Uber is to open an Advanced Technologies Centre in Paris, the place where the dream first began.
Uber came to the conclusion that in order to solve issues of congestion and air quality it need to look to place its vehicles elsewhere, namely, in the sky. Therefore, Uber launched its Elevate program of in 2016 with the goal of building a network of all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
To facilitate the development of VTOL, Uber has opened the Advanced Technologies Centre to initially focus on Uber Elevate. The opening of the centre compliments Uber’s existing advanced technology offices in Pittsburgh, Toronto, and San Francisco.
Over the next five years Uber is to invest €20 million into developing new technologies and capabilities for VTOL.
Uber has also entered into a five year a five-year research partnership with École polytechnique.
“Delivering on our bold aspirations for the future will require working together with the best and brightest minds. As an institution at the cutting-edge of science and technology we are excited to work with École polytechnique to take urban mobility forward. Together we’ll work towards a future where anyone can get a flight at the push of a button,” said Uber’s head of aviation programs Eric Allison.
