The GE Aerospace Foundation has announced the expansion of its Next Engineers program to Bengaluru, India. The initiative aims to encourage students to explore careers in engineering and is part of a broader effort to enhance engineering education globally.
As part of this initiative, the GE Aerospace Foundation, along with employees at its Bengaluru facility, will collaborate to select an academic partner, with an announcement expected in late 2025. Bengaluru was chosen based on factors such as the company’s existing workforce, engineering and manufacturing presence, and projected program involvement.
Alok Nanda, Chief Technology Officer at GE Aerospace’s India Technology Centre, highlighted the expansion as an opportunity to foster greater student engagement in engineering fields, building on the company’s established collaborations with academic institutions in India.
According to GE Aerospace Foundation President Meghan Thurlow, nearly 22,000 students worldwide have participated in the Next Engineers program, and the Bengaluru expansion will further extend its reach. The program currently operates in cities including Cincinnati, Ohio; Greenville, South Carolina; Johannesburg, South Africa; Staffordshire, United Kingdom; and Warsaw, Poland.
In 2024, the GE Aerospace Foundation committed $20 million to the Next Engineers program through 2030. The funding is intended to assist students from middle school to college in developing engineering skills and career opportunities.
GE Aerospace has maintained a presence in India for over four decades, with its engines powering both commercial and defense aircraft. The company’s technology center in Bengaluru has been involved in aviation research and development for 25 years, and its manufacturing facility in Pune contributes to GE Aerospace’s global supply chain.