Based on the advantages of the NUAA’s national key disciplines of Aviation & Aerospace and Mechanics, as well as the regional advantages of Nanjing Airport Economic Development Zone, IAE aims to develop into an international advanced aerospace engineering innovation center, integrating high-tech product R&D, high-level talent training, high-level achievement transformation and high-tech enterprise incubation.

The business scope of IAE includes the innovation, research and development of aerospace and related technologies and products, the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, technical consultation, technical training，technical services, the cultivation and incubation of scientific and technological enterprises，etc.

IAE implements the president responsibility system under the leadership of the council, adopting the "one institute three systems " management mode: " institute system " management （personnel training, R&D, achievement transformation and project expansion), " enterprise system" management (provide finance, marketing and other services for technology industrialization company in the zone）, "college system" management (for graduate education, laboratory or engineering center).

The main structure of the institute includes management and service institution, R&D institution, incubation institution. IAE has set up Integrated Department, H&R Department, Finance Department, Business Development Department and R&D Department.

The main research and development direction of IAE is intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( UAV ) and related core technology, unmanned helicopter and related core technology, all-electric helicopter and related core technology, all-electric aircraft and related core technology, flying car and related core technology.