SESAR 3 JU
SESAR 3 JU is the EU's institutional public-private partnership coordinating air traffic management modernization research and deployment across Europe, serving air navigation service providers, airports, airlines, drone operators, and manufacturers through a EUR 1.8 billion, 10-year mandate (2021-2031).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBerchem, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SESAR 3 JU does
SESAR 3 JU is the European Union's institutional public-private partnership established under Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 in 2021 to coordinate the research, development, and deployment of technological solutions for modernizing European air traffic management (ATM). The organization serves as the technological pillar of the EU's Single European Sky policy, bringing together the European Commission, Eurocontrol, and more than 50 member organizations spanning the entire aviation value chain—including air navigation service providers (ANSPs) such as NATS, DSNA, DFS, ENAIRE, ENAV, and Airnav Ireland; airport operators such as Groupe ADP, Aena, and Schiphol; airlines including Air France, Ryanair, and Lufthansa; manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Thales, Leonardo, Honeywell, Indra, and Frequentis; and drone operators, U-space service providers, and academic institutions. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, SESAR 3 JU coordinates an innovation pipeline spanning exploratory research through to large-scale Digital Sky Demonstrators, with 105 ongoing and 178 completed projects, and 187 ongoing and 139 delivered SESAR Solutions.
SESAR 3 JU's core technology portfolio centers on trajectory-based operations (TBO), U-space drone traffic management (U1-U4 services), remote tower operations, integrated CNS (Communications, Navigation, Surveillance), virtualisation and service-oriented architectures, and AI/ML applications for ATM. Specific technical capabilities include predictive analytics for trajectory and weather forecasting (DART, TAPAS, ASTRA, KAIROS), AI-based speech recognition for controllers (MALORCA), autonomous agent systems integrating ATC and ATFM (HYPERSOLVER, JARVIS), process automation for ATC workstations (HAAWAII, SAFEOPS, ARTIMATION), anomaly detection (ALARM, ISOBAR), generative AI for synthetic data (SYNTHAIR), and optimization engines for green operations (MAHALO, HERON, GREEN-GEAR). The organization publishes and maintains the European ATM Master Plan (2025 edition), which defines the strategic deployment roadmap for the Digital European Sky through 10 Strategic Deployment Objectives and 12 Development Priorities.
SESAR 3 JU does not operate as a commercial entity and does not sell products or services; rather, it is funded through a co-funding model combining EU contributions via Horizon Europe (EUR 600 million), Eurocontrol (up to EUR 500 million in-kind and financial), industry partners (minimum EUR 500 million), and the Connecting Europe Facility (at least EUR 200 million), totaling approximately EUR 1.8 billion across its 2021-2031 mandate. Solutions are deployed either locally or in EU-synchronized fashion through Common Projects and the Deployment Manager under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 409/2013, with quantified long-term outcomes including a projected EUR 17 return per euro invested by 2050 and 400 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided by 2050. Day-to-day management is led by Executive Director Andreas Boschen, appointed July 2022, under a Governing Board chaired by the European Commission (DG MOVE).
SESAR 3 JU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SESAR 3 JU
- Legal name
- SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
- Website
- https://sesarju.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SESAR 3 JU is the EU's institutional public-private partnership coordinating air traffic management modernization research and deployment across Europe, serving air navigation service providers, airports, airlines, drone operators, and manufacturers through a EUR 1.8 billion, 10-year mandate (2021-2031).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SESAR 3 JU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Traffic Management Research and Innovation
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Airport & Airspace Collaboration for Emissions Reduction (CDM, SESAR/NextGen, CCO/CDO) (THABANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI), C4ISR Systems & Tactical Data Links (IMABAGAE)
Keywords
Where SESAR 3 JU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berchem
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SESAR 3 JU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- EU Research Funding (Horizon Europe): The SESAR 3 JU receives EUR 600 million in funding from the European Union through the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. This funding supports the Digital European Sky research and innovation programme.
- Eurocontrol Contributions: Eurocontrol provides up to EUR 500 million in in-kind and financial contributions to the partnership.
- Industry Contributions: Industry partners contribute a minimum of EUR 500 million through in-kind and financial contributions.
- Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): Digital European Sky demonstrators benefit from at least EUR 200 million in funding from the Connecting Europe Facility in coordination with CINEA.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
SESAR 3 JU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SESAR 3 JU is a European institutional public-private partnership that funds, coordinates and delivers research and innovation for air traffic management (ATM) modernization. It operates the Digital European Sky research and innovation programme, developing SESAR Solutions across nine flagship domains (Connected and Automated ATM, U-space, AI for Aviation, Virtual Centres, etc.) that are transferred to industry and deployed by ANSPs, airports and airspace users across Europe. It does not sell commercial products; instead it coordinates 50+ member organizations and delivers through an innovation pipeline spanning exploratory research, industrial research, large-scale demonstrations and deployment.
