SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS

Their core work

Safran Aero Boosters is a Belgian subsidiary of the Safran Group specializing in the design and manufacture of aircraft engine components, particularly low-pressure compressors and accessory gearboxes. Within H2020, they contribute aerospace engineering expertise to Clean Sky 2 engine demonstrators and research into next-generation propulsion systems. Their work spans from traditional engine aeromechanics (flutter, forced response analysis) to hybrid electric propulsion architectures and associated thermal management challenges.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 involvement (2018), Safran Aero Boosters focused on traditional engine competencies — combustion, flutter analysis, and aeromechanical behavior of turbomachinery components. By 2020, their participation shifted toward future propulsion concepts, joining IMOTHEP to investigate hybrid electric architectures, waste heat recovery, and system-level thermal management. This mirrors the broader aerospace industry pivot from incremental engine optimization toward electrified and hybrid propulsion for cleaner aviation.

Safran Aero Boosters is transitioning from conventional engine component expertise toward hybrid electric propulsion and thermal system integration — making them a relevant partner for future sustainable aviation projects.

How they like to work

Safran Aero Boosters operates exclusively as a contributor rather than a project leader, with zero coordinator roles across all four projects. Half of their participation is as a third party (through the Safran Group's Clean Sky 2 membership), indicating they often contribute specialized components within larger corporate frameworks. Despite only four projects, they connect to 80 partners across 16 countries, reflecting participation in very large aerospace consortia typical of Clean Sky 2.

Connected to 80 unique partners across 16 countries through large Clean Sky 2 and RIA/IA consortia. Their network is broad but primarily driven by the structure of major European aerospace research programs rather than bilateral partnerships.

What sets them apart

As a Safran Group subsidiary based in Belgium, they bring large-OEM manufacturing capability and deep engine component knowledge to EU research projects — something few Belgian organizations can offer in aerospace. Their combination of hands-on compressor and gearbox manufacturing with growing expertise in hybrid electric propulsion makes them a credible bridge between traditional aero-engine hardware and future electrified architectures. For consortium builders, they offer industrial validation capacity backed by one of Europe's top three engine manufacturers.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IMOTHEP
  Their largest funded project (EUR 113,125), investigating hybrid electric propulsion maturation — represents their strategic shift toward sustainable aviation technologies.
• ARIAS
  Multi-year research project (2018-2023) on advanced aeromechanical solutions, reflecting their core competency in engine structural dynamics and flutter prediction.