AERA actively participated in the International Defense and Security Fair (FEINDEF) 2025, on May 12, 13, and 14, collaborating with the Government of Aragon, Aragón Exterior (AREX), and the other members of the Aragon Defense Hub to coordinate the presence of 33 Aragonese companies. This participation has served to highlight Aragon’s technological and industrial capacity in the field of defense, as well as to consolidate its position as a key player in the development of dual technologies and public-private collaboration at a national and international level. In addition, other partner companies of the AERA cluster participated with independent stands throughout Halls 10, 8, 6, and 4.

Aragon Strengthens Its Strategic Role in Dual Technologies with Industry Leaders During the 2nd SME Week in Aragon
AERA, the Aeronautics, Space, and Defense Cluster of Aragon, collaborated and organized the Dual Industry Meeting, promoted by the Directorate for SMEs of the Government of Aragon and the Directorate for Innovation and Industrial Promotion, with support from the Aragonese Development Institute (IAF).

Within an increasingly challenging geopolitical landscape, Aragon today hosted a key event that brought together representatives of leading companies, academic institutions, and military authorities to discuss the present and future of the defense industry, cybersecurity, and the opportunities of the dual-use ecosystem in the region.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Ana Sanz, Director of SMEs and the Self-Employed of the Government of Aragon, who emphasized the role of Aragon in SMEs, innovation, industry, and the future, stating:
“That is why we are here today—to build bridges, to generate synergies, and to position Aragon as a land of opportunities in a strategic industry at both national and European levels.”

Next, Alejandro Ibrahim, President of the Aeronautical, Space, and Defense Cluster of Aragon (AERA), highlighted that “the Draghi Report emphasizes the development of SMEs and the global increase in investment, making it essential to strengthen critical supply chains (microelectronics, secure communication systems, AI applied to defense).”
Following that, in the round table “Defense Industry in Aragon”, moderated by Daniel Rey, Director of IAF, the companies Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), ARPA, and INSTALAZA participated, discussing their growth processes through innovation, qualified employment, and technological sovereignty, while addressing challenges such as internationalization and public–private collaboration.

Rafael de Solís, CEO of the Robotics Unit at EM&E, emphasized the growing demand for robotic solutions at the international level and the importance of strengthening ties with Aragonese suppliers. César Fernández, Director of ARPA, highlighted his company’s ability to maintain the highest quality standards, its investment in R&D&I, and its strong customer focus. Luis Ciria, representing INSTALAZA, stressed their dual strategy of reinforcing growth and sustainability while developing more complex and efficient systems.

The event continued with a strategic conversation on the national ecosystem, moderated by Alejandro Ibrahim, Director of Teruel Airport and President of AERA, featuring representatives from the Joint Cyberspace Command (MCCE) and CESTE International Business School. Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Castañeda, from MCCE, shared the vision of MCCE as an integrated cyber defense system that combines military capabilities with civilian and private sector collaboration, highlighting the key role of artificial intelligence in cyber defense. He emphasized the need for education and training to respond to cybersecurity threats, especially in AI, telecommunications, and computing.
Mateo Barrios, ICT Director at CESTE, stressed the importance of adapting university education to real market demands and promoting public–private collaborations for new research systems to attract and retain talent in the region.

The closing session, titled “Dual Ecosystem in Aragon”, was moderated by Inés Villa, Managing Director of AERA. The discussion focused on the opportunities that dual-use technologies offer for the Aragonese industrial network. Representatives from UMEC, EQUIMODAL, and Aragón Photonics shared specific examples of applied innovation in sectors such as precision machining, sustainable logistics, and advanced fiber-optic detection.

Diego Alierta, CEO of UMEC, highlighted Aragon’s role as a strategic industrial hub and explained the scale of traceability and certification in his company, referencing the UNE-EN 9100 aerospace quality standard.
María Domínguez, CEO of EQUIMODAL, described how her company applies innovation and digitalization in the dual logistics field, using lighter materials and new energy, storage, and production systems.
Aitor García, Technical Coordinator of Aragón Photonics, presented the capabilities of DAS technology for monitoring in critical environments and advocated for attracting scientific and technical profiles—especially graduates and PhDs—to the growing and precise dual photonics technology sector.

