What HEGAN - Basque Aerospace Cluster does

HEGAN (Asociación Cluster de Aeronáutica y Espacio del País Vasco) is a non-profit cluster organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at the Zamudio Technology Park in the Basque Country, Spain. It coordinates 70+ member companies and institutions spanning the Basque aerospace value chain, including Tier-1 suppliers such as ITP Aero, Aernnova, and SENER Aeroespacial, mid-tier manufacturers, technology centers (CEIT, CIDETEC, TECNALIA), and universities (UPV/EHU, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, TECNUN, UPNA). The cluster operates with a small core staff of 12 employees focused on ecosystem coordination rather than proprietary technology development.

Name

HEGAN - Basque Aerospace Cluster

Legal name

ASOCIACION CLUSTER DE AERONAUTICA Y ESPACIO DEL PAIS VASCO

Website

https://hegan.aero

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HEGAN is a non-profit Basque aerospace cluster founded in 1997, coordinating 70+ member companies and institutions across aerospace manufacturing, engineering, space, and research to drive collaboration, training, and access to EU funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zamudio

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: HEGAN generates revenue through membership fees from its three tiers: Socios Cluster (full members), Colaboradores Cluster (collaborator members), and Aliados Cluster (allied members).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HEGAN is a non-profit cluster association that coordinates and represents more than 70 aerospace and space companies, research centers and universities in the Basque Country. It delivers member services through a tiered membership model (Socios, Colaboradores, Aliados), maintains a Member Capabilities Catalog and Value Chain mapping, runs the AeroAcademy training program, and facilitates access to European funding and internationalization programs such as POCTEFA FRAMES.

Product overview

HEGAN (Asociación Cluster de Aeronáutica y Espacio del País Vasco) is a Basque Aerospace Cluster organization that serves as a coordinating body for the regional aerospace industry rather than operating a single product. The cluster brings together member companies offering a comprehensive portfolio of aerospace manufacturing and engineering services, including design (conceptual and detail), tooling, machining, composite manufacturing, assembly, non-destructive testing, robotics and automation, and specialized processes. The HEGAN Member Capabilities Catalog organizes these services, while the Value Chain mapping shows member positions in the supply chain. AeroAcademy provides training services for aerospace professionals. The cluster facilitates collaboration, supply chain strengthening, and represents Basque aerospace interests in European programs like POCTEFA FRAMES.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AeroAcademy Training and professional development program for the aerospace sector, providing education, skill development, and certification for workers and graduates seeking careers in the Basque aerospace industry.
• HEGAN Member Capabilities Catalog A comprehensive catalog of aerospace manufacturing and engineering capabilities offered by HEGAN member companies, covering design (conceptual and detail), tooling, machining, composite manufacturing, assembly, non-destructive testing, metrology, robotics and automation, and specialized processes for the aerospace industry.
• HEGAN Value Chain (Cadena de Valor) A strategic overview of the aerospace value chain within the Basque aerospace cluster, mapping member companies and their roles across the aerospace supply chain ecosystem.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FRAMES (Fortaleza y Resiliencia de las Cadenas de Suministro Aeroespaciales y Manufactureras entre Francia y España)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026European POCTEFA cross-border cooperation project strengthening aerospace and manufacturing supply chains between France and Spain. Co-funded by ERDF.
• CompittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and competitiveness partner providing support to cluster members for innovation and business improvement.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing consulting, audit, and advisory services to cluster members.
• DerichebourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-services company providing industrial and environmental services relevant to aerospace manufacturing.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing tax, advisory, and consulting services to aerospace sector clients.
• Gu Interim ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterim management services provider supporting leadership transitions in aerospace companies.
• Herrero & AsociadosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntellectual property and legal services firm supporting innovation protection.
• Laboral KutxacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque savings bank providing financial services and support to Basque companies and institutions.
• SmartlogminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics and supply chain optimization partner for aerospace manufacturers.
• SynergieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffing and recruitment services provider supporting aerospace industry workforce needs.
• EACP (European Aerospace Clusters Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean-level cluster partnership connecting Basque aerospace cluster with peers across Europe for cross-border collaboration.
• Alliance for Zero-Emission AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU initiative coordinated by AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), focusing on decarbonization of aviation.
• Plataforma AeroespacialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish national aerospace platform coordinating national strategy and industry positions.
• InnobasquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque innovation agency supporting technology development and R&D collaboration across Basque industry.
• AHA (Alianza del Hidrógeno para la Aviación)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish alliance for hydrogen in aviation, supporting the transition to sustainable aviation.
• BAIC (Basque Artificial Intelligence Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasque center for artificial intelligence research and applications.
• AEI ClusterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish cluster association providing framework and support for Spanish industry clusters.
• EVA (Ellas Vuelan Alto)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative promoting gender diversity in the aerospace sector.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASD (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe): Pan-European aerospace and defense industry association. HEGAN engages with ASD via the Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation; ASD is the continental counterpart coordinating policy and representation at a wider scope.
• TEDAE (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Spain): National-level Spanish aerospace and defense industry association. HEGAN is itself a member of TEDAE, but TEDAE operates as the broader national industry voice, making it a structurally comparable trade/cluster body for the same Spanish aerospace sector.
• Plataforma Aeroespacial Española (PAE): Spanish national aerospace platform coordinating national strategy and industry positions. HEGAN is a member; the platform operates at the country level, broader than a regional cluster but addressing the same member base.

Direct peers

• EACP (European Aerospace Clusters Partnership): European-level network of regional aerospace clusters. HEGAN is a member of EACP, but the partnership itself functions as a meta-cluster coordinating cluster-to-cluster collaboration, making it a peer at the network/coordination level.
• Aerospace Wales: Welsh aerospace industry forum/cluster representing aerospace companies and supply chain in Wales. Same regional cluster model organizing SMEs, OEMs, and universities around an aerospace ecosystem.
• Andalucía Aerospace Cluster (FADA-CATEC): Regional Spanish aerospace cluster based in Andalusia. Another Spanish sub-national cluster aggregating aerospace companies and research centers, directly competing with HEGAN for members and EU program visibility within Spain.
• Hamburg Aviation: Regional cluster for the Hamburg/Bremen aerospace corridor in Germany. Same regional cluster model focused on coordinating aerospace supply chain actors, joint R&D, and internationalization support.
• BavAIRia (Bavarian Aerospace Cluster): Regional German aerospace cluster association. Directly comparable as a sub-national cluster organizing aerospace companies, R&D centers, and universities around a defined industrial region, mirroring HEGAN's Basque Country model.
• Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA): UK regional aerospace cluster in the Midlands. Directly comparable as a member-based aerospace cluster providing collaboration, supply chain development, and internationalization services to its member companies.

Regional players

• GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales): French aerospace, space, and defense industry association. Comparable as a national cluster/trade body coordinating the French aerospace ecosystem; HEGAN collaborates with French counterparts through the POCTEFA FRAMES project, underscoring parallel role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hegan-basque-aerospace-cluster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about HEGAN - Basque Aerospace Cluster