Pratt & Whitney (P&W), a RTX company, has announced plans to establish a European Technology and Innovation Centre (ETIC) to advance energy-efficient and sustainable aviation technologies. The ETIC will be co-located with RTX’s Collins Aerospace European Innovation Hub in Houten, Netherlands, strengthening RTX’s collaborative efforts within the Dutch and wider European aerospace technology sectors.
“Our new European Technology and Innovation Centre 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 engagement with the Dutch aerospace industry. RTX recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands Aerospace Group, outlining plans to collaborate on commercial aviation technology research alongside industry, academia and government agencies. Additionally, RTX has signed a master research agreement with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), enabling joint research projects with academic staff and graduate students.
Scheduled to open in mid-2025, the ETIC will begin with a core team of engineers and scientists, with potential for expansion as programme requirements grow. RTX currently employs around 22,000 people across 60 locations in Europe, including over 6,000 Pratt & Whitney employees, primarily in Poland and 270 staff across Collins Aerospace’s three Dutch sites, including Houten.
