November 25, 2015 – Airbus has inaugurated a BizLab in Bangalore, India, its third after Toulouse and Hamburg, as part of its strategy to establish a global network of aerospace business accelerators. In parallel, Airbus has opened a first round of applications for start-ups seeking support in the region. The window for applications is open until December 9th and you can apply HERE.
A screening committee, which includes Airbus’s chief innovation officer, Yann Barbaux, and the head of the Airbus BizLabs, Bruno Gutierres, will select the most promising ideas.
Airbus BizLab in India will be co-located with NUMA, France’s biggest business accelerator and one of the most active in Europe. Both will create synergies between their accelerators, from start-up selection to specific events to benefit from their respective ecosystem (mentors, experts, investors).
“India is a strategic for Airbus and we are committed to increasing our footprint in the country,” said Dr Kiran Rao, Airbus’ EVP of strategy and marketing. “Setting up Airbus Bizlab Bangalore reinforces this commitment by further enhancing India’s aerospace entrepreneurial eco-system.”
Airbus launched its first global aerospace business accelerator in Toulouse in March 2015 as part of its innovation strategy to bring together start-ups and Airbus “intrapreneurs” (internal entrepreneurs) to work and speed up the transformation of their innovative ideas into valuable businesses. A second BizLab accelerator was opened in Hamburg, Germany, in September 2015. The aim is to accelerate the pace at which it can commercialize innovative ideas drawn from within Airbus and outside, including from customers and other external partners.
Early-stage projects are offered wide-ranging support, in the form of a six-month “acceleration program”. Through these programs, Airbus BizLab gives access to a large number of coaches, experts and mentors in various domains: technology, legal, finance, marketing and communication; easing prototyping and access to market.
