Revealed during the prestigious Paris Air Show, this strategic partnership marks a significant step toward developing the next generation of aviation software systems.

The center will focus on preparing and advancing the onboard IT systems of future aircraft, ensuring they are smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before. As aviation enters a new digital era, where autonomy, real-time connectivity, and energy efficiency are becoming essential. This initiative positions Portugal as a key contributor to the global aerospace innovation landscape.

Critical Software, a leading Portuguese tech firm specializing in mission- and safety-critical systems, brings extensive expertise in sectors like aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy. Their longstanding collaboration with Airbus and proven track record in complex software development make them an ideal partner for this venture. Airbus, as one of the world’s largest and most forward-looking aerospace companies, will provide the scale, resources, and vision necessary to ensure the center drives impactful innovation.

The new center aims to recruit highly qualified engineers and software developers, contributing to local employment and strengthening Portugal’s reputation as a hub for specialized talent in advanced technologies. It also reinforces the importance of nurturing a national ecosystem capable of contributing to global industrial and technological challenges.

The facility will work on software systems critical to the safety, efficiency, and digital transformation of future aircraft. These systems are expected to support the evolution of intelligent cockpits, next-gen flight controls, predictive maintenance tools, and increased automation. In addition, the center will support Airbus’s wider goals around sustainability and decarbonization, with software playing a crucial role in optimizing fuel efficiency and aircraft performance.

This announcement is not just a win for the Portuguese tech sector, it’s a reflection of Portugal’s rising profile in strategic industries, from aerospace to software engineering. It also confirms how international companies are increasingly recognizing the value of investing in Portugal’s skilled workforce, stable business climate, and innovation capacity.

By combining Critical Software’s engineering excellence with Airbus’s global aerospace leadership, the new technology center sets the stage for transformative work that could shape the future of flight. More than a business deal, it’s a bold step into the future of aviation engineered in Portugal, for the world.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes