Initiative Supports Projects Focusing on Cleaner Tech and Sustainability

The Airbus Foundation has launched a partnership with the Solar Impulse Foundation aiming to support and fund projects that address ‘critical societal issues’. The three-year collaboration was revealed during Airbus’s annual Summit in Toulouse, France.

“Aerospace technologies allow us to unlock information about our planet that we cannot access from the ground,” stated Julie Kitcher, Airbus’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Chair of the Airbus Foundation. “Using Airbus’ expertise in satellites and helicopters, we’re committed to empowering innovators and researchers to develop solutions that address pressing environmental and social challenges.”

Beginning on April 1, the duo will sort through and select the most promising proposals that tackle modern environmental challenges. Chosen applicants will be given not only a flat €10,000 to fund their initiatives, but also continued support through access to Airbus and Solar Impulse resources.

The Airbus Foundation, a philanthropic organization established in December 2008, will play a role in streamlining projects through its satellite data and helicopter assets. Applicants will be able to utilize these for earth and aerial monitoring, observation, and inspections.

The Solar Impulse Foundation, a non-profit founded in 2003 by Swiss explorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard, will contribute through networking, advocacy, and general expertise. They have committed to sharing nature-based solutions with known clean-tech organizations and engaging with lawmakers for any necessary policy changes.

“By combining aerospace technology with nature-based solutions, we can turn innovation into impact,” stated Piccard, Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. “Our partnership with the Airbus Foundation demonstrates how advanced capabilities like satellite imagery can help restore ecosystems, support economic development, and build climate resilience where it’s needed most.”

The new partnership was announced on the opening day of Airbus’s 2025 Summit, held on March 24 and 25 in Toulouse. CEO Guillaume Faury brought Piccard to the stage to kick off the event, discussing the current state of climate objectives and the development of sustainable technologies.

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.solarimpulse.com