Avio Aero’s E-TDC drives innovation for the future of aerospace in Europe

In early December 2025, Avio Aero hosted the European Technology Development Cluster (E-TDC) All Parties Meeting in Rivalta di Torino. The half-day program brought together the company’s Research & Development network to share successes from ongoing collaborations and projects, and to discuss the future of technology and sustainability in the aviation industry.

This year’s All Parties Meeting has been also an occasion for the new partners who joined the network since 2023 to well introduce them self to the whole network. The event marked the relaunch of Avio Aero’s in-person annual R&T network meeting, following the last edition, which was held online in 2021.

 “The E‑TDC community is one of our engines for disciplined innovation. By leveraging the complementary knowledge and capability of teams, we are able to design and develop innovative technologies supporting the shape of the Future of Flight,” stated Luca Bedon, Head of R&T at Avio Aero

The E-TDC connects researchers with Avio Aero engineers to work together facing technological challenges of the future of flight. This network – launched over 30 years ago as 1:1 collaboration agreement, expanded into a national collaboration network in 2016, and evolved into its current European form in 2020 – is crucial for Avio Aero’s R&D activities, advancing technology and innovation as key drivers of strong market positioning in the competitive aerospace industry. 

Over the years, the E-TDC has grown into an international collaborative model that connects prestigious R&D institutions, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and GE Aerospace European affiliates to solve critical challenges in aircraft propulsion.

“Over the past years, the E-TDC has energized our R&T activities. What started as a national network is now a true European team that brings together outstanding partners from universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research centers - a team that continues to evolve in response to the technological needs of a sustainable and competitive aviation,” added Stefania Migaldi, Research Network Leader

The current E-TDC structure is organized into 10 clusters, each focused on a specific subject area with defined objectives. The goal is to address current challenges and research future needs in the aerospace sector to help Avio Aero and GE Aerospace stay ahead of the curve. Because sustainability has become a central priority for the E-TDC, the Controls & Electrification cluster, for example, was created to reduce environmental impact through innovative control systems and new technologies for aeronautical fluidic and electrical systems. Some of the other clusters are Advanced Manufacturing, Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics, Innovative Repairs, and Digital Transformation, which focuses on high-impact topics such as data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Collaboration is the core principle of the E-TDC - creating opportunities to integrate individual skills and generate greater value for participating partners. What makes this network unique is its focus on talent development and professional growth that benefits partners while addressing real technological needs. For example, the Additive Manufacturing cluster, based at the Turin Additive Lab (TAL), advances 3D printing technologies and processes for aeronautical applications while providing related training to build highly specialized expertise.

As 2025 drew to a close, E-TDC partners are already reflecting on the year’s successes, including the renewal of the founding agreement for the next 5 years and the expansion of the network to include new members, ensuring resources remain aligned with industry needs.