we were delighted to have the chance to bring together our portfolio companies. UK-based teams from Cohort 1 and 2 joined us to share their journey since the accelerator programme and celebrate the launch of Cohort 3 — and our new look!
Through our programmes, we want to bring ground-breaking innovation from across industries to the aerospace sector. We believe in the power of collaboration — together, we can bring our knowledge, expertise and resources to the table and accomplish something great.
We’re always looking to hear from potential partners, investors and stakeholders on how we can create the best programme for aerospace startups. If you’d like to have a chat, please get in touch.
You can also learn more about the programme on our website, our FAQ, and take a look at our content on Medium.
Sign up to our mailing list to hear the latest news from the Aerospace Xelerated network, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on LinkedIn.
