Aerospace and aviation are complex and capital-intensive industries, with long development cycles and high resource needs. In these sectors, corporate startup collaboration is critical. Startups gain access to funding, testing facilities, certification pathways, and technical expertise, while corporations benefit from agile R&D and new technologies.
In the Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025, the aerospace & aviation group is created by comparing the Total Scores of corporations in this industry. Total Score is based on corporate involvement, startup success, and ecosystem integration
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The Global Leaders in Aerospace Startup Engagement
The Index identifies four corporations in the aerospace sub-industry with notable startup engagement, reflecting the highly specialized and concentrated nature of this sector:
Airbus
Total Score: 68.232
Country: France
Airbus is the undisputed leader in aerospace startup collaboration, ranking far ahead of competitors. With a score more than five times higher than Lockheed Martin, Airbus demonstrates the most comprehensive corporate involvement, from accelerators and venture programs to direct partnerships. Its initiatives have helped startups scale globally, particularly in sustainable aviation fuels, digital flight operations, and autonomous systems.
Lockheed Martin
Total Score: 13.714
Country: United States
As one of the largest defense and aerospace firms in the world, Lockheed Martin holds second place. Its collaborations are often dual-use, blending civilian aerospace applications with defense technologies. The company’s focus on advanced engineering, security, and space exploration makes it a critical partner for startups innovating in these sensitive fields.
Safran
Total Score: 3.556
Country: France
Safran, known for aircraft propulsion, equipment, and avionics, ranks third. While smaller in scope compared to Airbus, Safran’s involvement reflects France’s strong aerospace ecosystem. The company maintains active partnerships with startups working on flight efficiency, predictive maintenance, and next-generation propulsion technologies.
Israel Aerospace Industries
Score: 1.066
Country: Israel
Completing the top four is IAI, a state-linked corporation with expertise in defense, space, and commercial aviation. Its ranking illustrates how smaller national ecosystems can still foster meaningful corporate–startup engagement, particularly in niche areas such as drones, satellites, and avionics.
The Global Leaders in Aviation Startup Engagement
The Index highlights five corporations in the aviation sub-industry with meaningful startup collaboration. While their scores are smaller compared to aerospace giants, these companies show how airlines are becoming active players in innovation, especially in passenger services, sustainability, and digital transformation.
Lufthansa
Total Score: 2.800
Country: Germany
Lufthansa leads the aviation sub-industry, with strong involvement in digital services, passenger experience, and green aviation solutions. Through startup programs and open innovation initiatives, the airline is reshaping the future of air travel.
International Airlines Group (IAG)
Total Score: 2.033
Country: United Kingdom
IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, ranks second. Its collaborations focus on operational efficiency, customer platforms, and sustainability, offering startups global reach across its network of carriers.
El Al Israeli Airlines
Total Score: 1.728
Country: Israel
El Al demonstrates how national airlines can support innovation in aviation. Its partnerships often target safety, passenger technologies, and efficiency improvements, creating opportunities for startups in Israel’s growing tech ecosystem.
Japan Airlines (JAL)
Total Score: 1.502
Country: Japan
JAL is building a reputation as a forward-looking airline by engaging startups in smart logistics, digital booking systems, and sustainable aviation initiatives. Its involvement highlights Japan’s strength in applying technology to traditional industries.
Turkish Airlines
Total Score: 1.371
Country: Türkiye
Rounding out the top five, Turkish Airlines collaborates with startups to expand digital travel solutions, improve customer service, and explore innovative cargo logistics. Its role demonstrates the increasing importance of aviation hubs in global startup engagement.
Europe’s Dominance in Aerospace & Aviation
The Index shows a strong European presence in aerospace & aviation. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom all reach high average scores for their corporations, higher than the U.S. France is the clear leader, with Airbus and Safran in aerospace, and Lufthansa and IAG in aviation. This mix shows that Europe not only has leading manufacturers, but also influential airlines. Europe may not have as many corporations as the U.S., but the average performance is stronger.
Aerospace & Aviation in the Wider Transportation Industry
The aerospace sub-industry is part of the broader transportation industry in the Index. This includes both aerospace and automotive leaders like Airbus, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo Group. By number, automotive companies dominate, but aerospace shows stronger results when we look at average scores.
The average score of all transportation corporations is 7.58. But the average for aerospace and aviation corporations is only 10.67. This means that, even with fewer companies, aerospace is stronger than the transportation industry as a whole. Airbus, for example, ranks #1 in transportation overall, ahead of major automotive and logistics giants. This proves that aerospace companies may be small in number, but their impact is big.
Conclusion
Compared to Fintech or Software, the aerospace & aviation sector includes fewer corporate players, and their average scores remain below the global benchmark. Yet within the broader transportation industry, their impact is significant. With an average score of 10.67, well above the transportation industry average of 7.58, aerospace & aviation corporations demonstrate an outsized influence, shaping the future of both transportation and aviation innovation.
Explore rankings for 370+ corporations by industry and country in the Corporate Startup Activity Index.