Product overview
SESAR 3 JU operates as a research and innovation partnership rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the Digital European Sky programme—a comprehensive research and innovation ecosystem structured around nine flagship domains (Connected and Automated ATM, Air-ground Integration and Autonomy, Capacity-on-demand, U-space and Urban Air Mobility, Virtualisation and Cyber-secure Data Sharing, Multimodality, Aviation Green Deal, AI for Aviation, and Civil-Military Interoperability). The programme delivers through an innovation pipeline spanning exploratory research through to large-scale demonstrations, producing SESAR Solutions that are catalogued in the Solutions Catalogue (139 delivered, 72 deployed). Key platforms include the Projects Portal (105 ongoing projects), the European ATM Master Plan as the strategic roadmap, and technology-specific solutions for U-space (drone traffic management), Remote Towers, Integrated CNS, Smart Airports, and Sustainable ATM. Solutions are not commercial products sold to end-users but are transferred to industry and deployed by air navigation service providers, airports, and airspace users across Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SESAR Solutions Catalogue
Quantifiable outcome
- 400 million tonnes CO2 saved by 2050 through optimized flight operations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SESAR 3 JU
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
SESAR 3 JU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature5 records
SESAR 3 JU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core/founder, key industry member, key ansp member, regulatory partner, standards partner, technology partner, international partner, airport partner, global partner and research partner.
- European Union (EU)core/founderPrimary funder through Horizon Europe programme contributing EUR 600 million. EU is the founding member providing institutional mandate for the SESAR 3 JU 10-year programme (2021-2031) to deliver the Digital European Sky.
- Eurocontrolcore/founderContributing up to EUR 500 million in in-kind and financial contributions. Strategic partner providing operational expertise in ATM across Europe.
- Airbuskey industry memberMajor aerospace manufacturer and partnership member contributing to ATM modernization research including sustainable aviation operations.
- Boeing Research & Technology-Europekey industry memberAerospace manufacturer providing research and technology development expertise for ATM modernization.
- Thaleskey industry memberAir traffic management systems manufacturer contributing to CNS (Communications, Navigation, Surveillance) solutions.
- Leonardokey industry memberAerospace and defense company participating in ATM research and development.
- NATSkey ansp memberUK air traffic services provider contributing operational expertise and participating in remote tower and other SESAR solutions development.
- EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)regulatory partnerRegulatory body working with SESAR JU to ensure alignment between Master Plan and regulatory framework to accelerate deployment.
- Eurocaestandards partnerEuropean organisation for the development and promotion of standards for aviation, ensuring SESAR solutions meet global standards.
- DSNA (France)key ansp memberDirection des Services de la Navigation Aérienne - French air navigation service provider contributing to SESAR research.
- ENAIREkey ansp memberSpanish air navigation service provider participating in SESAR research and deployment.
- ENAVkey ansp memberItalian air navigation service provider contributing to SESAR research activities.
- DFS (Germany)key ansp memberDeutsche Flugsicherung - German air navigation service provider participating in SESAR solutions.
- Indrakey industry memberSpanish technology company providing ATM systems and solutions for SESAR research.
- Frequentiskey industry memberAustrian communications and information solutions provider for ATM systems.
- Honeywellkey industry memberAerospace technology company contributing avionics and ATM solutions expertise.
- Collins Aerospace Ireland Limitedkey industry memberAerospace and defense technology company participating in SESAR research.
- SAABkey industry memberSwedish aerospace and defense company contributing to remote tower and other ATM solutions.
- Uniflytechnology partnerBelgian company specializing in U-space and drone traffic management solutions for SESAR U-space research.
- TERN Systemstechnology partnerTechnology partner contributing to SESAR solutions development.
- NAV Canadainternational partnerCanadian air navigation service provider participating as international member in SESAR research.
- Groupe ADPairport partnerParis airports operator contributing to airport operations and smart airport research.
- Aenaairport partnerSpanish airport operator and largest airport management group in the world, participating in SESAR airport research.
- Schiphol Airportairport partnerNetherlands major hub airport contributing to smart airport and operational solutions.
- US FAA NextGen Programinternational partnerUS-FAA partnership for transatlantic ATM interoperability between NextGen and SESAR programs, ensuring harmonized modernization of US and European ATM systems.
- ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)global partnerSESAR contributes to ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBUs) for global harmonization.
