Airbus Inaugurates Aerospace Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya

Global aerospace major Airbus on Tuesday inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for aerospace studies at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), India's industry-driven central university for the transportation and logistics sector, marking a major step towards strengthening the country's indigenous aerospace ecosystem.

The Centre of Excellence was inaugurated by Mr. Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, in the presence of Her Highness Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Member of the Court of GSV, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.

Focus on Sustainable Aviation and Future Technologies

Announced in 2024, the CoE will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, innovation and skill development in aerospace, with a strong focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and next-generation aerospace technologies. A key research thrust will be on developing pathways to convert Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into SAF, supporting India's climate commitments and the global aviation industry's net-zero goals.

The Centre will also actively support student-led innovation, applied research projects and industry-aligned problem solving, creating a strong talent pipeline for India's fast-growing aviation and aerospace sector.

Airbus' Long-Term Commitment to India

"The inauguration of this Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya marks a milestone in our mission to co-create a robust aerospace ecosystem in India," said Mr. Jürgen Westermeier."This Centre demonstrates Airbus' deep commitment to R&D and innovation, particularly in breakthrough areas such as transforming Municipal Solid Waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Through this collaboration, we aim to empower students with future-ready skills, enable ecosystem development, and support the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision while shaping the country's aviation future."

India is currently one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, with passenger traffic projected to more than double over the next decade. Initiatives such as the Airbus–GSV CoE are expected to play a critical role in building domestic capabilities in aerospace design, manufacturing and sustainability.

Industry–Academia Partnership as a National Template

Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor, GSV, said the partnership reflects the university's mandate to translate industry-driven, innovation-led vision into real outcomes.

"Under the guidance of our Hon'ble Chancellor Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is building highly skilled human capital and new technologies for the transportation and logistics sector. Airbus has emerged as a foremost leader in creating a model Industry–Academia partnership with GSV, which is now becoming a national template. The CoE builds on earlier initiatives such as the Airbus Chair Professorship and Airbus Scholarships, and aligns with the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's whole-of-sector approach for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047," he said.

Scholarships, Chair Professorship and Joint Research

Since 2024, Airbus and GSV have developed a comprehensive partnership covering education, research and ecosystem development. Key initiatives include a full scholarship programme for 45 meritorious and underprivileged students, with one-third of the scholarships reserved for women, reinforcing gender inclusion in aerospace education.

To strengthen academic excellence, Airbus has also established a Chair Professor for Aerospace Studies at GSV, supporting undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education programmes. The collaboration further extends to high-impact research through a Joint Study Agreement (JSA), providing R&D grants for developing sustainable aviation solutions, particularly MSW-to-SAF technologies, leveraging GSV's research strengths and Airbus' global industrial expertise.

About Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya

Established as a Central University by an Act of Parliament in 2022, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is India's only university dedicated exclusively to the transportation and logistics sector. With a demand-driven curriculum, GSV covers railways, aviation, highways, ports, maritime, shipping, inland waterways, urban transport, logistics and supply chain networks. The University is headed by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, as its Chancellor.

The Airbus–GSV Centre of Excellence is expected to play a pivotal role in positioning India as a global hub for sustainable and future-ready aerospace innovation.