Case Study: Ascendance accelerates sustainable aircraft industrialization with Capgemini

Ascendance’s journey to sustainable aviation takes off

Ascendance, a French aerospace start-up, wanted to move from aircraft prototype demonstrations to industrialization as part of its mission to make aviation more sustainable. It partnered with Capgemini to support the development of its low-carbon aircraft programs, including STERNA, a hybrid-electric propulsion system, and ATEA, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Capgemini helped Ascendance refine flight physics, systems engineering, and mechanical design for the prototypes, then defined a broader industrialization strategy in 2024 covering assembly-line architecture, battery make-or-buy decisions, connected services, and data/IT continuity. The collaboration strengthened the path to certification and future production, with the prototype’s first flight expected in the upcoming year and a clearer roadmap to scaling sustainable aviation.

Ascendance