WIA-Europe Symposium 2026 – Skills In Motion

The WIA-Europe Symposium returns for a 5th edition. Join us online at lunchtime - or on the in-person day in Brussels.

This year, we are combining virtual lunchtime sessions with a dedicated in-person day in Brussels, offering practical insights into aerospace careers, essential skills, and startup development.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME:

• Monday, May 4th

>> Start Up Day

The Startup Day brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders in the aerospace sector for a day of learning and discussion.

Through three workshops, participants will explore how to build a startup, hear the career journeys of women shaping the future of aerospace, and gain insights into emerging trends in the global space economy.

Key Highlights

• How to start and grow a startup in the aerospace industry, including investment, sales, marketing, and team building

• Career journeys and leadership insights from individuals shaping the future of aerospace

• Expert perspectives on the most important emerging trends in the global space economy

• Tuesday, May 5th

>> From Degree to Deployment: Why the First 5 Years Decide Everything.

This session looks at early-career pathways and the gap between education and industry. We’ll discuss questions such as:
• Are universities preparing systems thinkers?
• Why do many aerospace careers stall around years 3–5?
• What may be missing: confidence, networks, or regulation literacy?

The discussion brings together students, early-career professionals, universities, educators, and industry talent leaders interested in strengthening the aerospace talent pipeline.

• Wednesday, May 6th

>> Personal Skills Development (Workshop)

Poll-selected workshop exploring key transferable skills engineers don’t learn in school.

• Thursday, May 7th

>> Brussels In-Person Day – Networking & High-Level Discussions

This in-person day in Brussels brings together industry leaders, policymakers, startups, and early-career professionals for high-level discussions and panels on Europe’s aerospace and innovation landscape.

Highlights include:

• From Start-Up to Sovereignty: Why Europe Loses Its Aerospace Scale-Ups – examining the structural challenges facing high-growth companies.
• Do EU Skills Instruments Deliver Who They Promise? – exploring the policy mechanisms addressing the early-career 3–5 year gap.

While earlier events in the series focus on hands-on experiences and practical skills, this day provides a strategic, policy-level perspective, combined with networking opportunities to connect with peers, mentors, and industry leaders.

NOTE ON TICKETS & REGISTRATIONS

The registration form offers you two ticket types (you can choose one or both):

• Online ticket – free access to virtual lunchtime sessions.
• In-person ticket 7 May, Brussels

Please only register for the in-person ticket if you plan to attend, and if your plans change, cancel via Eventbrite or email events@wia-europe.org so someone else can take your place.