A star aerospace alliance for EADS

is furthering its Research and Technology (R&T) activities with Singaporean research agency

(Agency for Science, Technology and Research) in its National Aerospace Programme.

EADS Singapore Research & Technology Centre (SRTC) and the Science & Engineering Research Council of A*STAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday. EADS will join other international aerospace companies in a tier 1 membership of the programme.

The Aerospace Programme is aimed at the R&T in pre-competitive technologies with an option for members to set up specific projects with A*STAR at preferential rates. It targets five main directions of research, namely inspection, modelling and security, materials and coatings, manufacturing and automation, communication and electronics. The programme has been launched in order to engage the international aerospace industry with the R&T community in Singapore and to drive innovation in the local aerospace industry and in related sectors.

As a tier 1 member, EADS will contribute S$200,000 annually to the research programme. The membership gives EADS royalty-free access to all results of the research activities carried out in the framework of this programme. It also gives voting rights to EADS in the decision making process aimed at defining the R&T projects which will be launched, allowing the company to chart the direction of aerospace R&T in Singapore.

The Aerospace Programme will be led by a Management Committee which will be comprised of a Programme Director, and Industry Development Manager, all tier 1 members and representatives of the tier 2 and 3 members.