Raipur: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur has inaugurated the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Aerospace and Autonomous Technologies, established in collaboration with AKSI Aerospace Group, to promote industry-linked research, practical training and indigenous technology development in aerospace and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies.
The CoE was inaugurated by G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, in the presence of Brijmohan Agarwal, Member of Parliament, Raipur; Dr (Mrs) Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR; Dr Suresh Haware, Chairman, Board of Governors, NIT Raipur; Dr N V Ramana Rao, Director, NIT Raipur, and other distinguished dignitaries, as part of the inauguration of six CoEs at NIT Raipur.
The CoE aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industry requirements by providing students and researchers with exposure to real-world engineering challenges, prototyping, manufacturing, integration and testing. Its focus areas include drone platforms, flight control systems, propulsion, batteries, advanced materials and autonomous technologies.
By combining NIT Raipur’s academic and research capabilities with AKSI Aerospace’s industry experience, the CoE is expected to create opportunities for collaborative research, industry-oriented projects, technical training and the development of industry-ready talent. The initiative also aims to help translate research into practical prototypes and solutions that contribute to India’s indigenous aerospace and drone technology ecosystem.
Alongside the CoE initiative, AKSI Aerospace is also planning to establish a manufacturing plant in Raipur. The proposed facility would complement the CoE’s focus on research and skill development by creating potential synergies between academic innovation, engineering and industrial manufacturing.
Pankaj Akula, Group Managing Director, AKSI Aerospace Group, said, “The inauguration of this CoE marks an important step towards bringing academia and industry closer in the development of indigenous aerospace and drone technologies. By combining NIT Raipur’s academic strengths with AKSI Aerospace’s engineering and manufacturing experience, we aim to give students greater exposure to real-world challenges and help translate research into practical solutions. Our proposed manufacturing facility in Raipur would further strengthen this approach by creating opportunities to connect technology development with manufacturing capabilities. Such initiatives are important to building skilled talent and advancing India’s self-reliance in aerospace and autonomous systems.”
The CoE is expected to create opportunities for collaborative research, student projects, industry mentorship and technology development, while supporting applications across sectors such as agriculture, logistics, surveillance and disaster response.
The collaboration reflects the growing importance of industry-linked technical education in developing the talent and indigenous capabilities required to support India’s expanding aerospace and drone ecosystem.
AKSI Aerospace Group is a Hyderabad-based aerospace and drone technology company focused on developing indigenous capabilities across the drone and aerospace value chain. Through its nine specialised group companies, the Group develops UAV platforms and critical subsystems, including navigation systems, cameras, batteries, propulsion systems and airframe composites, for applications across agriculture, industry, cargo transport, surveillance and security.
The Group operates a 1,00,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Hyderabad dedicated to drone and aerospace manufacturing, supporting its focus on indigenous product development and production capabilities. AKSI Aerospace is building capabilities across UAV platforms and critical aerospace technologies, with a focus on strengthening India’s domestic manufacturing base and contributing to the country’s broader objective of self-reliance in aerospace and unmanned systems.
