NIT Raipur partners with AKSI Aerospace to set up drone tech centre of excellence

The National Institute of Technology, Raipur has signed an agreement with AKSI Aerospace Group to establish a Centre of Excellence dedicated to aerospace and autonomous technologies, alongside plans for a new manufacturing facility in Chhattisgarh's capital.

The partnership aims to take research out of academic laboratories and convert ideas into practical prototypes and commercial solutions. Students and researchers will gain hands-on training across the full engineering lifecycle, from prototyping and system integration to flight testing.

To complement the research initiative, AKSI Aerospace plans to build a dedicated manufacturing plant in Raipur. The facility will connect technical development at the institute directly with commercial production, supporting domestic capability in unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous systems.

Focus areas and sector applications

The initiative targets several core technical domains to meet expanding operational demands across civilian and industrial sectors.

Group Managing Director of AKSI Aerospace Group, Pankaj Akula, said the initiative will give students exposure to practical engineering challenges while helping build skilled talent for the sector. He added that establishing the production plant in Raipur would reinforce this by linking local technology development with manufacturing capacity, advancing national self-reliance in aerospace technology.

AKSI Aerospace operates through nine specialised companies that manufacture UAV platforms, airframe composites, propulsion units, navigation components, and imaging systems. The new centre in Raipur will provide a direct platform to match these industrial requirements with technical training and indigenous research.