- FTTS (Fundación para la Investigación y Desarrollo de las Tecnologías de la Seguridad)research partnerResearch partner in AWARE project developing Artificial Situational Awareness (ASA) system with AI components for air traffic controller support.
- UPM (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)research partnerUniversity partner in AWARE project contributing AI components for the Artificial Situational Awareness (ASA) system.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SESAR 3 JU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NATS: NATS is the UK's primary air navigation service provider and an active SESAR 3 JU member contributing operational expertise and remote tower pilots. As a leading European ANSP deploying SESAR solutions operationally, NATS is a directly comparable peer in the institutional delivery chain.
- Eurocontrol: Eurocontrol is both a founding funder and strategic partner of SESAR 3 JU and operates the European Network Manager function for ATM. It is the broader incumbent institution coordinating European air traffic flow management and central to delivering the operational environment in which SESAR solutions deploy.
- DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne): DSNA is France's air navigation service provider and a key SESAR 3 JU ANSP member. Comparable to NATS and DFS, it is a major operational deployment partner for SESAR solutions in continental Europe.
- Thales: Thales is a leading supplier of ATM systems (radar, surveillance, control centres) and a key SESAR 3 JU industry member contributing CNS solutions. It represents the broad incumbent commercial supplier through which many SESAR-validated technologies are industrialised and deployed.
- DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung): DFS is Germany's air navigation service provider and a key SESAR 3 JU ANSP member. As one of Europe's largest operational ANSPs deploying SESAR solutions at scale, DFS is a directly comparable institutional peer.
- ICAO: The International Civil Aviation Organization sets the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBUs) that frame SESAR's work. SESAR explicitly contributes to GANP/ASBUs, making ICAO the broader incumbent coordinator for global ATM modernisation.
Direct peers
- Frequentis: Frequentis is an Austrian supplier of voice communications and information systems for ATM and public safety, and a SESAR 3 JU industry member. It commercialises controller working positions and remote tower integration work that directly originates from SESAR R&D.
- FAA NextGen: The US Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen programme is the closest functional peer to SESAR 3 JU, coordinating ATM modernisation research and deployment in the United States. Both programmes pursue trajectory-based operations, performance-based navigation, CNS modernisation and AI integration, and maintain a formal cooperation arrangement for transatlantic interoperability.
- Indra: Indra is a Spanish-headquartered ATM systems vendor providing control centre, surveillance and tower solutions across Europe and Latin America. As a key SESAR 3 JU member, Indra directly translates SESAR research into deployable commercial ATM products, making it a tightly coupled commercial peer.
Others
- Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking: Clean Aviation JU is a sibling EU institutional public-private partnership under Horizon Europe focused on decarbonising aviation through new aircraft technologies. It shares the same EU PPP governance model, co-funding logic and industry membership overlap with SESAR 3 JU, making it a structurally and operationally analogous peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SESAR 3 JU social profiles
Digital presenceSESAR 3 JU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SESAR 3 JU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SESAR 3 JU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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SESAR 3 JU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SESAR 3 JU
What does SESAR 3 JU do?
SESAR 3 JU is a European institutional public-private partnership that funds, coordinates and delivers research and innovation for air traffic management (ATM) modernization. It operates the Digital European Sky research and innovation programme, developing SESAR Solutions across nine flagship domains (Connected and Automated ATM, U-space, AI for Aviation, Virtual Centres, etc.) that are transferred to industry and deployed by ANSPs, airports and airspace users across Europe. It does not sell commercial products; instead it coordinates 50+ member organizations and delivers through an innovation pipeline spanning exploratory research, industrial research, large-scale demonstrations and deployment.
Is SESAR 3 JU a public or private company?
SESAR 3 JU is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was SESAR 3 JU founded?
SESAR 3 JU was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SESAR 3 JU based?
SESAR 3 JU is headquartered in Berchem, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does SESAR 3 JU make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. EU Research Funding (Horizon Europe) is the primary driver. The others are eurocontrol Contributions, industry Contributions and connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Who are SESAR 3 JU's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NATS, Eurocontrol, DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne), Thales, DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung) and ICAO. Direct peers are Frequentis, FAA NextGen and Indra. Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is listed as an others.
Does SESAR 3 JU have an API?
No public API is recorded for SESAR 3 JU.
What industry is SESAR 3 JU in?
SESAR 3 JU's product category is Air Traffic Management Research and Innovation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABANAH, Airport & Airspace Collaboration for Emissions Reduction (CDM, SESAR/NextGen, CCO/CDO), with a secondary code of BPAHAIAI, Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.