Airbus has selected Shenzhen to establish its Airbus China Innovation Centre (ACIC) and has established a partnership with Invest Shenzhen to accelerate innovation and shape the future of flight.
Airbus has selected the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, sometimes described as the Silicon Valley of China, to establish its Airbus China Innovation Centre (ACIC). Airbus has also signed a cooperation framework agreement with Invest Shenzhen to establish a long-term strategic partnership to accelerate innovation and shape the future of flight.
The agreement was signed on 17th November by Luo Gang, CEO of the Airbus China Innovation Centre and Wang Youming, Director General of Invest Shenzhen. Airbus had been searching for a location for ACIC for some time. It has already chosen Shenzhen as the base for a four-month accelerator programme to explore the future of urban air mobility, launched in September.
Airbus says the cooperation agreement is intended to:
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accelerate R&D, application, and industrialisation of in-flight experience, connectivity, new energy, and urban air mobility (UAM);
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cultivate an integrated hardware and software ecosystem, relying on Shenzhen’s high-end aviation R&D and advanced manufacturing industry value chain;
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establish a technological innovation system, relying on Shenzhen's innovation ability, talent resources, and business environment.
Airbus appointed Luo Gang as CEO of the Airbus China Innovation Centre in July 2017. Gang’s first mission is to set up the innovation centre to be fully operational for its official opening later in 2017. The centre already has a number of ongoing initiatives in autonomous flight, UAM, and in-flight experience and is also in discussion with partners in relevant industries.
The new Airbus China Innovation Centre is the latest addition to Airbus’ extended worldwide innovation ecosystem which already includes a Silicon Valley innovation centre, A3.