BENGALURU: The state government will set up a Centre of Excellence in Aerospace and Defence in partnership with the French aerospace major Dassault Systemes. Visvesvaraya Technological University will also be involved in the collaboration.
A day after Cabinet approved the proposal, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters on on Thursday that the Centre will address skill requirements for growth of the aerospace and defence sectors in the country. “It will provide high-end training and skill development for about 1,600 engineers per annum. The total cost of the project is `288.68 crore and the Centre will have two campuses, one in Bengaluru and another in Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district.”
Of the `288.68 crore needed for the project, Karnataka’s contribution will be `34.36 crore over a three-year period. The contribution of Dassault Systemes will be `250.93 crore in the form of software package, software updation/ licence charges, faculty and training.
VTU will provide space on its campus in Muddenahalli and Bengaluru and will provide infrastructure as well. The total contribution of VTU would be about `4.29 crore.
Karnataka has also entered into an MoU with Institut Aeronautique et Spatial, a non-profit organisation based in Toulouse, France, which is engaged in designing and implementing professional training solutions. The MoU is expected to ensure development of relevant and high quality skills through the Centre of Excellence.