CVG and GATE Alliance partner to accelerate airport innovation

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Germany’s GATE Alliance have formalised a partnership to accelerate airport innovation, enabling technology testing, pilot projects and international collaboration.

Summary:

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Germany’s GATE Alliance have signed an agreement to advance airport supplier innovation, technology testing and international collaboration.
The partnership will connect aviation technology companies with real-world testing opportunities, pilot projects and market access across the United States and Germany.
The collaboration will focus on emerging solutions including automated mobility, low-emissions fuels, advanced manufacturing and aviation technology innovation.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – and Germany’s GATE Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising a partnership focused on airport supplier innovation, technology testing, and international business collaboration.

The agreement builds on a relationship that began in 2023 and establishes a framework to help GATE members connect with new markets, validate emerging technologies, and identify opportunities for collaboration. Through the partnership, the companies will gain access to CVG’s aviation ecosystem and innovation resources in the United States, while CVG partners will have opportunities to connect with GATE Alliance’s network of airport technology companies in Germany.

“CVG believes innovation happens when organisations are willing to test ideas in real-world environments and learn from one another,” said Larry Krauter, Chief Executive Officer, CVG Airport. “This partnership creates a new transatlantic pathway for collaboration and strengthens connections between our region and one of the world’s leading aviation markets.”

The organisations will establish a joint working group to coordinate introductions, technology demonstrations, pilot projects, and potential investment opportunities. Priority areas of collaboration include aerospace and aviation, automated and electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, low-emissions fuels and energy infrastructure, agbioscience, and life sciences.

“CVG has been a valued partner to our members for several years,” said Jens Reinhard, Managing Director, GATE Alliance. “This agreement creates greater opportunities for innovation, knowledge sharing and market access on both sides of the Atlantic.”

CVG has developed a reputation as a testing ground for new aviation technologies and innovative operating concepts. The agreement is expected to support future opportunities for companies seeking to validate technologies, gather operational feedback, and explore expansion into new markets.

Hear more from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) at the 20^th anniversary edition of FTE Global, taking place in Dallas, Texas, on 8 to 10 September 2026. Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer, CVG Airport, is participating in a session titled ‘Case Study Spotlight: Big & bold new tech strategies – visions, deployments, learnings and next steps’. He will deliver a joint presentation alongside Miles Garner, Chief Commercial Officer, Aurrigo, focused on ‘Two regulators, one runway: How CVG and Aurrigo are writing the rules for human-in-the-loop autonomy’. Meanwhile, Beth Larkcom, Director of Strategic Innovation, CVG Airport, is moderating a session titled ‘In, Out and Around: Future Airport Mobility Approaches’.

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