Airbus inaugurates innovation centre in China

Centre will focus on designing and certifying new technologies


China Economic Net February 22, 2019
Situation paints a bleak picture for world's largest airliner as preparations to close production gather pace. PHOTO: ONLINE

BEIJING: Airbus inaugurated its innovation centre in Shenzhen, Guangdong province of China, targeting to join hands with local innovators to create a world-leading innovation hotspot.

Airbus China Innovation Centre (ACIC) is the European aerospace giant's first innovation centre in Asia and second worldwide after A3 in the Silicon Valley in the United States.

Aiming to explore and inject innovation vitality into the future of flight, its mission is to fully leverage local advantages including talents, enterprises and ecosystems and combine them with Airbus expertise in aerospace, said Airbus.

"We see ourselves partners in China and with China, with airlines and industry sectors. Here with the innovation centre in Shenzhen, Airbus and our excellent partners are creating a new pillar of innovation for China," said Tom Enders, Airbus CEO.

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"Shenzhen is famous for its speed, which is certainly good for our company. We need to be more open to innovation at a faster speed," he said at the inauguration ceremony.

With its full operation, ACIC will focus on designing, testing and certifying new technologies related to five key areas of hardware lab, cabin experience, connectivity, manufacturing innovation and urban air mobility.

Airbus and Shenzhen Municipal Commerce Bureau are also committed to jointly exploring the urban air mobility solutions in Shenzhen.

By the end of this year, Shenzhen is expected to become China's first city to introduce the urban air mobility services with helicopters as part of joint efforts between Airbus and local partners, according to Airbus.

To date, more than 20% of Airbus' commercial aircraft goes to the Chinese market. By the end of 2018, there were around 1,700 Airbus airplanes serving in the Chinese market.

This article originally appeared on the China Economic Net

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