The University of Vigo and Indra Group launched the new Indra Chair in Autonomous Aerial Systems this Tuesday at the Ourense campus. This initiative aims to establish ongoing collaboration between both entities in activities related to training, dissemination, transfer, and the promotion of R&D&i in the field of unmanned aviation, guidance systems, RPAS, and unmanned aircraft systems.
This action is part of the commitment by the Xunta de Galicia and Indra, in collaboration with the UVigo and through the Civil UAV initiative, “to consolidate Galicia as a reference hub for innovation, technological development, and talent linked to the aerospace sector and unmanned systems”.
Participants in the presentation included Carmen García Mateo, Rector of the University of Vigo; María Jesús Lorenzana, Minister of Economy and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia; José Luis Albo, Head of Indra Group in Galicia; Nieves Lorenzo, Director of the School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering at the University of Vigo; and Fernando Veiga, UVigo professor and director of the chair. García Mateo highlighted that the initiative represents “the model of university we aspire to: an institution capable of leveraging its strengths, connected to the business fabric, and transforming knowledge into real opportunities for society”.
José Luís Albo explained that the agreement exemplifies Indra's commitment to seeking specialized talent and collaborating in university and professional training, contributing to technological innovation and industrial development. Indra Group is a leading Spanish multinational in defense and advanced digitalization, with revenues of 5457 million euros at the close of the 2025 fiscal year.
María Jesús Lorenzana congratulated the University of Vigo and Indra for their trust in Galician talent and expressed hope that the collaboration will generate new training activities and research projects. She emphasized that the chair is a tool to contribute to technological autonomy, by researching, designing, and developing essential systems with in-house knowledge.
Fernando Veiga highlighted that the Chair is an excellent opportunity to drive aerospace science in Ourense, focusing on civil applications of drones such as fighting forest fires or maritime rescue. The collaboration offers students final degree and master's projects on real-world problems and direct contact with the industry, being key for talent attraction and retention in Galicia.
The agreement includes training activities (final degree and master's projects, internships), dissemination and transfer (talks, university challenge events, STEM activities to highlight women's role), and the promotion of R&D&i (industrial doctorate calls, studies on drone flight safety, autonomous air navigation).
