NIT Raipur Partners with AKSI Aerospace to Establish Centre of Excellence for Aerospace and Autonomous Technologies

The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur has entered into a partnership with AKSI Aerospace Group to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Aerospace and Autonomous Technologies. The initiative is designed to promote industry-linked research, practical training, and the development of indigenous technology in the fields of aerospace and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The newly announced CoE intends to bridge the gap between academic research and actual industry requirements. It will provide students and researchers with hands-on exposure to real-world engineering challenges, covering areas such as prototyping, manufacturing, integration, and testing. The core focus areas for the center include drone platforms, flight control systems, propulsion, batteries, advanced materials, and autonomous technologies.

By combining NIT Raipur’s academic infrastructure with AKSI Aerospace’s industry experience, the collaboration seeks to foster collaborative research and industry-oriented projects. The initiative is also aimed at translating academic research into practical prototypes and solutions that support India’s indigenous aerospace and drone technology ecosystem, while developing industry-ready talent.

In addition to the CoE initiative, AKSI Aerospace Group announced plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Raipur. According to the company, the proposed facility will complement the research and skill development objectives of the CoE by creating direct operational synergies between academic innovation, engineering design, and industrial-scale manufacturing.

Pankaj Akula, Group Managing Director of AKSI Aerospace Group, noted that the initiative is designed to give students exposure to real-world engineering challenges and facilitate the transition of research into practical solutions. He stated that connecting technology development with localized manufacturing capabilities is a necessary step toward building a skilled talent pool and advancing self-reliance in the aerospace and autonomous systems sector.

The collaborative framework is expected to support various applications across sectors including agriculture, logistics, surveillance, disaster response, and industrial use. AKSI Aerospace Group operates through nine specialized group companies, developing UAV platforms and critical subsystems such as navigation systems, cameras, batteries, propulsion systems, and airframe composites.

"The partnership between NIT Raipur and AKSI Aerospace highlights a practical model for connecting academic institutions with industrial manufacturing. By aligning technical training and research directly with industry requirements—and pairing it with a planned manufacturing facility—this initiative addresses the critical need for skilled engineering talent and localized technology development in India's growing aerospace and UAV sector." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes