EADS and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council launch Strategic Partnership

The partnership aims to support vital research and training in environmental and security related technology.

London, 15 March 2010 – EADS and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (“EPSRC”) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”), launching a Strategic Partnership. The Partnership will provide a framework for the sharing of information and strategy, for supporting each other’s objectives, and for joint funding and support of academic research and training activities in several key technology areas including:

·         High performance materials and eco-efficient operations

·         Advanced design for reduced emissions

·         Sustainable energy management and low carbon technologies

·         Next generation secure communications systems

·         Complex modelling

·         Sensing technology

·         Generation management and fusion of data sets

The Partnership will work closely with the EADS Innovation Works (IW) UK, the research arm of the EADS Corporate Technical Office, which focuses on building strategic partnerships with key UK universities and government agencies.

IW addresses critical research areas covering topics such as secure telecommunications, simulation of complex systems, software engineering, engineering advanced structures and energy management & alternative power.

Jointly funded grants will be awarded to support relevant academic research and training activities. In addition, EADS will provide further support by assigning a dedicated industrial engineer or scientist who will work closely with the academic partners on every project. The Partnership aims to promote key research and also to further strengthen the close cooperation between academic institutions and the aerospace industry.

Ian Risk, Head of EADS Innovation Works UK, commented: “We are very proud of our partnership with EPSRC. This will complement and continue the achievement of Innovation Works UK in strengthening the collaboration with academic partners, while supporting the best UK R&T. Cutting edge technological research in a range of areas is vital for the aerospace sector to maintain its competitiveness and to enable it to play a responsible role in environmental, energy and transport policy.”

Dr. Jean Botti, EADS Chief Technical Officer commented: “Today’s partnership with EPSRC is one in a long line of highly successful collaborations with the UK academic sector developed through EADS Innovation Works UK. This is an approach we are championing and part of EADS´s long-term strategy to partner with leading technical and educational institutes around the world.”

Dave Delpy, Chief Executive of EPSRC, commented: “EPSRC is very pleased to be working in partnership with EADS to provide a key link between business needs and long-term academic research and a clear route to exploitation for funded activities.”

Contacts:

Alvaro B. Meredith

Communications and PR Manager

EADS UK Ltd.

Tel.: +44 207 845 8376

Alvaro.b.meredith@eads-uk.com

Gregor von Kursell

Corporate Communications – Technology Media Relations

EADS

(+49) 89 607 34255

Gregor.kursell@eads.net

Notes to editors:

EADS

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, the Group – comprising Airbus, Eurocopter, EADS Astrium and EADS Defence & Security – generated revenues of € 42.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 119,000.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects – from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering. www.epsrc.ac.uk