Airbus has inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a new stage in collaboration between industry and academia. The centre aims to support India’s aerospace sector through ongoing research, innovation and talent development in the transportation and logistics field, Constructionworld reported.
The CoE will focus on research into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), including projects that examine the conversion of municipal solid waste into aviation fuel. It will also encourage student-led innovation in future aerospace technologies. The facility, first announced in 2024, was inaugurated by Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, in the presence of Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad and GSV Vice Chancellor Professor Manoj Choudhary.
Since 2024, Airbus and GSV have worked together to develop the foundations of an integrated aerospace ecosystem in India. Their partnership includes a full scholarship programme for 45 meritorious and underprivileged students, with one-third of the scholarships reserved for women. It also features the creation of an Airbus Chair Professor for Aerospace Studies to support academic excellence and a Joint Study Agreement that provides grants for research into locally sourced circular solutions for aviation fuel.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, established as a central university through an Act of Parliament in 2022, is tasked with covering the entire transportation sector and offering industry-focused, skill-based programmes across railways, aviation, highways, ports, maritime and inland waterways. The partnership with Airbus is being presented as a model for industry-academia cooperation aimed at building a skilled workforce and supporting the national goal of a self-reliant economy by 2047 through ecosystem development and capacity building.