Special mention was made by Inés Villa, Director of AERA, announcing the General Assembly of the EACP (European Aerospace Cluster Partnership), organized by AERA, which will be held in Zaragoza and Teruel Airport in November 2025, gathering 42 European aerospace clusters from 23 countries.

The event concluded with remarks by Mar Paños, Director of Industrial Promotion and Innovation of the Government of Aragon, who emphasized the importance of the defense sector and the role of the Aragon Defense Hub in this event.

Throughout the day, it became clear that Aragon has the potential to become a forerunner in the dual-use industry. Collaboration among companies, institutions, armed forces, and academic centers stands out as the key to successfully facing the challenges posed by a constantly evolving global environment.

ECO-AERO drives debate on sustainability, innovation, and technology transfer in the aeronautical sector.

This morning, within the framework of the ECO-AERO project, a key conference for the future of the aerospace sector took place, focusing on sustainability, circular economy, and technology transfer as pillars for a greener, more competitive, and resilient industry.

The day began with opening remarks by Dr. Alejandro Ibrahim, President of AERA, who thanked Zaragoza Airport, the Zaragoza Airport Platform (PAE), and the Spanish Association of Technological Defense, Security, Aeronautics, and Space Companies (TEDAE) for their support and collaboration in organizing this event with AERA. “The transformation toward a more sustainable model is no longer an option but a social, environmental, and economic imperative,” stated Dr. Ibrahim.

Next came the round table “Sustainable and Recyclable Materials”, moderated by Andrés Catalán, Secretary General of the Aerospace Technology Platform, addressing the strategic role of low-environmental-impact materials in the sector’s transformation. Berta Gonzalvo, Director of AITIIP Technology Center, highlighted advances in recyclable composite materials and their application to next-generation aircraft, analyzing the technical and regulatory challenges associated with their implementation. The potential of sustainable additive manufacturing was also emphasized as a key tool to achieve ECO-AERO’s sustainability goals. Laura Ogalla, R&D Engineer at FIDAMC (Foundation for the Research, Development, and Application of Composite Materials), outlined the advantages of thermoplastics in meeting the sustainability requirements set by ICAO, noting both their current benefits and the challenges ahead for their consolidation in the aeronautical sector.

The second round table, “Technology Transfer for the Sustainability of the Aeronautical Sector”, moderated by Ricardo López, Airport Director, highlighted the need for close collaboration among companies, technology centers, and administrations. José Moliner, Director of TARMAC AEROSAVE, pointed out that his company is a pioneer in aircraft recycling, stating, “At TARMAC, 94% of an aircraft’s weight is recovered.” They collaborate with various technology centers in multiple research lines to further increase that percentage—an ongoing challenge.
Successful cases and best practices were analyzed in the adoption of sustainable solutions such as energy efficiency, the use of advanced materials, and process improvement. Eduardo Cembrano, Director of Industry and Energy at CIRCE,

highlighted activities carried out at their technology center, such as equipment certification and homologation, and stressed the importance of cybersecurity. Dr. José Luis Núñez, Coordinator of Materials and Components at ITA, discussed how the Technological Institute of Aragon listens to the specific needs of companies and adopts the “test before invest” approach to industrial implementation. Speakers agreed on the importance of accelerating the adoption of these innovations, especially among SMEs that make up a large part of the value chain.

The closing session, “Sustainability: Balancing Needs and Capabilities”, addressed the complexity of advancing toward sustainable aviation without compromising the sector’s technical or economic viability. Participants included Dr. Alejandro Ibrahim, Director of Teruel Airport; Dr. Jesús Arauzo, Director of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Zaragoza; and Pedro Lama, Director of AIR (Aviation International Recycling). All three provided different perspectives on how to reconcile environmental imperatives with the actual capabilities of the aeronautical ecosystem, exploring how to manage the tension between what is desirable and what is possible.

These sessions reaffirm the ECO-AERO project’s commitment to developing a more innovative, sustainable, and cohesive national supply chain, enabling the Spanish aerospace industry to lead the transition toward a new era of aviation.