The aerospace industry is moving around decarbonization and drones

Quebec’s industry needs to change in these two areas if it wants to remain competitive, Aéro Montreal president and CEO Suzanne Benoit explained, on the sidelines of the organization’s annual meeting on Friday.

He gives the example of Airbus, which makes a hydrogen-powered aircraft in France, whose entry into service is scheduled for 2035.

” We, if we don’t do that, we’re no longer in the “game”. “

Decarbonization occurs in many other fields, he specified, whether it consumes less energy, new fuel types or more aerodynamic aircraft structures. There are short term, medium term and long term.

The potential for autonomy is equally important for the industry, he added. The potential market for drones is huge, he pointed out.

” The number is staggering. It will be a market of 44 million US dollars by 2025. We are at 22 million by 2020. It is an emerging market, and we all have the knowledge of how to take advantage of it in Quebec. “

To be eligible for the innovation zone program, the industry must find a common theme around the team’s efforts, Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon explained in an interview.

” The zones are intended to be an infrastructure investment where people, education, businesses and start-ups will share a common theme. Companies need to be willing to work on something “together”, otherwise it will be independent silos. “

The aerospace industry is one of four or five industries considered likely to develop an innovation zone. However, the minister did not believe the project would be advanced enough to make an announcement before the election. He said he hopes the project will be completed.

” Regardless of who leads the government, I believe the concept of innovation will remain. Aeronautics, I expect to have that in 2022 or at the latest in 2023. “

The government already announced the first two innovation zones in February, in the Estrie region, in Sherbrooke and Bromont, in the quantum science and digital technologies sectors, respectively.

The contours of the area are drawn

Meanwhile, the contours of the innovation zone are being shaped. The ministry has asked us for management clarifications, on how we see collaboration with universities, the values ​​that companies are willing to contribute for possible research projects, Ms. Benoit. All attached, and there, we were waiting for news from the ministry.

Several projects related to the aerospace innovation zone have already been targeted, Ms. added. Benoit. The conversations are taking place on revamp the Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Center of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The new NRC center will move to the borough of Saint-Laurent, he said.

It will be allocated to everything autonomy, decarbonization, electrification, cybersecurity. This will be such a very important anchor point. We will take advantage of all the pan-Canadian knowledge. They are located in Montreal, but we will have access to their researchers from across Canada.

The “heart” of the innovation zone is in the borough of Saint-Laurent, but it will also have poles in Saint-Hubert, Mirabel and Alma, he specified.

New government assistance

In a speech at the conference, Mr. Fitzgibbon announced an envelope of $ 85 million to support three aerospace initiatives.

Of this amount, 56.5 million is allocated to collaborative projects for the aircraft of tomorrow (LPCAD). Five research and development projects were selected to explore different technologies. In an interview, the Minister presented this initiative as an example of what can be done within an innovation zone, but on a larger scale.

A sum of $ 16 million was also awarded to the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Quebec (CRIAQ) to conduct pre-competitive research projects.

Aéro Montréal, in part, is raising $ 12.8 million for phase 2 of the MACH FAB 4.0 initiative, which aims to support digital transformation projects and develop a strategy preferred supplier.