HOUTEN, Netherlands (Jan. 22, 2025) – RTX’s Pratt & Whitney has unveiled plans to establish a European Technology and Innovation Center (ETIC) in Houten, Netherlands. This state-of-the-art facility will focus on developing advanced propulsion and alternative fuel technologies to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions in future aircraft.
The ETIC will be co-located with RTX’s Collins Aerospace European Innovation Hub, creating a synergy that bolsters collaborative initiatives within the Dutch and European aerospace ecosystems. Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace are subsidiaries of RTX (NYSE: RTX).
“Our new European Technology and Innovation Center will be a path to access the exceptional engineering talent and opportunities for collaboration both in the Netherlands and across Europe,” said Frank Preli, vice president of technology at Pratt & Whitney. “A team of Pratt & Whitney innovators based at the ETIC will contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies for achieving greater propulsion efficiency and reduced emissions in future aircraft, whether powered by conventional or alternative aviation fuels, including hydrogen.”
The ETIC is part of RTX’s growing partnership with the Dutch aerospace industry. Recent agreements include a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands Aerospace Group to advance commercial aviation technology research and a master research agreement with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) for collaborative projects involving graduate students and academic staff.
Tjerk Opmeer, deputy director-general for business and innovation at the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, lauded the initiative: “This center has the possibility to enhance our shared vision for accelerating sustainable aviation through innovation and international collaboration. We are committed to support these transformative efforts.”
Slated to open in mid-2025, the ETIC will initially employ a core team of engineers and scientists, with potential for expansion based on program needs. RTX already has a significant presence in Europe, employing approximately 22,000 people across 60 locations, including over 6,000 Pratt & Whitney employees in Poland and 270 Collins Aerospace employees across three sites in the Netherlands.
This development underscores Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the aerospace industry, ensuring a greener future for aviation
IMAGE: ©Pratt & Whitney – Pratt & Whitney’s European Technology and Innovation Center (ETIC) will be co-located at Collins Aerospace’s existing European Innovation Hub in Houten, the Netherlands.
SOURCE: RTX
