Warming up the engines for EPIIC 2

Our journey with EPIIC continues. After taking part successfully in the first phase of the programme, the company has secured its place in EPIIC2 – Enhanced Pilot Interfaces & Interactions for fighter Cockpit (Phase 2), the project funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2025 and dedicated to next-generation cockpit technologies for future combat aircraft.

EPIIC2 is the natural evolution of the first phase: it builds directly on the results already achieved and takes them further, moving from initial research toward mature solutions through studies, design and system prototyping, with combined demonstrations that validate how the technologies work together. The goal is to remove today's limitations so that pilots can refocus on tactical leadership and mission-critical actions, boosting operational effectiveness and crew safety.

For Next2U, this second phase means picking up the thread of phase 1 and pushing it forward. The company continues to bring its expertise in pilot monitoring: sensor technology and real-time data analysis to assess the crew's psychophysical state — fatigue, stress and cognitive load — enabling adaptive support and raising safety margins in flight. What began as a contribution in EPIIC now grows into a more mature, more integrated role within the consortium.

EPIIC2 brings together 27 partners from 13 European countries, is coordinated by Thales AVS France and runs for 36 months, with an estimated total cost of around €66.2 million and a maximum EU contribution of €54 million. For Italy, alongside Next2U, the project also involves Leonardo and the Centre for Higher Defence Studies (CASD).

Being part of EPIIC2 confirms and strengthens the trust placed in Next2U across the two phases, and its lasting role in the European defence ecosystem — always starting with the human factor.