Leading European research on sustainability in aviation Technische Universität Braunschweig, Delft University of Technology and ISAE-SUPAERO Toulouse extend cooperation in aviation research
TU Braunschweig, TU Delft and the Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse are among the leading aviation research centres in Europe. Together, the three research centres develop solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future for aviation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has now been signed to strengthen this collaboration. The aim is to work even more closely together in the future to meet the challenges of reducing the environmental impact of air transport and making the industry more sustainable.
Europe has become a leading centre for research and development of sustainable aviation technologies and practices and is actively working towards a greener aviation sector. TU Braunschweig, TU Delft and ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse are three of the most renowned research centres in this field. Europe’s two largest research airports are in Braunschweig and Toulouse. All three locations complement each other perfectly thanks to their respective strengths and specialisations. The close collaboration includes the use of each other’s infrastructure and the exchange of researchers and data.
“Strengthening our European network in aeronautics research is an extremely important step for TU Braunschweig. TU Delft, with the largest aerospace faculty in Europe, and ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse are excellent research partners who, like us, have an excellent network of large-scale research and the aerospace industry at their locations. The special focus of the collaboration on sustainable flight is not only economically and ecologically relevant, but also supports TU Braunschweig in the further development of its research agenda in this area,” says Prof. Peter Hecker, Vice President for Research and Academic Careers at TU Braunschweig.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using alternative fuels and improving the efficiency of aircraft are among the most urgent tasks for making aviation more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Research is also being conducted into how airport infrastructures and air traffic control systems can be optimised in line with a sustainability strategy.
“The Aeronautics Research Centre Niedersachsen (NFL) in Braunschweig and the Cluster of Excellence for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation SE²A bring together leading scientists to jointly tackle the major challenges and gain insights for the entire aviation industry. We are looking forward to further expanding the excellent cooperation with Toulouse and Delft through the MoU and to regularly exchanging views on current issues and developing long-term strategies,” says Prof. Dr. Astrid Lampert, Chair of the NFL Executive Board.
About the partners
TU Braunschweig has a long tradition in aerospace research and, with the Aeronautics Research Centre Niedersachsen (NFL), is one of the leading universities in this field. It is particularly noted for its interdisciplinary research in this field. In the SE²A – Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation cluster of excellence, researchers from the fields of aeronautics, electrical engineering, energy, chemistry and design are working on the reduction of emissions, the reduction of noise pollution, the recyclability of air transport systems and the further development of air traffic management.
The Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) is one of the oldest aeronautical engineering schools in the world and is renowned for its aeronautical expertise. It maintains close partnerships with industrial partners and research organisations around the world. Research areas include air transport systems and management, and aircraft design and technologies.
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft in the Netherlands is the largest of its kind in Europe. The faculty has a strong focus on innovative research and development in aerospace engineering. Since 2020, TU Delft has been collaborating with the NFL at TU Braunschweig. It is also involved in the SE²A cluster of excellence at TU Braunschweig.
The extension of the cooperation to ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse and the close cooperation at European level will contribute to the goal of significantly reducing CO2 emissions in aviation.
