Bengaluru, India/ Meudon, France: India joins the ranks of Thales’ five global corporate laboratories for Research & Technology, alongside those in France, the UK, Canada, and Singapore. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at its Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru embodies the spirit of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and takes place against the backdrop of the India AI Impact Summit. This milestone underscores Thales’ constant commitment to advancing research, pioneering deep technology and fostering collaborative innovation in India.
The launch ceremony was graced by Minister for Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, Marc Lamy, La French Tech Director, Julie Huguet, and dignitaries from the French Tech Delegation visiting India for the AI Impact Summit Week and India-France Year of Innovation launch, as well as senior executives from the Indian industry. Thales leadership was represented by Bernhard Quendt, Senior Vice President, Group Chief Technical Officer, and Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President – India, along with other team members.
Thales Research & Technology India will serve as a hub for advanced research, supporting the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) vision. It will also provide a special emphasis on open innovation in hardware domain, enabling stronger collaborations with start-ups, industry partners and academic research community to develop breakthrough technologies for critical systems. It will have dedicated team of researchers, including Masters and PhD scholars.
Thales dedicates more than €4 billion globally in R&D every year. Bengaluru plays a central role in Thales’ operations in India, with strong capabilities spanning Defence, Aerospace, Cyber and Digital sectors, supported by its advanced Engineering Competence Centre, local industry partnerships, collaborations with premier academic institutions, and engagement with the broader innovation ecosystem in Karnataka. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India represents a significant step forward in the Group’s growing investments and innovation footprint in the country.
“Karnataka continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for advanced technology and innovation. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at its Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru reflects the state’s robust innovation ecosystem and strong Indo-French collaboration. Thales’ continued investments in research & development, skill creation and partnerships with local industry align well with the vision of building a self-reliant India. Congratulations to the Thales team for this significant milestone that will strengthen the development of cutting-edge technologies, including AI and cybersecurity not just for Karnataka, but also for the nation and the world,” stated Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka.
“With the launch of this new research centre, Thales is marking a decisive step in its journey in India. Thales is one of the companies that best embody French excellence, an excellence built on research, engineering and the pursuit of high-end technological capabilities across aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital identity. The company supports the Make in India vision and contributes significantly to strengthening the country’s wider industrial and technological landscape,” said Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru.
“At Thales, research and innovation are collaborative by nature. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India marks an important milestone in our global R&D strategy and reinforces India’s role as a key innovation hub for the Group. Through Thales Research & Technology India, we aim to work closely with start-ups, industry partners and academic institutions, as well as government authorities, to accelerate breakthroughs in areas such as high-performance embedded SW, embedded AI, cybersecurity and future connectivity, addressing the evolving needs of critical systems in an increasingly complex world,” commented Bernhard Quendt, Group Chief Technology Officer, Thales.
“Thales has been a trusted partner in India’s growth story for more than seven decades. Bengaluru has long been central to Thales’ engineering and innovation activities in India. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at our Engineering Competence Centre reinforces our commitment to ‘Make in India’, ‘Innovate in India’ and ‘Export from India’, strengthening the local ecosystem. This initiative will foster deeper collaboration, accelerate technology development, and nurture cutting-edge research capabilities in India—for India and for the world,” added Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President – India, Thales.
