Boeing Co. said it will open an R&D center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to develop aerospace technologies with the help of Brazil's leading scientists and researchers.
The facility, slated to open later this year, "will serve as a hub for collaboration between Boeing (IW 500: 15) and Brazilian R&D organizations, including government agencies, private-sector companies and universities," the company said Tuesday.
"Boeing is defined by its technological edge, and establishing Boeing Research & Technology in Brazil will bring new ideas and innovative processes to our company," said Donna Hrinak, president of Boeing Brazil. "We also will strengthen our relationship with Brazil's R&D community in ways that grow Brazil's capabilities and meet the country's goals for economic and technology development."
Areas of research focus for the new center will include sustainable aviation biofuels, advanced air-traffic management, advanced metals and biomaterials, and support and services technologies, the company said.
The facility will be Boeing's sixth advanced-research center outside the United States. The others are in Europe, Australia, India, China and Russia.
In July 2011, Boeing and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer announced plans to jointly fund an analysis of opportunities to produce sustainable jet biofuel.
In October, Boeing, Embraer SA (IW 1000: 644) and the Sao Paulo State Research Foundation signed a letter of intent to expand the analysis and produce a detailed report "outlining the unique opportunities and challenges of creating a cost-effective, bio-derived and sustainable jet-fuel production and distribution industry in Brazil," Boeing noted.
Brazil has Latin America's fastest-growing commercial-aviation market.
Boeing has forecasted that Brazil will need to purchase more than 1,000 airplanes worth more than $100 billion in the next 20 years.
See Also:
