EU-Wide Advantages & Strategic Opportunities

Overview

The call "Support to programme execution on SESAR architecture and on Strategic deployment planning and monitoring" (HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA7-2) is uniquely positioned to leverage the scale, policy coherence and innovation capacity of the European Union. By operating at EU level, beneficiaries can accelerate the transition from R&I results to synchronised, pan-European deployment of Air Traffic Management (ATM) solutions, thus realising the Single European Sky (SES) vision faster and more cost-effectively than national actions could achieve.

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1. Single Market Access (450 + M Consumers & 27 ANSPs)

• Seamless roll–out of Strategic Deployment Objectives (SDOs) across the entire European ATM network removes market fragmentation and enables common operational concepts (e.g. Trajectory-Based Operations, Dynamic Airspace Configuration).

• Harmonised SESAR architecture lowers certification and procurement barriers for technology suppliers, opening a homogeneous market of 27 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), 400+ airports and 500+ airlines.

• Early-mover deployment guidance and updated SESAR Solutions Catalogue help industrial players commercialise interoperable products simultaneously in all Member States, maximising return on investment.

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2. Cross-Border Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange

• Mandatory consortium composition across at least three EU/Associated countries fosters joint work between ANSPs, airlines, airports, manufacturers, standardisation bodies (EUROCAE/EASCG) and research centres.

• Shared architecture modelling framework (AMPL-3 legacy) facilitates common taxonomy and data models, reducing duplication of effort and enabling faster convergence on technical standards.

• Integrated network-wide simulations and cost–benefit analyses provide a realistic, cross-border performance picture that single-state projects cannot replicate.

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3. Alignment with Key EU Policies

• European Green Deal: Optimised trajectories, higher automation levels and dynamic airspace configuration deliver fuel burn reduction (-10 % target for TBO) and CO₂ cuts, supporting Fit-for-55 goals.

• Digital Europe & Europe’s Digital Decade: Project mainstreams digital twins (architecture models), AI-driven automation and cyber-secure CNS/ATM systems.

• Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy: Accelerates SES implementation milestones, directly referenced in the strategy’s flagship #1.

• Open Strategic Autonomy: Strengthens EU leadership in global ATM standardisation (ICAO GANP alignment), reducing dependency on non-EU solutions.

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4. Regulatory Harmonisation Benefits

• Coordination with EASA (EPAS), network managers and European Defence Agency ensures a single, authoritative regulatory baseline—minimising divergent national rules.

• Future Common Project (CP) regulations derived from SESAR architecture give Member States legal certainty and predictable investment cycles.

• Joint monitoring of standardisation (EASCG/EUSCG Rolling Plans) assures timely availability of interoperable standards, lowering certification costs by up to 30 %.

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5. Access to Europe’s Innovation Ecosystem

• Direct interface with SESAR 3 JU, Clean Aviation, Shift2Rail and Eurocontrol’s Innovation Hub widens partner pool and testbed access (e.g. DLR, ONERA, NLR, ENAC).

• Synergies with Horizon Europe clusters (e.g. Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry & Space) allow insertion of enabling technologies such as AI, cyber-security and satellite navigation.

• Use of EU-wide living labs (cross-border FABs, U-space corridors) accelerates validation in real operational contexts.

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6. Funding Synergies

• Connecting Europe Facility (CEF2) & InvestEU can co-finance large-scale deployment of mature SESAR Solutions once the CSA delivers strategic plans and CBAs.

• Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF) national plans earmark digital and green aviation upgrades—aligning with SDO investment pipelines.

• Digital Europe Programme can fund cyber-security and data-space components complementary to the SESAR architecture activities.

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7. EU-Scale Deployment & Impact Potential

• Critical-mass early movers supported by the CSA can trigger network effects; modelling shows that deploying TBO in only 7 core Member States already yields 60 % of the EU-wide delay reduction potential.

• Unified monitoring reports feed into PRB performance scheme, enabling data-driven incentives for all 30+ ECAC states—something national projects cannot institutionalise.

• Global Upscaling: Recognition of European ATM functionalities in ICAO GANP positions EU standards as the de-facto global norm, opening export markets for European industry.

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8. Strategic Value Proposition (Why EU Level?)

1. Economies of Scale: Shared architecture & harmonised regulation cut development and compliance costs for stakeholders in all Member States.

2. Network Performance: ATM benefits (capacity, safety, environmental) are inherently cross-border; isolated deployment offers only marginal gains.

3. Governance Leverage: SESAR 3 JU can convene EASA, Eurocontrol, SDM, industry and workforce representatives—an authority no single country possesses.

4. Global Influence: Coordinated EU voice in ICAO secures alignment of global blocks with European priorities.

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9. Actionable Opportunities for Applicants

• Position your consortium as the architecture modelling Point-of-Contact for several SESAR Solutions, ensuring visibility and influence over future CP regulations.

• Integrate cyber-risk assessment modules into the modelling framework—responding to an explicit scope extension need.

• Offer advanced, network-wide simulation capability (multi-airport, multi-FIR) to enhance CBA depth and credibility.

• Engage professional staff associations early (controllers, pilots, engineers) to secure the expected social acceptance deliverables.

• Map out complementary funding pathways (CEF2, RRF) for each SDO to strengthen the strategic deployment monitoring report and improve success chances.

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10. Conclusion

Leveraging the EU’s integrated market, regulatory harmonisation and unmatched innovation ecosystem, this CSA call provides a springboard for pan-European, synchronised deployment of next-generation ATM solutions. Proposals that maximise cross-border collaboration, align closely with EU Green & Digital priorities and articulate clear synergies with other EU funds will enjoy a decisive competitive edge—and deliver transformational impact that no single-country initiative could match.