Shri Priyank Kharge, Marc Lamy, Bernhard Quendt and Ankur Kanaglekar mark launch of Thales Research and Technology India during India France Year of Innovation 2026
Bengaluru, February 2026: India has strengthened its position within Thales’ global research ecosystem with the launch of Thales Research and Technology India at the company’s Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru. The development coincides with the India France Year of Innovation 2026 and took place during the week of the India AI Impact Summit.
With this move, India joins France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore as one of the five countries hosting Thales corporate Research and Technology laboratories. The Bengaluru centre will focus on advanced capabilities in real time embedded software, edge computing, embedded artificial intelligence and open innovation in hardware systems, including the use of open source hardware concepts.
The inauguration was attended by Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, Julie Huguet, Director of La French Tech, members of the French Tech delegation, senior industry representatives and Thales leadership including Bernhard Quendt, Senior Vice President and Group Chief Technical Officer, and Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice President India, Thales.
Shri Priyank Kharge said, “Karnataka continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for advanced technology and innovation. The launch of Thales Research and Technology India at its Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru reflects the state’s robust innovation ecosystem and strong Indo French collaboration. Thales’ continued investments in research and development, skill creation and partnerships with local industry align well with the vision of building a self reliant India.”
Marc Lamy said, “With the launch of this new research centre, Thales is marking a decisive step in its journey in India. Thales is one of the companies that best embody French excellence, built on research, engineering and the pursuit of high end technological capabilities across aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital identity.”
Bernhard Quendt said, “The launch of Thales Research and Technology India marks an important milestone in our global R and D strategy and reinforces India’s role as a key innovation hub for the Group. We aim to work closely with start ups, industry partners and academic institutions to accelerate breakthroughs in high performance embedded software, embedded AI, cybersecurity and future connectivity.”
Ankur Kanaglekar said, “Thales has been a trusted partner in India’s growth story for more than seven decades. The launch of Thales Research and Technology India reinforces our commitment to Make in India, Innovate in India and Export from India, strengthening the local ecosystem.”
Thales invests more than four billion euros annually in research and development worldwide. In India, the company employs over 2,300 professionals across Noida, Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The Bengaluru Engineering Competence Centre supports hardware, software and systems engineering for civil and defence sectors, while the Noida centre focuses on cyber and digital capabilities. The newly launched Research and Technology centre will include dedicated researchers, including Masters and PhD scholars, and will collaborate with start ups, academia and industry to develop advanced technologies for critical systems.
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