Airbus has set up its largest technology and digital innovation centre outside Europe in Bengaluru. The new facility will serve as an integrated hub for engineering, digital transformation, customer services and procurement for the company. The facility is designed to accommodate about 5,000 employees, and the Bengaluru campus will serve as the primary engine for Airbus’ “Make in India” strategy.
The work from this centre will be strategic and will be deeply integrated into the entire lifecycle of the aircraft that is manufactured by Airbus. The new centre is also expected to contribute to emerging areas such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) research, testing and certification, supporting the aviation sector’s transition toward greener technologies.
The centre was inaugurated by Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and M.B. Patil, Minister of Industries and Infrastructure of Karnataka. Shivakumar emphasised the importance of nurturing engineering talent to support the industry’s future growth, and M.B. Patil informed that Karnataka accounted for over 60 per cent of India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing output.
“More than a third of Airbus’s global digital workforce is now based in Bengaluru. Engineers at the centre will contribute to the entire lifecycle of Airbus aircraft, supporting design, engineering, lifecycle management and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainable aviation systems,” remarked Catherine Jestin, Executive Vice President for Digital at Airbus.
“Bengaluru has firmly established itself as the cradle of India’s aviation ecosystem, and the new Airbus centre will further strengthen India’s role in global aerospace development,” remarked Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, who joined in virtually from Delhi. Naidu said that many key components for the Airbus A321neo aircraft are already manufactured in India, and Indian engineers are increasingly contributing to advanced aerospace technologies.
Also Read
The centre will also house a dedicated Customer Services centre that will provide critical support both locally and globally. This centre will offer tailored support programmes, flight hour services and comprehensive maintenance and technical support to Airbus customers around the world.
The Bengaluru campus will also function as a vital procurement hub and a primary orchestrator of the ‘Make in India’ strategy. Airbus has more than tripled its annual sourcing from India, from $500 million in 2019 to over $1.5 billion today, and is on track to exceed $2 billion well before the end of the decade. More than 100 Indian companies are currently supplying critical components like flap track beams, aircraft doors and helicopter fuselages for global programmes, besides also supporting the final assembly lines for the C295 military transport aircraft in Vadodara and the H125 helicopter in Vemagal, near Bengaluru.
The facility will also host a local chapter of the Airbus Leadership University that will provide tailored development and learning solutions to prepare the next generation of aerospace managers and specialists.
