Ivo Boscarol, an economist by education, initially worked in artistic photography, printing, and design in the years after his studies. For his achievements in the field of design, the Slovenian Designers’ Association awarded him the title of honorary member in 2022.

He is known in the aviation world as a pioneer of electric aviation, pilot, flight instructor, five-time national champion in ultralight flying, and sportsman of the year. As the first private aircraft manufacturer in the Balkans, he has contributed to establishing aviation standards for the ultralight aircraft class on a global scale since the early 1980s.

He is the founder, long-time owner and director of the Pipistrel group of companies, which design and manufacture the most advanced light aircraft in the world with branches in Slovenia, Italy and China. Pipistrel aircraft won the World Champion title, accomplished several flights around the world and 16 world records.

Ivo Boscarol has dedicated a large part of his work to the accessibility and environmental friendliness of aviation. For more than three decades, Pipistrel has been the manufacturer of the most energy-efficient light aircraft and a pioneer of electric propulsion for commercial use. In 2007, Ivo and his team designed the world’s first fully electric two-seater aircraft, the Taurus Electro. In 2011, the Taurus G4, the world’s first four-seat electric aircraft, brought Pipistrel its third victory in the NASA Challenge competition.

In 2014, Pipistrel introduced the world’s first mass-produced electric training aircraft, the Alpha Electro. In 2016, he participated in the development of the first 4-seater hybrid-powered aircraft and in the same year also developed the first 4-seater aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

With the world’s first ever type-certification of an electric, emission-free aircraft in 2020, Ivo Boscarol as the owner of Pipistrel achieved the third great milestone in aviation. After the piston engine-powered aircraft was type-certified in USA for passenger air transport in 1927 and jet engine aircraft in UK in 1953, Ivo Boscarol opened the door for the commercial use of emission-free electric air transport by certifying the electric propulsion aircraft Velis Electro on 7 June 2020.

For his work, he received awards from the International Aeronautical Organization (FAI) and the August Raspet Award from the Experimental Aircraft Association for outstanding contributions to the development of aviation.

Under his leadership, Pipistrel has received numerous awards, such as the European Business Award for the most innovative company in the EU in 2010, three consecutive victories in the NASA Challenge competitions, and the highest national civilian decoration, the “Golden Order of Merit” from the President of the Republic of Slovenia.

Boscarol is a highly respected entrepreneur in Slovenia. He has received the Readers’ Digest award for the most trusted businessman in Slovenia for nine consecutive years. The University of Nova Gorica awarded him a gold plaque and the title of honorary doctor. The Manager Association awarded him a lifetime achievement award, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia awarded him a recognition for exceptional entrepreneurial achievements, and he also received the “Spring Wind” award. Finance magazine declared him the best director, and AmCham Slovenia named him a business leader. The Slovenian Post dedicated a commemorative stamp to him, and the newspaper Delo chose him as the personality of the year.

His work and achievements are also recognized abroad. Politico magazine ranked him among the 28 most influential people in the European Union, Bloomberg Adria among the 50 most influential individuals in the region, and the New Europe organization ranked him among the 100 best innovators in Europe. The Republic of Italy awarded him the Order of the Italian Star, and the American Kiddie Hawk Flight Academy awarded him the title of Living Legend of Aviation.

In 2022, Boscarol sold the majority of the shares of the Pipistrel group of companies to the American corporation Textron, where as a honorary president of Pipistrel he continues his vision of developing emission-free aviation. In 2022, with the largest private donation in the history of Slovenia, 30 million euros for large social projects for the public good, he also became known as a philanthropist.

To manage and enrich the purchase price from the sale of his stake in Pipistrel, he founded the family company Boscarol d.o.o. He invests the funds directly or through the company in high technology, pharmaceuticals, the entertainment and sports industry, medicine, alternative food production, catering, winemaking, and in various financial and real estate investments.

As a general manager or co-manager, he manages most of the companies in the Boscarol group and uses his knowledge and experience to support start-up companies.

Taja Boscarol was born in 1982. She attended high school in Ajdovščina and in 2006 she completed art study program at the Faculty of Education. She founded her own business for graphic and industrial design, arrangement and decoration. In 2011 she was employed at Pipistrel d.o.o. where she performed various tasks from designing and editing websites, design of promotional and printed materials for the company, to PR. With her knowledge and experience, she helps with the design of corporate visual identities, brand designs and websites of companies from the Boscarol group, as well as presentations of the companies’ work and activities.