AEROCENTRE
Aérocentre is a French non-profit regional excellence cluster, founded 2009 in Déols, that supports 150 aerospace, space, and defense member companies in Centre-Val de Loire through networking, industrial-performance programs, certification support, recruitment events, and coordinated international trade-show participation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDéols, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AEROCENTRE does
Aérocentre is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2009 and headquartered in Déols (Centre-Val de Loire), operating as the regional excellence pole for the aeronautics, space, and defense sectors. It is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Christophe BONNEAU (President of SAS Pineau) and operationally led by Director Claire OGER, supported by a small permanent staff of approximately 6 plus expert volunteers. Its mission is to develop and sustain the regional aerospace, space, and defense industrial base, which encompasses roughly 325 establishments and 21,570 sector jobs in Centre-Val de Loire.
The organization's core offering is a portfolio of cluster services rather than a unified software product. These include the Bourse Business member-exclusive platform for trading equipment, competencies, and commercial opportunities; the Bourse à l'Emploi job board; the annual Rencontres Aéronautiques et Défense flagship event combined with the 24H Innovation Aéronautique challenge; the AéroExcellence industrial-performance program (deploying GIFAS's Performances Industrielles framework); certification support for EN 9100, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, PART 145, and PART 21G; the Club RH HR-professional network; and the Labellisation Aéronautique / BIA training programs delivered with regional high schools.
Aérocentre generates operating revenue from three sources: tiered annual membership subscriptions (€250–€3,000 HT depending on company size and status), co-financing from the Région Centre-Val de Loire, and EU FEDER funding (€410,580.32 over 2023–2025 as part of a €1,549,944.58 envelope). Its 150 member companies collectively represent 19,674 employees and approximately €6.0 billion in combined revenue. Strategic partners include GIFAS (national aerospace industry association), MBDA (anchor of the AéroExcellence Grappe MBDA), Dev'Up (regional economic development agency), and major defense primes (KNDS, Safran Seats, Saint-Gobain Aerospace, MIC Curtiss Wright, MECACHROME, Roxel, JTEKT Bearings). The geographic scope is explicitly regional — companies must be located in Centre-Val de Loire to join — but the cluster extends internationally through coordinated trade-show participation at Paris Air Show, Eurosatory, MIDEST, and AEROMART.
AEROCENTRE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AEROCENTRE
- Legal name
- Aérocentre
- Website
- https://aero-centre.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Aérocentre is a French non-profit regional excellence cluster, founded 2009 in Déols, that supports 150 aerospace, space, and defense member companies in Centre-Val de Loire through networking, industrial-performance programs, certification support, recruitment events, and coordinated international trade-show participation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AEROCENTRE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Industry Cluster Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
Keywords
Where AEROCENTRE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Déols
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AEROCENTRE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership subscriptions: Aérocentre generates revenue through annual membership fees from companies in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors. Membership fees are tiered based on company size (ETP/Full-Time Equivalents). Active members pay between €275-1500€ HT in the first year with a 50% discount, then €1100-3000€ HT annually. Consultative members (service providers, laboratories, research centers, consulting firms) pay €750€ HT for unique membership. Startup members pay €250€ HT per year for the first 3 years with a 55% discount.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Active member - First year with 50% discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Active member - Subsequent years |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Consultative member - One-time fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Startup member - First 3 years with 55% discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
AEROCENTRE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aérocentre is a regional excellence cluster (pôle d'excellence régional) founded in 2009 as a French non-profit association (loi 1901) that supports the aeronautics, space, and defense industries in Centre-Val de Loire. It sells membership subscriptions to companies and provides business development, industrial performance, certification support, HR networking, innovation programs, and international trade show participation. Its ecosystem spans 150 member companies representing approximately 19,674 employees and is co-financed by the Centre-Val de Loire Region and the European Union (FEDER).
