IVO BOSCAROL

Ivo Boscarol, Dr. h.c., started his aviation career as an aircraft model builder inspired by his father, a known inventor. He later combined his hobby and aviation business as the first private aircraft producer in the Balkans and contributed to the global expansion of the microlight aircraft class.

Boscarol is a highly recognized entrepreneur both in Slovenia and internationally. Politico listed him among the Top 28 most influential people in Europe. He was awarded the highest FAI and FAA August Raspet awards for his contributions to aviation.

As the founder and CEO of Pipistrel, he received many company awards such as the European Business Award, three victories at the NASA Challenges, a World Champion title, 11 world records, several extreme flights around the world, and the highest national civil award, the Golden Order.

Boscarol dedicates a great part of his life to making aviation affordable and environmentally friendly. He is the concept designer and producer of multiple world-first aircraft, including an electric two-seat motorglider, a four-seat hybrid propulsion aircraft, electric trainer, and hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft.

His greatest achievement is the third milestone in aviation, where, after piston and jet engine-powered aircraft, he type-certified the first electric emission-free motor, batteries, and aircraft.

With this, in June 2020, Ivo Boscarol opened the door to the aviation industry for the commercial use of emission-free air transport. The breakthrough nature of this achievement is demonstrated by the fact that after four years, no one else has managed to certify another emission-free aircraft.

To speed up the electrification of aviation, in 2022 Boscarol formed a strong partnership with the U.S. corporation Textron, selling them the majority of Pipistrel shares. He continues his vision of emission-free aviation in his role as the President Emeritus of Pipistrel. Parallelly, he also invests in the development and technologies of optionally piloted and autonomous aircraft.

With a donation of 30 million euros, the largest individual donation in the history of Slovenia, for various large social projects for the public good, aeroclubs, and innovative aviation startups, he also became the biggest and world-famous philanthropist from the world of aviation.