VÆRIDION Welcomes EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra to its Production and Testing Facility at EDMO airport
Munich, February 13, 2026 – European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, visited VÆRIDION’s production facility at Oberpfaffenhofen airport, a strategic site to manufacture and produce high-performance airborne battery systems at scale for next-generation electric aircraft and other airborne platforms. During the visit, Commissioner Hoekstra was able to experience first-hand the company’s industrialization capabilities and its established know-how in developing and manufacturing enabling technologies that are set to advance sustainable mobility, strengthen connectivity, and reinforce Europe’s competitive edge in the aerospace sector.
The program included discussions with CEO Ivor van Dartel, CTO Markus Kochs-Kämper, and CBO Otto Verhoeff, a presentation of VÆRIDION’s Microliner aircraft and the company’s proprietary technology portfolio, and a tour of the hangar that will act as the main industrialization hub for these core technologies ahead of the company’s first flight.
The conversations highlighted the need to solidify Europe’s technological competitiveness, strengthen its industrial sovereignty, and preserve its leading position in aerospace innovation. In particular, the Regional Air Mobility sector, which includes only a limited number of European OEMs and is currently largely dominated by U.S. and Chinese companies, underscored the importance of supporting and scaling local capabilities. Leveraging agile, small-scale players to deploy and validate electric propulsion technologies can unlock broader benefits across the aerospace and mobility ecosystems, especially at a time when geopolitical shifts underscore aviation’s strategic importance for sovereignty and connectivity.
The exchange also emphasized VÆRIDION’s pivotal role in supporting the European Union’s strategic objectives under the Fit for 55 package and the Clean Industrial Plan. These frameworks prioritize the decarbonization of key sectors, including aviation, while fostering competitive, homegrown clean technologies. In this context, startups and innovative companies like VÆRIDION were recognized as critical enablers of the transition. By delivering breakthrough solutions, they not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also create high-value jobs, reinforce the EU’s industrial base, and secure Europe’s competitiveness in the global aeronautical sector.
“We were honoured to welcome Commissioner Hoekstra to our facility at Oberpfaffenhofen airport,” said Ivor van Dartel, CEO of VÆRIDION. “The visit underscores the growing recognition of the role startups like VÆRIDION play in advancing Europe’s aerospace ecosystem. As a company driving innovation in Regional Air Mobility, we are committed to connecting underserved European regions, supporting sustainable economic growth and positioning Europe at the forefront of next-generation aerospace technologies. We look forward to playing our part in building a cleaner, more competitive, and more resilient Europe.”
“I travel across the EU and have the privilege of visiting truly outstanding, state-of-the-art companies — and today, here in Munich, VAERIDION is another great example. This is exactly the kind of company Europe needs.” said Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. “We must tackle the climate crisis, but we must also strengthen our competitiveness and strategic independence. Here at VAERIDION, you see a pioneer delivering on all of that at once: advancing sustainable aviation while manufacturing in Europe. This is European innovation at its best.”
VÆRIDION is developing the Microliner, a 9-seat 100% electric aircraft built from the ground up for Regional Air Mobility, with certification targeted by the end of the decade. At the heart of VÆRIDION’s approach is its patented wing-integrated battery system, which enables higher energy efficiency, improved weight distribution, and enhanced safety. Combined with its electrically powered multi-engine, single-propeller architecture, this differentiated design will enable efficient, fully electric regional flight, eliminating in-flight emissions (no CO₂, no NOx, no contrails). By advancing zero-emission propulsion technologies and scalable industrial solutions for high-performance airborne battery systems, VÆRIDION is an example of how entrepreneurial innovation can translate EU climate and mobility ambitions into tangible, market-ready outcomes, positioning us at the forefront of innovation in aviation.
Media contact: pr@vaeridion.com
