When Airbus met UC3M: The impact on Getafe and the Madrid region
In 1923, Airbus (then CASA) established its first factory in Getafe, marking a milestone that fundamentally transformed the town’s economy and drove its industrialisation. This development also had a lasting impact on the region, which now hosts a major industrial player. The decision to set up shop in Getafe was due to the pre-existing military and aeronautical facilities near the railway network. In previous centuries, the Getafe economy was closely tied to the needs of the Court demanding agricultural and manufactured products and the town became an important communication hub due to its road and later, rail connections. However, the drifts of the 20th century were dramatic until the current Spanish democracy. (Fun fact: there is a parallel between the Getafe football team and the town’s recent evolution—from an unknown regional league team to a Champions League contender).
Along with democracy, the Madrid region experienced a huge transformation: from being a court city of public administrations surrounded by a large industrial belt to becoming a regional centre for large foreign business corporations and Spanish multinationals thanks to the regional specialization in the new economy. As a result, companies needed access to a high degree of training capacity.
The distribution of universities in the region, at this time, was concentrated in the central-northwest side of Madrid, while the south was characterised by low-educated and working-class social strata. Social government had a concern for reversing patterns that tend to widen the gap between the north and south of the region.
UC3M and coincidental alignment
In this context, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was founded in 1989, by Prof. Gregorio Peces-Barba (one of the founding fathers of the Spanish Constitution) at the request of the central government, involving all the administrations: central, regional and the municipalities of Getafe and Leganes.
The choice of the location of the facilities in both municipalities was determined by accessibility through public transportation and the existence of old military facilities within the cities that, following their refurbishment, would not only serve the University but also support the integration of knowledge into the city itself. This is one such “coincidence of life” in the partnership between UC3M and Airbus.
UC3M is a public, generalist, and innovative university. Though first intended to be relatively small, it now has over 24,000 enrolled students and 2,000 academic staff. Many research groups are active in fields of knowledge of interest to Airbus—yet another coincidence.
UC3M was founded to contribute to economic development and social cohesion in the south of Madrid; it is embedded in the local ecosystem through its location, and it is committed to social challenges in this area. Prof. Gregorio Peces-Barba promised to create a new concept of a public educational institution, an innovative, inclusive, independent and influential university. UC3M regularly works with the regional government and municipalities in its location – another similarity and stroke of good fortune for Airbus and UC3M who both share the ambition to be major players in the innovation ecosystem. With such similarities in approach and understanding of their respective institutional objectives, it seems almost natural that both agents become partners, building upon their synergies and facing increasingly complex challenges.
From coincidences to concomitance: Airbus – UC3M
In 2008, UC3M and Airbus Group achieved a formal university-industry collaboration agreement at the Spanish level. The scope of this collaboration runs across education, R&D, knowledge transfer and innovation in the aerospace industry. Ever since the
Airbus-UC3M framework cooperation program has been a strategic and holistic collaboration embracing the university’s three missions: Education and teaching, research and innovation, and social and economic development.
- Education and teaching. Airbus professionals contribute regularly to curriculum design and educational and training offerings. For example, they promoted and co-organised the Master of Lifelong Learning in Aircraft Systems Integration and Master of Lifelong Learning in Airframe Technology.
- Research and innovation. In this pillar, cooperation shapes many forms: from chair positions, and industrial doctorates to European projects and links to the UC3M Science Park. Furthermore, their Joint Research Centre UC3M-Airbus was awarded in the category of University-Business from the National Network Foundation of University Industry (REDFUE), in 2014, and there is a case study “UC3M and Airbus Group: Airbus and UC3M rocketing the Spanish Aeronautic industry evidence” in the Case Studies Series of the European Project University Business Cooperation project in Europe1.
- Social and economic development. Although both institutions initially approached this topic in isolation, working from their own perspectives on the town’s development, they soon recognised the mutual influence, benefits, and synergies of their efforts, as their ambitions converged. Notably, Airbus, UC3M, and the Local Development Agency (GISA) collaborate to support the town’s auxiliary aerospace industry, foster entrepreneurship, and promote gender diversity in the sector.
UC3M’s strong engineering research and proximity to Airbus Getafe has led to collaborations across multiple departments, resulting in successful projects in areas such as aerospace structures, avionics, and electric propulsion, including Horizon Europe initiatives.
Prof. Mario Merino, Deputy Vice-Rector of Innovation, Knowledge Transfer, and Science Park
The Airbus-UC3M collaboration is an exceptional mechanism to accelerate the evolution and maturation of new technologies and processes from low (1-5) to high (8-9) TRL. Furthermore, it is a core research strategy that aims not only to foster the transfer the knowledge developed at our research groups to increase innovation, but also to encourage knowledge exchange and establish virtuous cycles among the intervening parties, who may identify additional research opportunities or even create new and disruptive research lines, enhancing researchers, capacities and impact research.
The sponsorship of the annual Excellence Awards promoted by the Social Council of the UC3M is also worthy of mention. These awards recognise and encourage the effort and contribution to excellence by UC3M members across professional, academic staff, and alumni.
Indeed, there is no doubt that this cooperation has a strong impact at all levels. However, it is at the local level, in the town of Getafe where the partnership is a major success factor, not only in reducing the traditional welfare gap but also, in providing added value to the territory as an alternative to the strong court influence of Madrid.
Ready for more?
This article is part of The Hidden Engine of Innovation: University-Industry Partnerships in Action, UIIN’s new casebook showcasing 15 stories of successful university–industry collaboration from around the world. Packed with insights, strategies and real-world examples, the full book is exclusively available to UIIN members, but you can download the teaser version here and explore how partnerships are driving talent, innovation and impact.
María José Herrero-Villa (author) is the Head of Connections with the Innovation Ecosystem, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. She is educated in business and PhD in Economics and Innovation from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Her professional experience began in the private sector acquiring a deep understanding of industry drivers and dynamics. In 2004, she joined the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid-Science Park performing functions in entrepreneurship, innovation, and University-Business Collaboration. Currently, she is Head of Innovation Ecosystem Development Unit and technical coordinator for “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” of the Young University for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance.
