LiT - Newsletter #33

12-08-2026

LiT Newsletter #33

In this edition of the newsletter, we look back at the Farnborough International Airshow, where sustainability, defence and digitalisation are increasingly converging and creating opportunities for the Dutch aviation sector.

We also welcome Jolanda Stevens as a new member of the Advisory Board and Tim van der Ent as a new colleague in the Programme Office. We highlight the collaboration between LiT partner PhotonFirst and Curtiss-Wright and look back at the successful completion of the Flying Vision Accelerator LDE Thesis Lab. We also look ahead: register for the Aerospace Innovation Hub DEMOday, share your ideas during the next FVA Think Tank and book a one-to-one meeting with a grant/subsidy expert at the LiT Aero Conference '26.

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LiT at Farnborough 2026: Aerospace at the Crossroads of Sustainability, Defence and Digitalisation

Members of the LiT Programme Office attended Farnborough International Airshow from 20–25 July 2026. The strategically located AeroNL Pavilion served as our home base for meetings with OEMs, international advisors, and industry partners, while providing an excellent vantage point for monitoring market developments, technology trends, and strategic insights.

Although the airshow featured a stronger defence focus than previous editions, sustainable aviation remained highly visible. Flight demonstrations included BETA Technologies’ all-electric Alia CX300, Vertical Aerospace’s eVTOL, and GE Aerospace’s hybrid-electric Saab 340 demonstrator. Meanwhile, Heart Aerospace received FAA approval for testing its ES-30 electric aircraft, while Embraer received LoIs for 46 Eve eVTOL aircraft.

During a workshop by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and AeroNL, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable aviation by continuing collaboration towards zero-emission flights across the North Sea. Both countries aim to coordinate policies, support mechanisms, and regulatory enablers, while accelerating operational testing and deployment of hydrogen, battery-electric, and hybrid-electric aircraft.

The convergence of sustainability and defence was exemplified by BETA Technologies, which is developing an autonomous military cargo variant alongside its piloted electric passenger aircraft. This technology also underpins Dutch operator e-smart Avia’s planned all-electric cargo service from Amsterdam in 2027. This is a clear example of dual-use as strategic accelerator.

Across civil and defence sectors, OEMs announced significant production ramp-ups for both aircraft and engines, which triggers the need for high-rate, automated manufacturing. Industry stakeholders emphasised that the combination of aerospace expertise, high-tech equipment manufacturing, and digital technologies positions The Netherlands strongly for this industrial transition. Dutch capabilities in thermoplastic composites and Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) were highlighted as key competitive strengths.

Digitally native aircraft, advanced sensors, onboard computing are becoming central to commercial and military platforms, from Collaborative Combat Aircraft and drones to next-generation airliners and retrofit solutions. The convergence of aerospace, electronics, photonics and semiconductors creates a strategic opportunity for the Netherlands to connect its world-class capabilities across these domains and strengthen its position in the next generation of aerospace.

General updates

Jolanda Stevens joins the Advisory Board

As of 1 July, Jolanda Stevens has joined the Advisory Board of LiT.

Jolanda Stevens has extensive experience in aviation, both in the cockpit and in strategic and leadership positions at KLM. She worked as a pilot at KLM for 25 years and held numerous additional roles. Among other positions, she served as Director Crisis Management, where she was responsible for redesigning and implementing KLM’s crisis management organisation. During this period, she gained broad operational experience and developed expertise in safety, training, leadership and collaboration within complex aviation environments.

Jolanda is currently Director Future of Travel & Innovative Transformation at KLM. In this role, she leads the Future of Travel Team and works on disruptive innovations that are helping to shape the future of aviation and travel. She also focuses on the broader conditions required to make these innovations possible, including infrastructure, regulations, collaboration with technology partners, employee training and acceptance among travellers.

With her combination of cockpit experience, knowledge of aviation operations, leadership in crisis management, and focus on innovation and sustainability, Jolanda brings a broad and practical perspective to the Advisory Board of Aviation in Transition. She also has a strong understanding of the aviation ecosystem and the role of value chain partners in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable travel.

