Celebrating the Culmination of Airbus Defence and Space’s Combat Cloud Accelerator, Powered by Starburst

Celebrating The Culmination of Airbus Defence and Space’s Combat Cloud Accelerator, Powered by Starburst

Taufkirchen, Germany (October 23rd, 2024) – The successful conclusion of the Airbus Defence and Space Combat Cloud Accelerator, powered by Starburst, marks a significant milestone in advancing cutting-edge solutions for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). As the programme drew to a close, we gathered to celebrate.

During the event, we had the privilege of hearing from two distinguished speakers, Ramón Sirgado Pérez, FCAS Technical Manager and Florian Hahn, Member of the German Parliament, who shared their valuable insights on the future of defense technology and the challenges and opportunities ahead for innovators in the dual-use space. Their perspectives inspired attendees and emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration between startups and established industry players to address the complex needs of the future combat environment.

Lukas Oberhofer, Harald Mannheim, Florian Hahn and Ramón Sirgado Pérez.

A special highlight of the event was the engaging panel discussion on “The Role of Startup Innovation in Future Defense.” Harald Mannheim (Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space GmbH and Head of Defence Digital and Cyber), Prof. Dr. Christian Baccarella (Professor for Innovation Management at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich), Dr. Christian Reitberger (Partner at Matterwave Ventures) and Dr.-Ing. Onur Deniz (CEO of NeuralAgent) explored how startups are uniquely positioned to drive technological advancements in defense by developing agile, scalable, and innovative solutions. The conversation underscored the critical role that innovation plays in maintaining a technological edge in defense systems and strategies.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our distinguished speakers and panelists for their thoughtful contributions to the event, as well as to all the participants who joined us for this special occasion. Together, we are shaping the future of defense through innovation and collaboration.

This closing event is not just the end of the accelerator program, but the beginning of a new era in defense technology, with limitless possibilities on the horizon for dual-use applications. We look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of these startups as they make their mark on the future of defense and beyond.

A special mention goes to all the people that made this initiative a success – especially our partner Airbus Defence and Space for the enthusiastic engagement in this collaboration.

Our team is proud to help Airbus Defence and Space bring disruptive technologies into the Combat Cloud, ensuring seamless connectivity and enhanced capabilities for the future of European defense operations.

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About Starburst 

Founded in 2012, Starburst is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry. Combining three complementary activities–startup accelerators, strategy consulting, and venture investments–they help A&D stakeholders innovate, navigate and invest in the dynamic ecosystem. With offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Madrid, and Washington D.C., the team has built a robust community with 60+ partners and a portfolio of 140+ startups. Starburst’s leading Flagship Accelerator program helps startups scale their business in aviation, space, and defense, as well as enabling technologies, with access to one of the largest groups of corporate representatives, government stakeholders, and private investors in the world to help startups win their first contracts. More information about Starburst can be found at www.starburst.aero.

About Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group, responsible for defense and aerospace products and services. The company designs, develops, and manufactures military aircraft, space systems, and related systems and services. More information about Airbus Defence and Space can be found at www.airbus.com/en.

Media Contact:

Cécile Josse – cecile@starburst.aero

Marketing Manager, Starburst