Berlin, August 5, 2026 – The AREANA Synergy MoU Group (ASMG) held its 5th General Assembly as part of ILA Berlin, bringing together representatives from member organizations to make strategic decisions, expand international cooperation, and define the future direction of the network.
Leadership Confirmed and New Member Welcomed
The assembly was opened by Ron van Manen. Members initially confirmed that the current officeholders would remain in their positions until the next annual in-person meeting. Subsequently, elections for the committees were held. Vera Eichberger was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the General Assembly, while Chris Low unanimously assumed the role of Deputy Speaker. Additionally, members extended the term of Hartwig Hagena as Speaker of the Steering Committee. These elections underscore the members’ confidence in the leadership and future development of the organization.
A significant agenda item was the vote on the DLR Project Management Agency for Aerospace Research’s application for full ASMG membership. The application was unanimously approved by the members, further strengthening the group’s broad technical expertise.
Focus on International Cooperation and Future Projects
During the status report, numerous activities since the last meeting were presented, highlighting a strong emphasis on international collaboration. These included:
- Discussions with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regarding potential membership or other forms of cooperation.
- Coordination with Brazilian partners and funding programs, particularly in the context of Embraer.
- Exchanges with GARTEUR on potential collaboration in strategy alignment.
- Discussions about a possible international synergy project for the development of a new water bomber.
- Opportunities for shared use of research and test infrastructures, especially in the area of icing wind tunnels.
Members emphasized the importance of closer international cooperation to implement future research and development projects more efficiently. The meeting also discussed the next steps for the international JoinED Call 2025/26 and the planned Call 2026/2027 for the following year. The goal is to further expand collaboration between European and global partners and prepare joint innovation projects.
Positive Outlook and Networking Opportunities
The General Assembly concluded with a positive outlook on upcoming activities. Members reaffirmed their shared goal of sustainably promoting innovation, cooperation, and technological excellence in aerospace research. Following the General Assembly, the Embassy of the Netherlands hosted a networking dinner. This provided an excellent platform for exchange between politics, research, and industry from Germany, the Netherlands, and other ASMG partner countries.
