Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defence technology companies, is set to significantly deepen its presence in Tamil Nadu, with the state government announcing on September 4 that the British firm plans to invest in multiple areas, including the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.

In addition to the MRO unit, Rolls-Royce will create a research and development (R&D) and training centre in the state, alongside a notable expansion of its International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. (IAMPL) joint venture at Hosur.

Given Tamil Nadu’s position as one of only two states housing India’s Defence Industrial Corridors, this move is viewed as a strategic endorsement of the region’s potential to become a key hub for advanced aerospace and defence manufacturing.

The announcement was made in the context of Tamil Nadu’s ongoing global outreach efforts, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leading the second leg of the “TN Rising European” delegation, focused on forging strategic economic and industrial ties with the United Kingdom.

During the visit, the Chief Minister held a series of high-level discussions with business leaders and institutions, paving the way for a raft of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across diverse sectors such as defence and aerospace, maritime technologies, renewable energy, textiles, and creative design.

These partnerships are strategically aligned with the emerging contours of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, enabling Tamil Nadu to lock in long-term access to global investment, technology transfers, and research collaborations.

Among the notable private investment announcements, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a UK-based provider of maritime data and analytics, expressed its commitment to expanding its Global Capability Centre in Chennai.

The expansion is expected to create nearly 200 jobs by FY26, adding to Tamil Nadu’s growing reputation as a hub for maritime infrastructure and services. Meanwhile, Wilson Power & Distribution Technologies confirmed a ₹300-crore investment towards setting up a transformer manufacturing facility in the state, which is projected to generate 543 jobs.

Further bolstering high-tech industrial development, Britannia RFID Technologies India announced plans to establish new RFID tag manufacturing units in Tiruppur and Namakkal with a total investment of ₹520 crore. These facilities are expected to tap into the growing demand for digital supply chain management tools and will collectively create approximately 550 jobs in the region.

The delegation also delivered significant outcomes in the education and research sectors. French-origin design institute Ecole Intuit Lab announced a partnership with Sakthi Excellence Academy to launch a new design institute in Coimbatore, aiming to foster world-class training in creative design and innovation.

Reinforcing higher education and research collaboration, the University of Exeter in the UK signed a memorandum to enable joint research projects and faculty exchange programmes with Tamil Nadu counterparts, thereby strengthening academic and cultural linkages between the state and one of Britain’s leading universities.

According to the state’s Industries Department, these diverse agreements and investment pledges underscore Tamil Nadu’s growing global profile and its ability to attract top-tier partnerships across aerospace, energy, education, and advanced manufacturing.

The department noted that, strategically aligned with the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, these new MoUs would serve as long-term building blocks for Tamil Nadu to establish itself as both a national and international leader in high-value manufacturing and technology-driven industries.

By drawing in global majors such as Rolls-Royce alongside specialised players in power distribution, maritime analytics, and digital supply chain technologies, Tamil Nadu is positioning its economy for sustained growth while simultaneously bolstering its role within India’s defence-industrial base and knowledge ecosystem.

Agencies