Product overview
Aérocentre is a regional excellence cluster (pôle d'excellence) for the aerospace, space, and defense industries in Centre-Val de Loire, France. Rather than offering a unified software product, Aérocentre provides a portfolio of services including the Bourse Business platform for member networking, the Bourse à l'Emploi job board, and the annual Rencontres Aéronautiques & 24H Innovation event. The organization supports industrial performance through Aéro Excellence certification programs, offers skills development via the Labellisation Aéronautique school labeling and BIA certificate programs, and provides commercial support through working groups. The portfolio also includes HR networking (Club RH), quality initiatives (Club Qualité), and participation in international trade shows like the Bourget Air Show.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rencontres Aéronautiques: Annual flagship event for Aeronautical, Space, and Defense sector professionals in the Centre-Val de Loire region
- 24H Innovation Aéronautique
- AéroExcellence
- Club RH
- Labellisation Aéronautique
Products and services
- Bourse Business A member-exclusive platform for exchanging business opportunities, sharing and trading equipment, materials, and competencies among Aérocentre members.
- Bourse à l'Emploi A job board connecting aerospace companies in Centre-Val de Loire with candidates, featuring CV submission and job posting capabilities.
- Rencontres Aéronautiques & 24H Innovation Annual flagship event combining business meetings, conferences, recruitment events, and the 24-hour innovation challenge where students solve technical problems from industrial companies.
- Aéro Excellence (Perform'Aero) National performance improvement program based on GIFAS's Performances Industrielles framework, helping aerospace companies achieve operational excellence, environmental performance, and cybersecurity maturity.
- Labellisation Aéronautique Aircraft industry labeling program for vocational schools, connecting training programs directly to aerospace industry competencies and skills.
- Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique (BIA) Entry-level aeronautical certificate for students over 13, delivered jointly by the Ministry of Transport and National Education, combining theoretical and practical aviation training.
- Certification Support Services Financial support for companies pursuing aerospace certifications including EN 9100, ISO 9001, PART 145, PART 21G, and ISO 14001 audits.
- Commercial Support Program Strategic commercial development initiative supporting member companies in market diversification through working groups, market studies, and action plans.
- Club RH HR professionals network within Aérocentre organizing job datings, career forums, and skills development initiatives for member companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 500 visitors at Job Dating event, demonstrating strong industry engagement
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AEROCENTRE
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AEROCENTRE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AEROCENTRE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.
- KNDSflagshipDefense company participating in Job Dating event alongside 13 other member companies, demonstrating commitment to regional workforce development and recruitment.
- Région Centre-Val de LoirecoreRegional government partner providing financing and institutional support to Aérocentre. The Region co-finances the poles operations and projects, including the 1.5M€ EU co-financed project 2023-2025 for developing and sustaining aerospace, space, and defense sectors.
- European Union (FEDER)coreEU provides 410,580.32€ in FEDER funding as part of a 1.5M€ total project (2023-2025) to strengthen sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors.
- GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales)flagshipNational aerospace industry association that has initiated the Aéro Excellence program and Performances Industrielles (PI1 and PI2) programs. Aérocentre deploys these national frameworks regionally. GIFAS also coordinates industry events and provides industry intelligence.
- Dev'UpcoreRegional economic development agency that partners with Aérocentre on international trade show participation, offering complementary packages alongside Aérocentre's collective exhibition spaces.
- MBDAflagshipMajor defense contractor sponsoring the 'Grappe MBDA' within the AeroExcellence program. MBDA provides industrial expertise and supports participating SMEs in improving their performance. The partnership includes companies like Aérograph, Berthelot SAS, Lachant Group, SAS Pineau Gérard, and Soairtech.
- ESTIA (Ecole d'Ingénieurs)majorEngineering school that created the '24h de l'Innovation' concept in 2007. Aérocentre adopted this format for its 24h Innovation Aéronautique challenge, bringing together students and industrial companies for collaborative innovation.
- Rectorat d'Orléans-ToursmajorRegional education authority that signed a tripartite convention with the Region and Aérocentre for deploying the 'Labellisation Aéronautique' program in regional high schools.
