Bengaluru, DHNS: A Centre of Excellence in Aerospace and Defence, to provide specialised training to students and engineers in industrial design among others, will begin functioning from Bengaluru in three months.

The Karnataka government has entered into an agreement with French multinational software company Dassault Systemes to impart both short and long-term courses in aerospace and defence sectors using 3D design and 3D digital mock-up software programmes.

Speaking at a press conference here to announce the launch of the Centre, Minister of State for Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge said courses will be offered for engineering students and also for practicing engineers to take up industry specific job certification courses as an add-on to their careers.

Initially, the courses will be offered in a few Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU)-affiliated engineering colleges (venues not finalised) in Bengaluru and later shifted to Vivesvaraya Institute of Advanced Technology campus coming up at Muddenahalli on the outskirts of Chikkaballapur town.

IT and BT Additional Chief Secretary V Manjula said the Centre will offer multiple levels of training programmes ranging between three-months and two-years and around 1,600 people will be trained each year. Online courses will also be offered.

The course content and fees are being worked out by the VTU in association with Dassault Systemes, Kharge said. The total cost of the project is Rs 288.68 crore with Dassault Systemes contributing Rs 250.93 crore in the form of software package, software updation, licence charges, faculty and training.

Pointing out that at present there is acute shortage of skilled engineers in defence and aerospace, Kharge said the Centre will help make skilled professionals available in these two sectors.

The IT and BT department also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Institut Aeronautique et Spatial (IAS), a non-profit organisation based out of Toulousane, France.

As part of the understanding, IAS will design high-end training and skill development programmes for professionals in aeronautics and space sector, which will be imparted at the Centre.