Collaborative R&D: GenAI & MBSE in Focus at the Swiss Aerospace Cluster Event at cross-ING

On March 3, 2026, we had the pleasure of hosting a Swiss Aerospace Cluster event at the cross-ING headquarters in Technopark Winterthur. Under the title “Collaborative R&D: GenAI & MBSE”, experts from industry, engineering, and research came together to discuss the role of artificial intelligence and modern systems engineering methods in safety-critical industries. The program provided valuable insights from different perspectives – ranging from regulatory considerations and practical applications to strategic approaches for digital transformation in engineering.

The event opened with a presentation by Emanuele Gambula (Lexify), who analyzed the current regulatory developments surrounding AI in the aerospace sector, particularly in the context of the EU AI Act and EASA regulations. His talk highlighted the growing challenge companies face in balancing innovation with regulatory compliance.

This was followed by Ilker Gül (CertX), who demonstrated how generative AI can be used in compliance and auditing processes. Using the example of an AI-supported auditing assistant, he showed how AI can make document reviews more efficient while still keeping the final assessment and responsibility with human auditors.

From the cross-ING perspective, Dr. Marc Heggemann, Chief Competence Center Digital, presented how GenAI can help address knowledge management challenges in industry. In sectors characterized by long product lifecycles, complex supply chains, and extensive documentation, AI can help transform fragmented knowledge into actionable information, improving efficiency and collaboration.

Silviu Rata, Chief Competence Center Systems Engineering, then focused on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and the importance of structured requirements management in complex mechatronic product development. MBSE enables organizations to consistently link requirements, architecture, and implementation throughout the development lifecycle, thereby reducing risks and minimizing costly changes at later stages.

Following the presentations, participants discussed key industry questions in break-out sessions, including:

• How can complex engineering projects be organized more efficiently?

• How can the experience of individual experts be transformed into scalable organizational knowledge?

• And what role will AI play in everyday engineering work in the future?

The discussions continued during the closing apéro, providing an opportunity for participants to deepen conversations and build new connections within the network.

We would like to sincerely thank all speakers, participants, and the Swiss Aerospace Cluster for the inspiring exchange and look forward to future collaborations and events together.