Christian Lindener

Christian Lindener is the Global Head of Airbus BizLab, a startup accelerator program within Airbus that focuses on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the aerospace sector. He took on this role in November 2019, aiming to enhance the program's impact on the company and its strategic goals.

Professional Background

Before joining Airbus, Lindener had a diverse career as a serial entrepreneur and held various leadership positions in innovation and corporate venturing. He was instrumental in establishing Airbus Scale, which aimed to accelerate high-potential innovations within the company and engage with startups. His experience includes working with multiple startups and serving in executive roles that emphasized corporate innovation and venture clienting.123

Vision for Airbus BizLab

Lindener's approach to leading Airbus BizLab involves making significant investments in "moonshot" projects—ambitious, long-term initiatives that aim to revolutionize air travel and aerospace technology. He advocates for a shift in how startups are selected for the program, emphasizing the need for robust partnerships that contribute directly to Airbus's business objectives. His leadership style is characterized by a strong focus on measurable outcomes and key performance indicators to track the success of innovation initiatives.134

Key Interests

Under Lindener's guidance, Airbus BizLab is particularly focused on areas such as sustainability, electrification, autonomy, connectivity, and urban air mobility. He believes that by taking calculated risks and investing in groundbreaking technologies, Airbus can significantly influence the future of aerospace.135