Bengaluru,19 April, 2025:

The IIM Bangalore in partnership with TBS Education hosted the “ 8th International Conference on the Future of Aviation and Aerospace (FoAA)” with focus on India’s increasing role in global supply chains , its market potential, design and manufacture in India, EVtol and drone market, and the future of AI and Analytics in the sector. The day-long conference witnessed the presence of many renowned aviation sector stalwarts from India and overseas, who addressed on various key issues.

In the keynote address, Sabyasachi Srinivas, VP, Collins Aerospace, deciphered India’s growing R&D capabilities and the role of digital enablers like Generative AI and Digital Twin technologies in transforming aviation, while Prof. Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, highlighted the need to strengthen human capital to fully realize the sector’s design and manufacturing potential.
The conference was chaired by Prof. G. Shainesh and Prof. S. Raghunath who highlighted the FoAA’s evolution into a premier knowledge platform over the past eight years while Prof. Raghunath emphasized on India’s ambition to capture 10% of the global aerospace supply chain through enhanced design and engineering capabilities.

At the panel discussion on ‘Exploring Market Potential for Aviation’, Sunil Bhaskaran, Director – Air India Aviation Academy described the GMAE programme at IIMB as a very important piece in developing leadership in the sector as Bangalore is the hub of innovation and growth. “The impact of aviation on the Indian economy is large. Some of the best airports in the world are now in India. The aviation ecosystem is seeing tremendous growth with an order book of over 1700 aircraft. In such a scenario, we need trained manpower, and at our academy, we train pilots and engineers not just for India but also for the developed world,” he said.

Meaningful connections were forged, potential collaborations explored, and professional networks across global and domestic players enhanced at the conference. The delegates believe the annual conference serves as a vibrant platform to stay current with the latest research, policy developments, and best practices that are driving the future of aviation and aerospace.