Jolanda:
“I have been passionate about aviation from a very young age. Ever since I was about 10 years old, I wanted to become a pilot. The values that are particularly important to me are freedom, discovering other cultures and connecting people. In my current role, I am strongly driven by curiosity and innovation, a sense of responsibility towards future generations, and the desire to inspire others to take action.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time with my husband and our dog at our second home on Texel. It brings together many of the things I love: nature, spending plenty of time outdoors and staying active, as well as peace, quiet and open space.”

New colleague in the Programme Office

Since August 3^rd, Tim van der Ent has been working as a communications officer for the programme office of LiT.

Before joining LiT, Tim completed a bachelor and master's degree in Colonial history and worked for both public-sector and commercial organisations. As part of international partnerships, he focused on sustainability, innovation and economic opportunities. This experience provides a strong foundation for his work in the aviation sector.

At LiT, Tim works part-time and focuses primarily on further developing and implementing the communications strategy. In addition, he works for the Municipality of Eindhoven and volunteers as a language buddy, helping newcomers learn Dutch. In his spare time, he can often be found on the tennis court and goes swimming whenever time allows.

Tim:
“To me, LiT is an inspiring organisation where technological innovation, decisiveness and ideals come together. I look forward to contributing to a sustainable aviation sector and to strengthening the Netherlands’ position within it. Although my background as a historian may not seem like an obvious match, I believe it helps me place developments within a broader international and long-term context, which is valuable to the Programme Office.”

2025 National Growth Fund Annual Report presented: National Growth Fund projects are visibly gathering momentum

The Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy has submitted the 2025 annual report of the National Growth Fund Advisory Committee to the House of Representatives. The annual report provides insight into the progress of the 50 Growth Fund projects over the past year. 2025 was a year in which projects across the full breadth of the portfolio visibly gathered momentum and their impact became increasingly clear. This was also the case for Aviation in Transition, whose contribution can be found on page 82.

*Be aware, the report is in Dutch.

Read the summary

Read the full report

Project updates

PhotonFirst and Curtiss-Wright announce collaboration to bring integrated fiber optic sensing to Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI)

PhotonFirst, partner in LiT project 'Materials, Production Technology and Structures', and a leading innovator in Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensing technology and integrated photonics, and Curtiss-Wright, a global market leader in Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) solutions, today announced a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of fiber optic sensing technology within the aerospace flight test domain.

The collaboration combines PhotonFirst’s advanced integrated photonics-based FBG interrogator technology with Curtiss-Wright’s extensive expertise and market position in aerospace and defense FTI systems. As part of the collaboration, PhotonFirst’s FBG sensing products will be further adapted and optimized for use within Curtiss-Wright’s FTI environments and architectures.

“Fiber optic sensing is increasingly recognized as a key enabling technology for next-generation aerospace platforms with a growing need for high-quality data,” said Leendert-Jan Nijstad, CEO at PhotonFirst. “By combining our integrated photonics-based sensing technology with Curtiss-Wright’s deep expertise in flight test instrumentation, we believe we can significantly accelerate adoption of fiber optic sensing within the aerospace market.”

The collaboration was announced in June and celebrated at the NL Pavilion at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Photo: PhotonFirst and Curtiss-Wright celebrate their partnership at the Farnbborough International Airshow

Successful wrap‑up of the Flying Vision Accelerator’s LDE Thesis Lab: Sustainable Aviation – Wings of the Future

On Friday 3 July, Flying Vision Accelerator (FVA) celebrated the wrap‑up of its “Leiden-Delft-Erasmus (LDE) Thesis Lab “Sustainable Aviation – Wings of the Future”. Students showcased their thesis results, shared consolidated findings, and reflected on their contributions to the aviation transition. These insights will directly feed into the next FVA Roadmap.

The event brought together students, case holders, and experts for an engaging programme, featuring interactive discussion using the student’s simulation tool, followed by networking drinks.

