Bangalore, March 31 (IANS) Global aerospace major Boeing has set up a research and technology lab here to develop advanced aerospace technologies and solutions for its next-generation products and services, a senior official said Tuesday.
The India lab, Boeing's third of its kind outside the US, will initially have 30 aerospace engineers working on multiple projects that include advanced aircraft and spacecraft designs and new structure and materials technologies.
'Another 100 engineers will collaborate with our various projects being carried out with Indian academia, research and development (R&D) institutions and private and public enterprises,' Boeing chief technology officer John J. Tracy told reporters at the unveiling of the lab here.
'The investments are in millions of dollars from our global R&D budget, which runs into billions of dollars per annum,' Tracy added.
Boeing has six advanced R&D labs across the US, and one overseas lab each in Australia and Spain - which together employ about 4,100 engineers.
Clarifying that Boeing was not downsizing its operations in the recession-hit US or shipping projects to this country, Tracy said India's exceptional talent pool with high math quotient and analysis skill was the prime reason for locating its third overseas R&D lab in Bangalore.
'Core technologies are vital for global aerospace eco-system comprising R&D, engineering and IT (software). The criteria is to develop cutting-edge technologies to ensure affordability, breakthrough performance, sustainability and eco-friendly products and services to our customers worldwide,' Tracy affirmed.
The Bangalore lab will also be associated with the Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the most advanced commercial aircraft project under development.
Naveed Hussain, Boeing India vice-president (engineering and technology), said the Bangalore research facility would focus on three broad disciplines: analysis, materials and processes and software.
The Boeing lab will also partner with the premier Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), apart from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics. 'We are also partnering with (IT bellwether) Wipro and HCL,' Hussain added.
Boeing India president Dinesh A. Keskar said the market outlook for India continued to be bright despite the present downturn and excess capacity.
'According to our estimates, India will need 1,001 new commercial airplanes valued at $105 billion over the next two decades. The military market is projected to be about $31 billion over the next 10 years,' Keskar said.
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