Boeing invites early-stage Indian startups to build applications in aerospace, mobility and more

Boeing India has announced the Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) programme for 2022, inviting applications from university students and early-stage startups across the country, to develop ideas that can be converted into viable business offerings.

For the initiative this year, Boeing has partnered with seven incubators, including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Madras, IISC Bangalore, T-Hub Hyderabad, and KIIT Bhubaneswar. Applicants are invited to submit ideas in the fields of mobility, space, connectivity, Industry 4.0 technology, enterprise digital solutions, sustainability, and data analytics/AI, Boeing India said in a statement.

“The burgeoning academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem in India provides a strong tailwind to the investments we continue to make in building up indigenous skills and capabilities in the country,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India. “With BUILD, we touch the entire spectrum of student-to-start-up community so they can benefit from our experience and our partner networks for developing breakthrough ideas in India, for India, and for the world,” added Gupte. 

The shortlisted teams will compete at a regional level and the finalists will pitch their ideas to subject-matter experts on Boeing Innovation Day, to be held in February 2023. The winners will stand a chance to win cash prizes. Boeing mentors and industry experts will interact and closely work with the finalists to refine and suggest ways to convert ideas into viable business offerings. 

One winning team each from the seven University incubators will receive a cash prize worth ₹10,00,000, the company said.

Ahmed Elsherbini, managing director, Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center, and chief engineer, Boeing India, said, with this initiative, he sees ample "possibilities and results of enhanced interaction between our engineers, technologists, and the student and start-up community." These interactions, he believes, will boost the culture of innovation and creativity at Boeing and among the participating startup community.” 

In 2019, the aerospace manufacturer launched the BUILD programme for university students, faculty and early-stage start-ups in India to help innovators convert their ideas into viable business offerings that have the potential to shape the future of Indian aerospace and defence.  

Since then, BUILD attracted a record number of entrants with more than 850 innovator teams applying from tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities across India, the company said, adding that the deadline for this year's BUILD programme is October 31, 2022 and participants are expected to submit their ideas before that time.