The Karnataka government plans to set up Centre of Excellence in Aerospace and Defence in collaboration with Dassault Systemes and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU).

The new centre will provide high-end training and skill development to about 1,600 engineers a year.

The State plays host to several aerospace organiations such as HAL, ISRO, BEL, ADA, DRDO Labs, Airbus, Safran, Mahindra Aerospace, Tata Power SED, Tata Advance Material, Quest and Bombardier.

Karnataka Minister for IT, BT and Tourism, Priyank Kharge, said: “The total cost of setting up the centre is ₹288.68 crore, of which the Karnataka government’s contribution will be ₹34.36 crore over three years.”

Dassault will put in ₹250.93 crore via software package, software updation/ licence charges, faculty and training.

VTU, as academic partner, will provide space at its campuses in Muddenahalli and Bengaluru. It will also offer infrastructure such as classrooms and meeting rooms, and meet the operational cost of maintenance and administration such as manpower, electricity and internet. Its total contribution will be about ₹4.29 crore.

“The State is the leader in aerospace and defence in India, attracting 65 per cent of the investments in the country. Karnataka is the only State to have a full-fledged and dedicated Aerospace Policy,” said Kharge.

The Centre of Excellence is expected to improve the employability of engineers and working professionals in the aerospace and defence industry through industry-focussed skill development programmes.

“The youth will get an opportunity to take up aerospace and defence industrial design as a career option and those who are already practising in the area will get highly coveted industry-grade training, which will better their prospects,” said Kharge.

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