On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport (Grottaglie Airport Test Bed – GATB), the infrastructure managed by the Aerospace Technology District (DTA) for research and experimental flight in the field of drones, hosted the official launch of the Italian Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) within the framework of the AIRMOB project, coordinated by DeepBlue. Co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, AIRMOB aims to develop new vocational and higher education training pathways to support the growth of innovative air mobility—an emerging sector with significant technological and employment potential. The DTA is a partner in the AIRMOB project, as well as coordinator of the Italian CoVE, and also involves in the work the University of Salento and the ITS Academy – Sustainable Mobility and Aerospace. 

Advanced or Innovative Air Mobility (AAM/IAM) is an emerging aviation sector that will revolutionize the transport of passengers and cargo on short-haul, low-altitude flights, using Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) or coordinated swarms of small drones.  

IAM offers the potential to revolutionize the way people and goods move within cities, reduce congestion, enhance mobility options, and create a more sustainable and livable urban environment. 

AIRMOB is embedded in a broader strategic vision that seeks to foster a modern, dynamic training ecosystem, capable of effectively responding to the evolving needs of the aerial mobility market. In this context, the CoVE serves as a pivotal hub. It is conceived as a territorial network that connects providers of vocational education and training (VET) entities, companies, public institutions, universities, and research centers. 

The main objectives of the CoVEs, as outlined by the European framework, include: 

• Designing and delivering innovative vocational training aligned with both current and future market needs. 
• Promoting technological and educational innovation, social inclusion, and sustainable development in the regions involved. 
• Supporting upskilling and reskilling processes through lifelong learning. 
• Creating new professional profiles in emerging sectors, such as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which includes the use of drones, air taxis, and other advanced aerial transport solutions. 

The launch event brought together the main actors involved in the project. Hosting the initiative were representatives from the Aerospace Technological District (Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale – DTA), joined by delegates from project partners DeepBlue, EuroUSC Italia, and the University of Salento. 

In addition to the project partners, several high-profile external guests took part in the event. Giancarlo Ferrara, Coordinator of the U-space/Drone R&D Work Programme at EUROCONTROL, delivered an insightful presentation on the current European regulatory and technological landscape. Joining remotely were Nicola Nizzoli, President of the Italian Association for Light RPAS (ASSORPASS), and Filippo Tomasello, Senior Partner at EuroUSC. Both offered valuable reflections on the educational and regulatory challenges that still affect the innovative air mobility sector. 

During the meeting, the project’s upcoming developments that will guide the implementation of the Italian CoVE in the coming months were presented, with a focus on the experiences, skills, and strategic goals that the partners will contribute to the operational implementation of the CoVE. Emphasis was placed on the need to design multidisciplinary training programmes tailored to the specific demands of the sector. 

The discussions among participants helped shape a shared vision for the future of aerospace innovation education. Institutional, academic, and industrial stakeholders all highlighted the importance of a synergistic approach to bridge existing skill gaps and properly prepare for the next generation of professionals. 

At the conclusion of the event, the project partners carried out a technical visit to the laboratories of the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed, with the aim of exploring the potential of this infrastructure in order to enhance its role within the educational pathways that will be designed and tested. A strategic choice that confirms the importance of the practical and experimental dimension in the training of professional profiles related to innovative air mobility, as well as the role of the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed in the development program of the national and European UAS industry 

The event in Grottaglie thus marked a key milestone in the progress of the AIRMOB project and the emerging Italian CoVE, laying the groundwork for a strengthened and expanded educational offering in Puglia and across Italy—capable of supporting innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development through excellence in aerospace training.