Airbus opens innovation center in China

Airbus officially opened its first innovation center in Shenzhen China on Feb. 21. The Airbus China Innovation Centre (ACIC) is the first in Asia and second worldwide after the A3 center in San Jose, California.

Airbus said the ACIC has been operating since early 2018 and currently focuses on designing, testing, and certifying new technologies relating to five areas: Hardware Lab, Cabin Experience, Connectivity, Manufacturing Innovation and Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

The European manufacturer also signed an MOU with the Shenzhen Municipal Commerce Bureau to explore UAM solutions in the city.

“The two parties will cooperate closely on accelerating the R&D, application and industrialization of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Shenzhen,” Airbus said in a statement. “With extended regional partners, Airbus aims to further develop the local mobility ecosystem and promote the UAM solutions fitting the local transportation needs.”

Shenzhen is a major economic city in the Pearl River Delta, now known as the Greater Bay Area, and is the headquarters for drone company DJI, as well as other tech companies like Tencent, ZTE and Huawei. China unveiled a plan in mid-February to make the Greater Bay Area a region supported by science and technology and its economy driven by innovation by 2035.