"The overall aim of the CEDESA project is to upgrade the existing research capacity in aerodynamics and aircraft structures at the Institute of Aerospace Engineering, Brno University of Technology (IAE-BUT) to the highest European level and create a Centre of Excellence for the Design of Efficient and Safe Aircraft.IAE-BUT is a very promising major European research organisation as demonstrated by its participation in four FP6-AEROSPACE and one FP7 Aeronautics R&D project. The Centre of Excellence will be developed through a range of activities derived from IAE-BUT’s SWOT analysis.The activities will increase IAE-BUT’s competitiveness and visibility in the most advanced topics of aerodynamics and aircraft structures: 1. Aerodynamic Shape Optimization; 2. Aircraft Parameters Identification; 3. Analysis of Structure Dynamics Behaviour during Extreme Situations; and 4. Composite Structure Behaviour under Static and Fatigue Loading.Essential for the CEDESA are twinning partnerships with 4 specialist research organisations: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company Innovation Works (EADS), Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) and Materials Engineering Research Laboratory Ltd (MERL).IAE-BUT will increase its human potential by hiring 8 experienced Czech researchers and 1 research manager. It will also organise extensive know-how exchanges with the twinning partners. IAE-BUT will increase its technology potential by upgrading its computer equipment and structural testing facilities to enable more advanced CFD/FEM modelling and physical testing. It will increase its visibility by organising international workshops and conferences with support from Technical University Braunschweig, University of Limerick and University of Glasgow. Finally, to ensure its research quality, IAE-BUT will be evaluated by a team of international, independent experts nominated by the Commission."