The Airbus China Innovation Center (ACIC) was established in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Feb 21. It is the European aerospace corporation's first innovation center in Asia.

The center will make use of Airbus's innovative talents, partners, and ecosystems, as well as the company's expertise in the aerospace industry, to pursue technological innovation, effective business models, and new growth opportunities.

 

Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, speaks at the inauguration ceremony. [Photo/Nanfang Plus]

According to Airbus CEO Tom Enders, Airbus started selling airplanes to China over 50 years ago and in 2015, the company decided to build an assembly line in Tianjin, the company's first assembly line outside of Europe. China currently accounts for more than half of Airbus's civilian passenger aircraft market.

The CEO noted that the decision to set up an innovation center in Shenzhen is largely due to the growing innovation potential of China, especially Shenzhen, which is often considered the Silicon Valley of China.

"Shenzhen is famous for its speed, which is certainly good for our company. We need to be more open to innovation at a faster speed," Enders said at the inauguration ceremony.

Airbus hopes to draw from China and Shenzhen's innovation potential and experience in order to carry out more innovation around the world.

The ACIC is now fully operational. Projects currently underway cover five key areas - hardware labs, cabin experience, on-board connectivity, manufacturing innovation, and urban air traffic.

At the ceremony, Airbus also signed a memorandum of understanding on urban air traffic with the Shenzhen municipal commerce bureau that will change the future of urban transportation.

Airbus signs a memorandum of understanding on urban air traffic with the Shenzhen municipal commerce bureau. [Photo/Nanfang Plus]