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Lombardia Aerospace Cluster

Lombardia Aerospace Cluster is a recognized association founded in 2009 by 8 companies of the sector and Confindustria Varese (at the time Unione degli Industriali della Provincia di Varese) and today represents the Lombardian aerospace system in its complexity: more than 200 companies for around 21,800 employees, generating around 6.3 billion euros of annual turnover and an export around 1 billion euros. A historic presence to which we must add 4 specialized Universities and 2 specialized Research Centers.
Since the beginning, the Lombardia Aerospace Cluster has worked to realize its vision as a regional aerospace system, aiming to ensure a united and constantly evolving collective identity through national and international networking, innovation and competitive growth . Discover below the active Thematic Areas for the Cluster’s projects, which work alongside the Technical-Scientific Board, which develops an RD long-term strategic vision.

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Lombardia Aerospace Cluster’s positions:

  • President: Paolo Cerabolini, elected in 2025 for the three-year period 2025-2026-2027
  • Cluster Manager: Giulia Fornara
  • Governing Board for the three-year period 2025-2026-2027: Paolo Cerabolini (Thales Alenia Space Italia per Leonardo Div. Spazio), Angelo Vallerani (OHB Italia), Riccardo Mona (Secondo Mona), Tiziana Mantovani (Aerea), Riccardo Busca (Leonardo Div. Aeronautica), Roberto Garavaglia (Leonardo Div. Elicotteri), Paolo Maria Cappello (SEA), Paola Margnini (Confindustria Varese), Giuseppe Sala (Politecnico di Milano), Giovanni Pareschi (INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera), Sabrina Merletti (Merletti), Sabrina Salomone (Italiana Ponti Radio), Massimo Maronati (Grammelot), Tommaso Tirelli (Aidro), Andrea Bellagamba (Thales Italia)
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3 complete production chains

Rotary wing

The Lombardian helicopter sector is composed by specialized SMEs with a high technological and innovative level. They cooperate with medium/large TIER 1 (system assemblers) companies, also active on international markets, and the big players (OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturing) of the supply chain that make a wide range of helicopters: from single-engine light machines to heavy multi-engine vehicles, both for civil and military use.

Fixed wing

Small and medium-sized companies producing components, system assemblers (TIER 1), big players at international level: the Lombardian fixed-wing supply chain produces a complete range of military training aircraft: from single-engine propeller, to mono and twin-engine jets, to integrated systems for advanced pre-operation training.

Space

The space supply chain includes the complete production of satellites with scientific payloads for Earth observation or space exploration. The sector is characterized by the presence of a strong integration of producers with land infrastructure and downstream services.

Our members

TSB and Thematic Areas

Technical-Scientific Board

Statutory unit – Coordinator: Paolo Cerabolini (ad interim)

  • focus on RD
  • paths on industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, space economy, circular economy
  • focus Groups on technological topics

Thematic Areas Coordinator: Carlo Valerio

Supply Chain and Industry

Team Leader: Carlo Valerio (ad interim)

  • knowledge and best practices among members
  • e-scouting platform
  • it develops specific paths that best qualify SMEs in international supply chains: certifications, Lean Manufacturing, KPI, contracts, product insurance…
  • Industrial Performance project

Internationalization

Team Leader: Sabrina Merletti

  • it increases visibility and competitiveness of SMEs on the global market
  • organization of the joined partecipation of Cluster and companies in international airshos and B2Bs

Education and Human Capital

Team Leader: Alba Ciserani

  • it improves the study paths related to the sector with local technical institutes
  • it refines the second level training with local universities
  • it updates the staff of the members through company training

Business Networking

Team Leader: Massimo Maronati

  • it supports SMEs in creating business opportunities with other Clusters’ SMEs
  • organization of Cluster2Cluster events with participation of SMEs from both side
  • developing contacts with cross-sectorial Clusters

Strategy

→ To provide the Lombardian aerospace system with a united, visible and identifiable collective identity, in constant communication with the outside world.

VISION

→ To be the interface with Institutions and third parties about initiatives involving the Cluster as a whole (large companies, SMEs, universities, research centres).

Mission

To stimulate the competitive growth of SMEs through the sharing of technological scenarios, the aggregation and development of shared projects.

To foster innovation, the key feature of the Cluster, and promote support for research programs, especially towards SMEs.

To modernize the supply chain to ensure the competitiveness of SMEs towards major international players.

To promote the productive system and encourage the participation in national and international airshows, in order to increase SMEs’ competitiveness

To support and expand the excellence of the Lombardian aerospace and space industry through the creation of a network of large companies, SMEs, knowledge system and institutional subjects, which can safeguard the knowledge in the region.

To strengthen the role of institutional representative towards Regione Lombardia with regard to industrial, national and European politics in the aerospace sector.

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R&D, knowledge, execution and innovation: the keys to our success

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Headquarter

Headquarter: c/o Confindustria Lombardia
Via Pantano 9
20122 Milan – Italy

Operating Headquarter: c/o Confindustria Varese
Piazza Monte Grappa 5
21100 Varese – Italy

+ 39 0332 251000

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