Mubadala, Boeing sign R&D deal

Mubadala Development Company, the Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, said on Tuesday it has signed an agreement with US plane manufacturer Boeing, for collaboration on research and development (R&D) initiatives.

The agreement, which spans five years, aims to further expand aerospace manufacturing capabilities in the UAE, the two companies said in a joint statement.

The deal will see Boeing join Mubadala’s existing R&D ecosystem in Abu Dhabi including the Aerospace Research and Innovation Centre, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, with initial projects including research in areas of robotics and aircraft assembly.

The agreement will also support the technology and capability roadmap of Strata Manufacturing, the aerostructure manufacturer that is wholly owned by Mubadala.

Homaid Al Shemmari, chief executive officer of Aerospace and Engineering Services at Mubadala, said in a statement that the deal with Boeing is in line with Abu Dhabi Dhabi’s plans for economic diversification and building a knowledge-based economy. He added that such development of new technology is crucial to ensure sustainability of the industry in the long-term.

Currently, R&D projects underway include robotic automation technologies in manufacturing of large structures such as Ailerons and Vertical Tail Planes.

Al Shemmari said on Monday that Mubadala was looking to establish a new manufacturing facility producing carbon fibres, which is used for aircraft parts. Construction on the Al Ain facility will start in 2017.