Stimulate aerospace research and technology in Central and East Europe

Central and East European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey) had enormous experience in aeronautics and space. Unfortunately due to historical and political reasons this expertise is unfamiliar to potential partners from old European Union Member States (MS) and from some of Associated Candidate Countries (ACC). The aim of this paper is shortly to present an ongoing EU funded project (START project http://start.stil.bas.bg). Its goal is to collect, sort, present and widely disseminate the available information for the aeronautics and space potential and heritage of the above listed countries. The project aims also to entrance significantly the level of START partners\´ participation in subsequent calls of European Framework Programmes, Priority 4 "Aeronautics and Space" and particularly in proposals for integrated projects and networks of excellence.