Union Minister for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the Centre of Excellence in Aerospace Engineering and Internet of Things at the Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) on Monday.

Claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, the centre aims to make engineering graduates industry-ready.

“Bengaluru is home to aerospace in India. The key aeronautical R&D institutions are all positioned in Karnataka. Establishing such a centre will help young talents showcase their skills.

With the UDAN scheme turning successful, students can work towards the manufacture of small aircraft that use short runways and make air travel affordable for poor,” Harsh Vardhan said.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Statistics and Program Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda, Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka, Kalburgi, professor N R Shetty, and other dignitaries.

The centre aims to achieve Skill India goals, by giving industry experience to engineering graduates from the third semester itself so that by the time they graduate, they will be armed with three-year experience.

The Rs 28-crore centre of excellence is the sixth one on the NMIT campus.