The Global Aerospace Summit 2025, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., gathered the brightest minds and most influential voices shaping the aerospace industry. ST Engineering was proud to sponsor the event, which served as a platform for collaboration and dialogue on the future of aerospace.
Investing for the Future
Kevin Chow, Executive Vice President and Head of Aerostructures and Systems, Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, shared his reflections from the summit, highlighting the clear momentum to invest in the future across both government and industry.
“My key takeaway was that while there is significant investment and innovation momentum in the various aerospace verticals, e.g. materials, manufacturing process/equipment, assembly automation and digitization, there is room for different industry players to pursue end-to-end innovations in a collaborative manner rather than in silos. I believe that will bring more robust solutions quicker to the market,” said Kevin.
“On the civil side, I heard that the US government is investing an initial sum of $12.5 billion into the National Airspace System to modernize its infrastructure. On the defense side, we heard about DARPA’s ongoing portfolio of 280 projects with $5 billion of budgets, a tremendous investment to boost innovation.”
Kevin noted that private-sector efforts mirrored this commitment.
“We heard examples from Airbus about their next-generation narrowbody set to enter service in 2035, JetZero about their blended-wing body, Archer about eVTOL, and Boom about supersonic flight. There is tremendous momentum from the private sector to invest for the future.”
As chair of the Next-Generation Manufacturing panel, featuring Hexcel, NIAR, and Airbus, Kevin saw firsthand how the industry is committing resources to innovation.
“It was very clear to me that there have been significant investments for the future in materials, in next-generation manufacturing methods, and also automation and robotics,” he said.
A Regional Commitment to Growth
The summit also showcased the role of US states in advancing aerospace. Maryland Governor Wes Moore credited his state’s higher education system as a driver for its growing aerospace industry.
“There’s an extraordinary pipeline of higher education talent,” Governor Moore said. “It’s one of the reasons Maryland has the highest percentage of engineers and PhDs in the United States of America.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized regulatory efficiency and a business-friendly environment as critical growth enablers.
“If you need an air permit or a water permit, it takes 30% of the time it did three years ago,” Governor Youngkin said, underscoring Virginia’s commitment to streamlining processes and attracting aerospace business.
Governor Moore also highlighted the value of regional collaboration, noting that Maryland and Virginia’s friendly competition drives innovation and strengthens the aerospace ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
The Global Aerospace Summit made one thing clear: the aerospace industry is investing in a more connected, innovative, and sustainable future.
For ST Engineering, the summit was not just an opportunity to listen; it was a chance to lead. The conversations around investment, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, and collaboration reaffirm our commitment to helping shape the next era of aerospace.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for us to make a difference as an industry,” Kevin concluded, “in innovating and creating new solutions for the future.”
