Airbus BizLab is a global aerospace business accelerator where startups and Airbus intrapreneurs speed up the transformation of innovative ideas into valuable businesses by combining scale and agility. Airbus BizLab offers early-stage projects wide-ranging support in the form of a 6-month acceleration program.
As competition in the aerospace industry intensifies, Airbus aims to accelerate the pace at which it can commercialise innovative ideas drawn from within Airbus, from its customers as well as other external partners. Airbus BizLab is important in supporting this strategy. The lab creates a network of Business Accelerators to provide support to startups and turn these ideas and technologies into commercial reality thus enhancing Airbus’s access to the newest ideas, technologies and ways of working in the aerospace sector and beyond.
The accelerator BizLab has launched the #Africa4Future initiative, targeting East African startups that are innovating for the future applicable to the aerospace business. “We are excited to finally bring this programme to East Africa. We have been impressed by some of the innovations coming out of hubs such as Gearbox, Outbox, mLab, C4D Lab among other hubs and university research labs within the region. We are looking forward to receiving inspiring ideas and concepts from Nairobi in the coming weeks,” said Bruno Gutierres, Head of the Airbus BizLabs.
Airbus BizLab is looking for startups that shape the future of a growing society, support sustainable development and empower mobility through aerospace technologies (AEROmobility) which traverse the following areas; Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) aka drones, Satellite Operations and Imagery, 3D Printing, Smart sensors, Internet of Things (IOT), smart energy and Artificial Intelligence.
Startups with solutions or ideas that are in line with Airbus’ vision on AEROmobility can apply on www.novatoafrica.com/africa4future before 6th September for a chance to be shortlisted by a screening committee, which includes local representatives, and the Head of the Airbus BizLabs, Bruno Gutierres, for the final pitch event.
The winning startup, selected from the final pitch event that will be held on the 26th of September 2017 in Nairobi, will win a fully-paid 10-day trip to Europe in Oct/Nov 2017 and get the chance to meet and interact with aerospace experts and boost your startup. They will be able to work on solutions and, if the project advances well enough, partner with Airbus BizLab to see it to product stage.
