On April 23rd, Berlin hosted the LuFo Info Day 2026 (LuFo, "Luftfahrtforschungsprogramm" = Civil aviation research programme), bringing together industry, research, and policymakers to discuss the upcoming LuFo VII-2 funding call and the future of aviation innovation in Germany.

Focused Insights on Funding and Priorities

The event provided a clear overview of the programme’s goals, key focus areas, and application process. Participants gained practical guidance on preparing proposals, with detailed explanations of the two-stage submission process. Beyond procedures, the message was clear: Aviation research is increasingly driven by sustainability, digitalization, and advanced technologies.

A strong emphasis was placed on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as innovation drivers, just like SYSGO. Strengthening their participation reflects a broader shift toward more collaborative and agile ecosystems.

Collaboration at the Core

With a large number of participants, the event also served as a valuable networking platform. Discussions quickly moved beyond presentations, creating opportunities to connect with potential partners and explore joint project ideas.

Discussions quickly moved beyond presentations, creating opportunities to connect with potential partners and explore joint project ideas—particularly in areas such as safety-critical systems, real-time operating systems, and secure avionics platforms.

Our Takeaway

The event highlighted how funding programmes like LuFo can effectively connect strategy, innovation, and collaboration. For SYSGO, this aligns closely with our focus on safety- and security-critical software platforms for aerospace and our commitment to supporting next-generation aviation technologies.

A Personal Note

What stood out most was the shared sense of direction across the community. Aviation is evolving, and collaboration will be essential to drive meaningful progress.

For us at SYSGO, the event was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded organizations and explore collaborations around safety- / security-critical and certifiable software solutions for aviation.