LIEBHERR-ELECTRONICS AND DRIVES GMBH

Their core work

Liebherr-Electronics and Drives GmbH is the avionics and electrical systems division of the Liebherr Group, a major German industrial conglomerate. They design and manufacture electronic control units, drive systems, and electrical power management systems for aircraft — the hardware and software that keeps onboard systems running reliably. In H2020, they contributed as a specialist supplier within the Clean Sky 2 Systems ITD (Integrated Technology Demonstrator), which focused on reducing aviation's environmental footprint through smarter, more efficient aircraft systems. Their industrial-scale manufacturing capability and aerospace certification experience make them a credible bridge between research demonstrators and certifiable flight hardware.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their H2020 participation spans two consecutive Clean Sky 2 funding cycles — SYS GAM 2018 (2014–2019) and GAM-2020-SYS (2020–2023) — showing a deliberate, continuous commitment to the same Systems ITD programme rather than a pivot in direction. The early project carried the bulk of investment (€2.3M), while the later one was a much smaller follow-on (€86K), suggesting a transition from active system development toward a supporting or validation role. There is no evidence of a thematic shift; rather, the data points to deepening specialisation within aircraft systems electrification over nearly a decade.

They appear to be consolidating rather than expanding their EU research footprint — a pattern typical of large industrial suppliers who participate in targeted research programs to influence standards and mature specific technologies, then scale through commercial channels rather than further grant work.

How they like to work

Liebherr-Electronics and Drives has participated exclusively as a consortium member, never as coordinator, which is consistent with their role as a tier-1 industrial supplier rather than a research orchestrator. Their two projects sit within the large, JU-managed Clean Sky 2 structure, where consortia of 30–50+ partners are normal — so their 74 unique partners across 12 countries reflects the programme structure more than a uniquely broad personal network. Working with them means engaging a technically rigorous industrial partner who delivers to specification within a managed program, not a flexible research collaborator who adapts to open-ended briefs.

They have touched 74 unique consortium partners across 12 countries, almost entirely through the Clean Sky 2 Systems ITD network — a Brussels-anchored ecosystem of European aerospace primes, research institutes, and component suppliers. Their geographic reach is European in scope but aviation-sector specific in practice.

What sets them apart

Liebherr-Electronics and Drives brings something most university or SME partners cannot: certified industrial manufacturing capability combined with decades of cross-sector drive and control experience from construction, maritime, and aerospace. Their parent group's financial size means they can absorb the risk and long lead times of aviation R&D without depending on grant income. For a consortium needing a credible industrial partner who can take a demonstrator toward a real product, this subsidiary offers a direct line into Liebherr's aerospace supply chain.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SYS GAM 2018
  The flagship engagement — a €2.3M Clean Sky 2 Systems ITD grant running five years, representing Liebherr's primary R&D investment in European aviation electrification research.
• GAM-2020-SYS
  A follow-on Systems ITD grant (2020–2023) demonstrating continuity of commitment to Clean Sky 2 beyond the initial funding cycle, though at a substantially reduced scale.