ENAIRE launches the first edition of its Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme aimed at startups.

ENAIRE, Spain's national air navigation service provider, through CRIDA, its research and development (R&D) subsidiary, is accepting applications for the first edition of the Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme until June 30.

"This annual competition aims to find startups that solve medium- and long-term business challenges in the field of air transport", notes ENAIRE's CEO, Ángel Luis Arias.

The competition is aimed at newly-created technology companies (maximum of five years on the market).

The two winning companies will implement their solutions in ENAIRE as part of a six-month acceleration programme

Companies that take advantage of business opportunities in any business sector are eligible, provided the scope of the solution is focused on the provision of air traffic/air transport services.

This competition will award a cash prize of 40,000 euros to each of the two winning startups, which will be able to validate their solutions through an acceleration programme at ENAIRE.

Activities involved

The acceleration will take place between October 2023 and March 2024, and involve the following activities:

- Day to present the accelerator.

- Creation of a roadmap to launch a proof of concept, pilot or prototype at ENAIRE.

- Weekly team work meetings via videoconference.

- Access to ENAIRE's facilities and personnel to implement the startup's technology.

- Access to the virtual campus, with 24 modules of content on entrepreneurship.

ENAIRE Open Innovation

The Air Traffic Management Acceleration Programme is part of ENAIRE's Open Innovation project. This project just completed the mentoring phase offered to the five finalists of its ideas contest, and it will shortly choose the winning idea for the best business plan.

"With these initiatives, ENAIRE will promote turning entrepreneurial ideas into real projects through the Open Innovation concept, that is, by looking for talent also outside the organisation, such as in universities and among entrepreneurs in the sector", says CRIDA's director, José Miguel de Pablo. 

More info at aceleradora.enaireopeninnovation.com