# UC and Thales open shared research space at Digital Futures to advance AI and air mobility work

> The University of Cincinnati and French defense firm Thales have opened a joint AI research space at UC's Digital Futures facility. The lab focuses on AI for air mobility and safety-critical systems where failures carry real consequences.

- Type: AI news
- Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/uc-and-thales-open-shared-research-space-at-digital-futures/
- Published: 2026-04-23
- Updated: 2026-04-23
- Author: Jeroen Erne
- Jobs: Science and research
- Reading time: 1 min

### UC and Thales Open Joint Research Space for AI Development

The University of Cincinnati and Thales, a French aerospace and defense firm, have opened a collaborative workspace at UC's Digital Futures facility to advance artificial intelligence research in air mobility and safety-critical applications.

Thales employs 83,000 people across dozens of countries and serves as Digital Futures' first industrial partner. The physical space builds on a research agreement the two organizations signed in 2023.

Nick Ernest, a UC engineering alum and chief architect for Thales Avionics, said the workspace "strengthens engagement with academia and advances research into safe and ethical AI for mission- and safety-critical applications."

UC announced the partnership during its annual Research + Innovation week in April 2026. The collaboration pairs UC researchers with Thales engineers to focus on practical applications where AI failures carry real consequences.

#### What This Means for Research Teams

Joint university-industry spaces like this one give researchers access to real-world problems and industrial expertise. For Thales, the partnership provides direct connections to academic talent and emerging research directions.

UC is a Carnegie Classification Tier 1 research institution. The university conducts research across medicine, engineering, and social innovation.

Learn more about [AI research approaches](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/research/) and [AI applications in science and research](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/science-and-research/).

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