Airbus Launches Tech Hub in Korea

The Airbus Tech Hub in Korea is created in close partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), and Daejeon Metropolitan City to enhance research and innovation.

In a recent media release, Dr Mark Bentall, Head of R&T Programme at Airbus, said, “After five decades of successful industrial partnership with Korea, this step to launch the Airbus Tech Hub in Daejeon is a clear signal of our deepening commitment. The Tech Hub allows Airbus to tap into advanced technologies in Korea, which will help fast-track future aircraft technologies and continue to develop Korea as our trusted, long-term partner.”

(from left to right): Daejeon Metropolitan City Vice Mayor, Economy and Science, Choi Sung-Ah, Airbus Head of R&T Programme Dr Mark Bentall, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources Director Lee Sun-Hye.

At the launch, three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to support its mission:

• The first MOU was signed with MOTIR, with the aim to launch research and innovation projects swiftly within Daejeon’s tech ecosystem.
• The second MOU with Daejeon City outlines a commitment to support and enhancing Airbus’ research initiatives in the city.
• The third MOU with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) aims to utilise KITA’s open innovation platform to find new partners identified based on Airbus’ technology focus areas.

Notable projects announced at the launch includes collaborations with LIG Nex1 on space chip antenna technology used for communication and EMCoretech on developing active filtering technologies for electrification applications to suppress electromagnetic interference.

Airbus maintains a strong industrial presence through partnerships with tier-one suppliers like Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD), which produce components for its civil aircraft like the A320, A330, and A350 families. Additionally, the Tech Hub complements the recently opened CTC – Composite Technology Centre in Busan, which aims to develop on the R&D of advance aerospace materials and processes.

The new Tech Hub in Korean is the forth addition to Airbus’ global network of Tech Hubs, which includes centers in Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore, designed to promoting collaboration among various stakeholder to develop breakthroughs in aerospace technology.