Airbus renews its partnership with Fondation Mines-Télécom and IMT

Guy Roussel, President of Fondation Mines-Télécom, Grazia Vittadini, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Airbus Defence and Space, and Francis Jutand, Deputy CEO of IMT (Institut Mines-Télécom) representing Philippe Jamet, President of IMT, signed a three-year strategic partnership agreement on January 22. This sponsorship partnership will allow IMT to implement new strategic projects in relation to industrial issues encountered by Airbus Defence and Space. 

A renewed partnership to create dialogue between industrial challenges and academic excellence

Since 2012 Airbus has worked in close collaboration with Fondation Mines-Télécom to establish ties with the research laboratories, incubators and campuses of the different IMT graduate schools. Airbus is also one of the founding partners of the Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Chair (supported by IMT Atlantique, Télécom Paris and Télécom SudParis). After renewing its support in 2015, Airbus has reaffirmed its commitment for three years. This support contributes to developing common programs for the different IMT schools: an interest-free loan program for start-ups, funding for groundbreaking PhD theses, an open innovation program bringing together students from different schools, and assistance for campus support services for students’ business projects. Through this partnership, Airbus teams will play an active role in projects and benefit from expertise in a wide range of fields including cybersecurity, big data and artificial intelligence.

Different stakeholders come together for the inauguration of the Ela’B creativity space

The event held on January 22 brought together different members of the IMT community including research professors in charge of research chairs, representatives from IMT graduate schools and IMT alumni employed by Airbus. Participants were given the opportunity to visit the Airbus research laboratories in Elancourt to think up ideas for collaboration in the fields of space electronics, cybersecurity and virtual reality. Following this visit Nicolas Chamussy, Director of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, inaugurated Ela’B, a creativity space for the site’s employees.

“We are delighted to renew this partnership focused on strategic themes for Airbus Defence and Space. Being affiliated with research teams and projects in teaching and innovation and participating in the governance of Fondation Mines-Télécom will provide us with new insights to respond to the biggest problems facing our industry. This partnership will also contribute to raising the profile of our employer brand on the campuses of prestigious engineering and management schools.”
Grazia Vittadini, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Airbus Defence and Space

“Bringing the academic world into contact with the world of industry is one of the key missions of Fondation  Mines-Télécom, in order to contribute to the development and reach of IMT and its graduate schools. We provide a strong value proposition for the companies that support us as we open the doors to a dynamic ecosystem. In light of the major transformations underway in our society, digital and energy issues and aspirations for the industry of the future, this sort of partnership allows us work together to move forward on issues of common interest.”   
Guy Roussel, President of Fondation Mines-Télécom