India-France Year of Innovation 2026: India is now part of the five Thales global corporate research centers

• The launch of Thales Research & Technology India in Bengaluru marks a significant step in strengthening India’s R&D and innovation ecosystem. ​
• Unveiled during the week of the India AI Impact Summit, it aligns with the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 and reinforces Thales’ commitment to ‘Make in India’, ‘Innovate in India’ and ‘Export from India’.
  
  
• As an integral part of Thales’ Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru, Thales Research & Technology India will leverage its global technological expertise, supporting development of advanced capabilities in real-time embedded software, edge-computing, embedded AI taking benefits from open-source hardware concepts

India joins the ranks of Thales’ five global corporate laboratories for Research & Technology, alongside those in France, the UK, Canada, and Singapore. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at its Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru embodies the spirit of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and takes place against the backdrop of the India AI Impact Summit. This milestone underscores Thales’ constant commitment to advancing research, pioneering deep technology and fostering collaborative innovation in India.

The launch ceremony was graced by Honourable Minister for Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, Shri Priyank Kharge, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, Mr Marc Lamy, La French Tech Director, Ms Julie Huguet, and dignitaries from the French Tech Delegation visiting India for the AI Impact Summit Week and India-France Year of Innovation launch, as well as senior executives from the Indian industry. Thales leadership was represented by Bernhard Quendt, Senior Vice President, Group Chief Technical Officer, and Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President – India, along with other team members.

Thales Research & Technology India will serve as a hub for advanced research, supporting the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) vision. It will also provide a special emphasis on open innovation in hardware domain, enabling stronger collaborations with start-ups, industry partners and academic research community to develop breakthrough technologies for critical systems. It will have dedicated team of researchers, including Masters and PhD scholars.

Thales dedicates more than €4 billion globally in R&D every year. Bengaluru plays a central role in Thales’ operations in India, with strong capabilities spanning Defence, Aerospace, Cyber and Digital sectors, supported by its advanced Engineering Competence Centre, local industry partnerships, collaborations with premier academic institutions, and engagement with the broader innovation ecosystem in Karnataka. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India represents a significant step forward in the Group’s growing investments and innovation footprint in the country.

“Karnataka continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for advanced technology and innovation. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at its Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru reflects the state’s robust innovation ecosystem and strong Indo-French collaboration. Thales’ continued investments in research & development, skill creation and partnerships with local industry align well with the vision of building a self-reliant India. Congratulations to the Thales team for this significant milestone that will strengthen the development of cutting-edge technologies, including AI and cybersecurity not just for Karnataka, but also for the nation and the world.” Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka

“With the launch of this new research centre, Thales is marking a decisive step in its journey in India. Thales is one of the companies that best embody French excellence, an excellence built on research, engineering and the pursuit of high-end technological capabilities across aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital identity. The company supports the Make in India vision and contributes significantly to strengthening the country’s wider industrial and technological landscape.” Mr Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru

“At Thales, research and innovation are collaborative by nature. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India marks an important milestone in our global R&D strategy and reinforces India’s role as a key innovation hub for the Group. Through Thales Research & Technology India, we aim to work closely with start-ups, industry partners and academic institutions, as well as government authorities, to accelerate breakthroughs in areas such as high-performance embedded SW, embedded AI, cybersecurity and future connectivity, addressing the evolving needs of critical systems in an increasingly complex world.” Bernhard Quendt, Group Chief Technology Officer, Thales

“Thales has been a trusted partner in India’s growth story for more than seven decades. Bengaluru has long been central to Thales’ engineering and innovation activities in India. The launch of Thales Research & Technology India at our Engineering Competence Centre reinforces our commitment to ‘Make in India’, ‘Innovate in India’ and ‘Export from India’, strengthening the local ecosystem. This initiative will foster deeper collaboration, accelerate technology development, and nurture cutting-edge research capabilities in India—for India and for the world.” Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President – India, Thales

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

About Thales in India

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2300 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India - one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs. The Group has also established an MRO facility in Gurugram to provide comprehensive avionics maintenance and repair services to Indian airlines .