- Roxel FrancemajorAerospace propulsion company that hosted 24h Innovation challenge winners for a site visit and facility tour, supporting student engagement with industry.
- JTEKT BEARINGSmajorBearing manufacturer that provided technical challenge subjects for the 24h Innovation and hosted student teams for facility visits, demonstrating commitment to innovation and talent development.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AEROCENTRE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Dev'Up Centre-Val de Loire: Regional economic development agency for Centre-Val de Loire that explicitly partners with Aérocentre on international trade show participation (e.g., AEROMART joint packages). A complementary regional development actor with overlapping SME touchpoints but a broader sector mandate.
- CCI Centre-Val de Loire: Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry serving Centre-Val de Loire. Operates as a vertical-agnostic business support organization in the same geography as Aérocentre, with overlapping member services in training, internationalization, and SME support that partially compete with Aérocentre's offerings.
Direct peers
- ASTech Paris Region: Aerospace competitiveness cluster serving the Paris/Île-de-France region, covering aeronautics, space, and defense. Directly comparable in operating model (GIFAS-aligned, pôle de compétitivité), membership structure, and service offerings to Aérocentre, though serving a much larger industrial base.
- SAFE Cluster: Federated aerospace and security cluster in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, supporting SMEs in aeronautics, space, defense, and security. Shares the same French pôle de compétitivité framework, GIFAS affiliation, and service portfolio of certification support, innovation programs, and HR initiatives as Aérocentre.
- Normandy AeroEspace: Regional aerospace cluster in Normandy, France, supporting aeronautics, space, and defense companies. Closely comparable to Aérocentre in scope, scale, and pôle de compétitivité structure, with similar member services around certification, innovation, and workforce development.
- Aerospace Valley: World-class French aerospace competitiveness cluster covering Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Operates the same pôle de compétitivité model as Aérocentre, supporting aeronautics, space, and defense SMEs through GIFAS-aligned programs, collective trade show participation, and innovation challenges. Direct functional twin at a larger scale.
Others
- AEROMART (BCl Aerospace): International business convention series for the aerospace industry that Aérocentre actively participates in. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player organizing B2B events for aerospace SMEs, though operating as an event organizer rather than a regional cluster.
Broad incumbents
- GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales): National French aerospace and space industry federation that initiates the AéroExcellence and Performances Industrielles programs that Aérocentre deploys regionally. Functions as the umbrella industry association with advocacy, industry intelligence, and Paris Air Show ownership; Aérocentre is one of its regional implementation nodes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AEROCENTRE social profiles
Digital presenceAEROCENTRE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
AEROCENTRE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AEROCENTRE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
AEROCENTRE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AEROCENTRE 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 AEROCENTRE
What does AEROCENTRE do?
Aérocentre is a regional excellence cluster (pôle d'excellence régional) founded in 2009 as a French non-profit association (loi 1901) that supports the aeronautics, space, and defense industries in Centre-Val de Loire. It sells membership subscriptions to companies and provides business development, industrial performance, certification support, HR networking, innovation programs, and international trade show participation. Its ecosystem spans 150 member companies representing approximately 19,674 employees and is co-financed by the Centre-Val de Loire Region and the European Union (FEDER).
Is AEROCENTRE a public or private company?
AEROCENTRE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AEROCENTRE founded?
AEROCENTRE was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AEROCENTRE based?
AEROCENTRE is headquartered in Déols, France, in the Europe region.
How does AEROCENTRE make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership subscriptions.
Who are AEROCENTRE's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Dev'Up Centre-Val de Loire and CCI Centre-Val de Loire. Direct peers are ASTech Paris Region, SAFE Cluster, Normandy AeroEspace and Aerospace Valley. AEROMART (BCl Aerospace) is listed as an others. GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AEROCENTRE have an API?
No public API is recorded for AEROCENTRE.
What industry is AEROCENTRE in?
AEROCENTRE's product category is Aerospace Industry Cluster Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.