EADS group's commitments

The Group's divisions and subsidiaries are strongly invested in fields where the commitment, expertise and resource contribution of one of the largest aeronautics and aerospace companies have a significant impact. For this reason, their sponsorship initiatives focus on various pillars such as solidarity, education and the sensitisation of young people to science and technology, the environment and the implementation of parity and diversity initiatives.

Commitment, determination and solidarity

In 2008, Airbus created its Business Foundation aimed at developing initiatives in favour of the most impoverished, of the insertion and education of young people and finally of the environment. To date, the Foundation has organised eight support and supply flights to countries suffering from natural catastrophes, thanks to the investment of its employees. It has also launched a major initiative in collaboration with the UN's world food programme, by sending to Dubai part of the emergency stock of the Action contre la faim association (action against hunger) based in Lyon.
MBDA is also strongly involved in the promotion of essential commitment and solidarity values, characteristic of the Defence sector. In 2011, MDBA became a member of the "Solidarité-Défense" (solidarity-defence) association whose purpose is to strengthen ties between the civil society and the military community, whose members are committed to external peace restoration or peacekeeping operations.

In 2012, MBDA is also considering supporting an initiative in favour of the CABAT (injured army soldier help cell) whose mission is to support all soldiers injured in the line of duty, along with their families.
At the international level, MBDA supports a humanitarian project through the provision of water treatment equipment in response to requests made by the Pakistani authorities, in view of supporting the population severely affected by the major floods of 2010.

Through the long-lasting development of its collaboration with the Aviation Sans Frontières (ASF - Aviation Without Borders) association, EADS provides aerial logistics support to NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) and facilitates the deployment of medical teams, along with the transport of pharmaceutical products and emergency relief equipment to intervention sites. These air lifts give hope to thousands of people living in difficult to reach areas.

Action for parity and diversity

EADS opted to commit to an active parity policy by signing in 2004 an agreement focused on two lines of progress: professional equality and desegregation. This agreement centres mainly on career prospects and the improvement of the image and attractiveness of science and technology for young girls, in order to encourage them to turn towards these careers.

To achieve this goal, EADS has implemented a consistent series of long-term initiatives aimed at promoting aeronautics and aerospace careers to women and at facilitating the access of women to currently male-dominated professional circuits.
- Welcoming schoolgirls to research centres and design offices (Operation Girls Day).
- Participation in trade forums, conferences and seminars organised by teaching establishments, involving female Group employees with exemplary career paths (Summer university "International Institute of Women in Engineering").

Environment and biodiversity

Airbus, in partnership with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), attempts to encourage young people to become involved in biodiversity by taking part in The Green Wave. An initiative aimed at sensitising young people to the key role of biodiversity in our life and for the future. The Airbus Business Foundation also supports a number of local biodiversity projects. In Germany, a school project focused on renewable energy generation; In Spain, an initiative aimed at promoting environmental education for sustainable development in schools; in the United Kingdom, a community initiative enabling schoolchildren to take part in projects for the protection of nature in the vicinity of one of the Airbus UK sites; and in the United States, the Foundation is involved in an educational project for children at the Gulf Coast Exploreum site.

Promotion of scientific and technological culture

With the Le Bourget Museum of Air and Space and the London Science Museum, the EADS Group strives to promote and disseminate scientific and technological culture. With the Museum of Air, EADS contributed to the creation of a space dedicated to children covering an area of more than 1000 m2 in the historical Le Bourget passenger terminal, christened "Planète Pilote" (Pilot Planet). It involves some forty interactive manipulations enabling young children to familiarize themselves with the aeronautical and space environment.
Thanks to its partnership with the London Science Museum, EADS presents the latest achievements in terms of innovation and technology. Through this initiative, EADS intends to promote an interest in aeronautics among children and students.
INTECH significantly facilitates the interaction of young people in the fields of science and engineering within a stimulating and interactive environment. Thanks to its sponsorship of the planetarium, Astrium is working with INTECH to promote the marvels of space and to direct future generations towards careers in our industry. Astrium's sponsorship is a good example of encouraging the world of corporate charitable organisations and education to work together.