Context:
Dassault Aviation Systems, Rafale fighter jets manufacturing French will set up a Centre of Excellence at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) in Lucknow.
- It is an initiative of Invest UP and Dassault Systems.
- The French company will establish a Centre of Excellence at AKTU to train 5,000 engineers in the first five years.
- The project, worth Rs 200 crore, aims to support cutting-edge skills and boost the Lucknow Defense Corridor and Brahmos missile project by providing trained engineers skilled in missile manufacturing, weapon systems, and defense equipment.
- Dassault will also create job opportunities for the trained engineers, and AKTU will become a hub benefiting students from affiliated institutions across the state.
- The initiative will equip students with world-class technical knowledge, making them employable in global companies.
- The training will cover areas such as hydrogen technology, electric vehicles (EV), aerospace and defense, industrial research, startups, advanced skills, AI, and the Internet of Things.
About UP DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR
- Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-largest state in India and the third-largest economy within the country.
- With a population of more than 200 million, UP has the highest number of available labor force and is one of the top five manufacturing states in India.
- The state also ranks first in terms of the number of MSMEs in the country and ranks 2nd in Ease Of Doing Business.
- Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC) is an aspirational project that intends to reduce foreign dependency of Indian Aerospace & Defence Sector.
- Cities: Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Agra, Chitrakoot.