Agreement between NIT Raipur and AKSI Aerospace for aerospace and autonomous technology

National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur has partnered with AKSI Aerospace Group to promote industry-linked research, practical training, and the development of indigenous technology in the fields of aerospace and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. Under this partnership, a 'Centre of Excellence' (CoE) for aerospace and autonomous technology will be established. According to a report by BusinessLine, the primary objective of this centre is to bridge the gap between academic research and industry requirements.

Through this Centre of Excellence, students and researchers will be provided with experience in real-world engineering challenges, prototyping, manufacturing, integration, and testing. Under this initiative, special focus will be placed on areas such as drone platforms, flight control systems, propulsion, batteries, advanced materials, and autonomous technology. By combining the academic and research capabilities of NIT Raipur with the industry experience of AKSI Aerospace, the centre is expected to create opportunities for collaborative research, industry-oriented projects, technical training, and the development of industry-ready talent.

The aim of this initiative is also to help transform research into practical prototypes and solutions, contributing to India's indigenous aerospace and drone technology ecosystem. The Centre of Excellence will create opportunities for collaborative research, student projects, industry mentorship, and technology development. This technology can be utilised in various sectors such as agriculture, logistics, surveillance, and disaster response.

Alongside the Centre of Excellence, AKSI Aerospace Group is also planning to set up a manufacturing plant in Raipur. The proposed facility will complement the centre's focus on research and skill development, creating synergy between academic innovation, engineering, and industrial manufacturing. Pankaj Akula, Group Managing Director of AKSI Aerospace Group, stated that the CoE aims to provide students with more study of real-world challenges and help transform research into practical solutions. He further added that the proposed manufacturing facility in Raipur will further strengthen this approach by creating opportunities to link technology development with manufacturing capabilities. He also said that such initiatives are crucial to increasing India's self-reliance in aerospace and autonomous systems and to preparing skilled talent.

AKSI Aerospace Group develops UAV platforms and critical subsystems through its nine distinct group companies. This includes navigation systems, cameras, batteries, propulsion systems, and airframe composites, which are used for agriculture, industry, cargo transport, surveillance, and security.

National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur was a renowned technical institutional framework in India that provided high-level education and research in the field of engineering and technology.