PTC launches start-up programme to accelerate future of aerospace and defence innovation

Digital transformation specialist PTC has launched a new start-up programme to help early-stage companies bring new products and innovations to the aerospace and defence market faster.

Announced at the Reindustrialize Summit 2025, the initiative offers free access to its software, including the Creo+ software-as-a-service (SaaS) CAD solution, Onshape cloud-native CAD and product data management (PDM) platform. Firms can also tap into the Codebeamer+ application lifecycle management (ALM) solution, as well as a start-up package for its Arena product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management system (QMS) solution.

As aerospace and defence modernisation accelerates across all five domains – sea, air, land, space and cyber – new technologies emerge and global threats evolve. The industry is under pressure to move faster, integrate complex systems more effectively and deliver mission-critical solutions with greater agility. PTC’s A&D Start-up Programme addresses these priorities, helping fuel faster and more innovative product development for start-ups.

“Aerospace and defence start-ups are tackling some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, and they need tools that help them get ahead,” says David Katzman, General Manager of Arena and Onshape, PTC. “Through this new programme, we’re equipping them with our solutions and support from day one so they can move fast, meet compliance demands and stay focused on building what’s next.”

Start-ups can access Creo+, known for its modelling capabilities and support for complex assemblies, as well as Onshape, a cloud-native CAD platform with built-in PDM and real-time collaboration for agile teams with minimal IT overheads.

Access to Onshape includes Onshape Government, designed specifically to help meet compliance needs, like ITAR and EAR, for US federal and state agencies, defence contractors, and organisations working on regulated projects.

Participants can also leverage Codebeamer+ to support agile development with full requirements and test management, and end-to-end traceability, as well as Arena, a cloud-native PLM and QMS platform for enabling compliance and accelerating product development at scale.

Eligible start-ups can participate in the programme for multiple years to help support growth towards key funding and revenue milestones. In addition to the free software, they will gain access to PTC’s ecosystem of venture capitalists, incubators, technology partners and fellow innovators, plus opportunities for mentorship, exposure and industry engagement.

“Developing our own solutions demand precision and dependable tools at every stage,” says Mariarosa Argentiero, Chief Commercial Officer of ARCA Dynamics. “Creo helps us improve our production chain and accelerate the delivery of our products. It’s especially powerful for start-ups because it delivers the advanced capabilities needed for production without requiring additional improvements or add-ons.”

Ben Schleuniger, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbital Operations, concludes: “Designing next-generation spacecraft requires tools that are as agile and forward-looking as the missions we’re building. We adopted Onshape through PTC’s A&D Start-up Programme last year, giving us a fast, secure foundation to collaborate and iterate from day one. As our needs expanded, the Onshape Government offering enabled us to meet compliance requirements without slowing down. We’ve truly appreciated PTC’s support and collaboration every step of the way.”