Switzerland, unlike other European countries, did not have a national competence center for aviation research until mid-2017. The Swiss aviation sector, though, requires greater innovation if it intends to further improve its efficiency, safety and environmental performance. That’s why the Swiss Federal Council, in its aviation policy report published in 2016, called for the creation of such a center that would work in close cooperation with the aviation industry and public authorities. The ZHAW School of Engineering’s Center for Aviation (ZAV), the University of St. Gallen’s Center for Aviation Competence (CFAC) and the Chair of Management of Network Industries (MIR) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) founded the Aviation Research Center Switzerland (ARCS) on June 30, 2017. The University of Zurich (UZH) joined the organization shortly thereafter, and ARCS today is open to other colleges and universities that are capable of providing scientific contributions.