Montreal, April 27, 2016 – The Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Quebec (CRIAQ) is holding its 8th Research Forum today, in the presence of aerospace leaders, researchers affiliated with universities and research centres, and representatives of international industry organizations.
In the lively atmosphere of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, approximately 700 aerospace players are gathered to stimulate the conversation around innovation and encourage interaction between potential partners, with the aim of developing new collaborative research and development projects. The event is being held during International Aerospace Week – Montreal, which highlights various issues related to the sector.
“Innovation is at the heart of the competitiveness of Québec’s aerospace industry, which accounts for 70% of total research and development spending in Canada,” explained Denis Faubert, President and CEO of CRIAQ. “The Forum is an opportunity to witness the emergence of promising partnerships and cutting-edge project ideas, and to strengthen the true global economic power of our aerospace industry,” he added.
The CRIAQ Research Forum is an inclusive platform for truly integrated collaboration between the aerospace sectors. It enables the implementation of an open innovation process that fosters interactions between key industry players, bringing together successful companies, creative students and experienced researchers. Since its last Forum, more than 20 projects, with a total value of more than $20 million in pre-competitive collaborative research, have taken off. These innovative projects, involving at least two universities and two companies, cover a variety of cutting-edge topics, including avionics, composites, and manufacturing and assembly processes.
This 8th edition of the Research Forum is also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing the aerospace industry over the next ten years, through research foresight workshops.
A model of excellence on a global scale
CRIAQ’s collaborative research approach has inspired the global community for 14 years. It has also served as a model for the development of a pan-Canadian collaborative aerospace network, the Aerospace Consortium for Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC). CRIAQ and CARIC work in interdependent synergy and promote open innovation in aerospace research to enable stakeholders to set common priorities at the national level.
“Innovation is also the cornerstone of Canadian aerospace, with 20% of all industry activity devoted to research and development, five times the average for the country’s manufacturing sector,” said Mr. Faubert. “This strong research and development culture accelerates technological advancement and our global competitiveness. »
About CRIAQ
The Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Quebec (CRIAQ) is a non-profit organization created in 2002 with the financial support of the Government of Quebec. Its mission is to increase the competitiveness of the aerospace industry and improve the collective knowledge base in this sector through better student training and targeted, industry-oriented collaborative research projects.
Information:
Sarah Bouchard
Communications Officer
438 346-5483
sarah.bouchard@criaq.aero
