New Delhi: Aerospace giant Airbus has announced that it will set up a Research and Development (R&D) Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya in Gujarat, reinforcing its commitment to India’s innovation ecosystem.
Jurgen Westermeier, Managing Director of Airbus India, revealed the plan after a meeting with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw. He also shared that the company is sourcing over $1 billion worth of components annually from more than 100 Indian suppliers.
“Glad to know from Mr. Jurgen Westermeier, MD, Airbus India, that Airbus is sourcing $1 billion+ worth of components and has 100+ Indian suppliers. With strong design capabilities, it will soon set up an R&D Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya,” Vaishnaw tweeted.
The aircraft maker has already established a Digital Centre in Bengaluru, which it refers to as the backbone of its digital transformation. Airbus’s Bengaluru hub is its second-largest digital facility, following its headquarters in Toulouse, France.
In 2018, Airbus expanded its digital capabilities in India by establishing a Global Capability Centre (GCC) to support all divisions worldwide. The company currently employs over 3,600 people across various sites in India, including more than 1,500 skilled IT professionals delivering IT solutions to the business.
Airbus also collaborates with leading Indian institutes on joint R&D projects focused on sustainability, engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and big data. The company stated that its local footprint in sourcing, engineering, innovation, maintenance, and training services reflects its commitment to developing the local ecosystem.
India serves as a strategic resource hub for Airbus, providing world-class talent and research that power the aerospace sector, the global firm added.
In a notable collaboration, Airbus Helicopters awarded a contract in August to Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt Ltd. (MASPL) to manufacture the main fuselage of its H125 helicopter, strengthening ties between the two companies and supporting the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Additionally, Tata Group-owned Air India placed an order for 100 Airbus aircraft in December 2024, comprising 10 wide-body A350s and 90 narrow-body A320 Family aircraft.
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