PACE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GMBH

Their core work

PACE is a Berlin-based aerospace software company that develops tools for aircraft design, flight operations, and manufacturing optimization. Their H2020 work spans two domains: aviation data systems (flight planning, dispatcher decision support, operational data analytics) and digital manufacturing (zero-defect production, quality control platforms). They bring software engineering and data infrastructure expertise to large consortia, serving as the IT backbone that turns raw operational and manufacturing data into actionable decision-support tools.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

PACE entered H2020 in 2017 with flexible manufacturing (FASTEN) and aviation data (ICARUS), establishing a dual-track focus. From 2019 onward, both tracks deepened: the manufacturing side added explicit zero-defect and quality control work (QU4LITY), while the aviation side moved from general data analytics toward specific machine-learning-driven flight planning and dispatcher tools (Pilot3, Dispatcher3). The trend shows a company moving from broad platform development toward applied AI in both its domains.

PACE is converging on machine learning applied to operational data — expect future work in AI-assisted decision-making for both aerospace and industrial settings.

How they like to work

PACE operates exclusively as a participant, never coordinating, which positions them as a reliable technical contributor rather than a project driver. With 83 unique partners across 18 countries from just 5 projects, they work in large consortia (averaging 16+ partners per project). This suggests they are sought after for their specialized software capabilities and integrate well into complex multi-partner setups without needing to lead.

Despite only 5 projects, PACE has built a remarkably wide network of 83 partners across 18 countries, indicating participation in large pan-European consortia with strong geographic diversity. Their network spans both aerospace and manufacturing research communities.

What sets them apart

PACE occupies a rare niche: a software company that operates credibly in both aerospace operations and digital manufacturing. Most H2020 participants specialize in one domain, but PACE's data platform and ML expertise transfers across both, making them a versatile technology partner. For consortium builders, they offer production-grade software engineering — not just research prototypes — which is valuable for Innovation Actions that need deployable results.

Highlights from their portfolio

• QU4LITY
  Largest funded project (EUR 299,688) and the clearest demonstration of their digital manufacturing capabilities in zero-defect production.
• Dispatcher3
  Most technically specific project — applies machine learning to historical flight data for dispatcher decision support, showcasing their applied AI competence.
• FASTEN
  Highest single funding (EUR 305,000) and their entry point into H2020, focused on autonomous manufacturing for custom products.