As part of the LDE Thesis Labs, master students from Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, and Erasmus University Rotterdam tackled real‑world challenges. Through FVA, Airbus and NLR challenged students with real-world industry use cases. Alongside individual thesis research, students joined workshops, masterclasses, and site visits to create a shared interdisciplinary output.

This year’s cohort explored critical topics, including SAF, policy analysis, techno‑economic assessments, roadmapping, digital architecture, and the operationalisation of emerging technologies and concepts. The consolidated results can be found in a booklet made by the students.

FVA is excited to announce that the collaboration between LDE and FVA will continue for the 2026-2027 edition!

Interested in joining the next FVA LDE Thesis Lab? If your organisation wants to provide an exciting case for students, reach out to the FVA team (Victor Rijkaart - A.C.V.Rijkaart@tudelft.nl, and Elise Bavelaar - M.E.Bavelaar@tudelft.nl). It’s a unique opportunity to engage top talent, and shape the future of aviation.

Read the results

Photo: Presentation of the theses at the LDE Thesis Lab

Events

Registration for the Aerospace Innovation Hub DEMOday 2026 is now open!

On 1 October 2026, the Aerospace Innovation Hub community will come together again for DEMOday. This event is all about connecting innovators across the aerospace sector.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, researcher, student, investor, industry professional or policymaker, DEMOday is the place to:

Discover the latest innovations in the aerospace sector
Meet new potential partners from across the ecosystem
Hear inspiring pitches and keynote speakers
Explore the Innovation Floor and exchange ideas

Reserve your spot free of charge and join us in shaping the future of the aerospace sector!

📅 1 October 2026
📍 TU Delft, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering

Save the Date: Flying Vision Accelerator Think Tanks

Following the successful Roadmap Release Event before the summer, the Flying Vision Accelerator (FVA) consortium is pleased to invite you to the next series of Think Tanks on 21 September.

During this interactive afternoon, researchers, engineers, industry experts, policymakers and innovators will come together to help shape the next version of the FVA Roadmap. Following a short plenary opening with keynote speakers, participants will join one of three interactive Think Tank sessions focused on key questions for the future of sustainable aviation.

The discussions will focus on three central themes:

Future aircraft concepts and technologies that reduce energy demand and minimise both CO₂ and non-CO₂ emissions.
New energy carriers, exploring the barriers and opportunities for scaling sustainable fuels and energy systems.
Travel in 2050, focusing on how passenger behaviour may evolve towards more sustainable forms of mobility.

The afternoon will conclude with networking drinks, providing plenty of opportunity to connect with partners from the FVA consortium, including TU Delft, NLR, Airbus, Royal Schiphol Group and KLM, as well as researchers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders from the wider aviation ecosystem.

Would you like to receive the full invitation or learn more about Flying Vision Accelerator? Please contact:

Victor Rijkaart – a.c.v.rijkaart@tudelft.nl
Elise Bavelaar – m.e.bavelaar@tudelft.nl

Interested in contributing to the programme? Over the coming weeks, FVA will organise several preparatory working sessions. If you have ideas for topics or discussion points that should be addressed, the FVA team would be happy to hear from you.

These Think Tanks offer a unique opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable aviation together with experts from research, industry and policy.

📅 21 September 2026, 12:00 - 17:00
📍 Near TU Delft (location to be announced)

Announcements

Book your one-to-one session with a grant expert at the LiT Aero Conference '26

Would you like to participate in a grant-funded project but are unsure where to start? Perhaps you already have a strong idea but have not yet found the right partners. Or you have identified several grant calls but are not sure what it takes to submit a successful application. And how do you make sure your intellectual property is properly protected?

There is plenty of information available online, but that does not always provide the advice you need for your specific situation - let alone a concrete plan for your next step.

During this breakout session at the LiT Aero Conference '26, you can therefore speak one-to-one with our grant experts. Ask your specific questions, receive tailored advice and find out which steps you can take to move your idea forward.

Register for the conference free of charge using the button below and select
One-to-One Expert Advice on Grants (Subsidies) & Intellectual Property as your breakout session.