Quebec's Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy has announced a $2-million investment to begin setting up the future Collaborative Innovation Centre in Aerospace and Mobility (CCIAM), a flagship project of the Espace Aéro innovation zone.
This amount is part of a total investment of $5 million announced today.
The project brings together universities, academic and institutional partners, including the National Research Council of Canada, and companies such as CAE, Bombardier, Airbus and Boeing. The latter has confirmed a private investment of $110 million in Espace Aéro, of which $3 million will go toward the future centre.
This funding will help assess infrastructure needs, define project costs and confirm the contribution of each partner.
Located in the Saint-Laurent borough of Montreal, the centre will serve as a hub where researchers and students from Concordia, McGill and Polytechnique Montréal can collaborate with industry partners to drive innovation, develop new practices and train the next generation of aerospace engineers.
"This centre is a foundational project for Quebec's aerospace ecosystem," says Christian Moreau, professor of mechanical, industrial and aerospace engineering at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. "It is designed to support innovation and meet the industry's needs for decades to come."
A hub for collaboration and experimentation
The future centre will also serve as a space where universities and companies can work together on large-scale projects. Its facilities will, for example:
- Allow new aerospace technologies to be tested in a secure environment
- Support the development and evaluation of models and prototypes before they are scaled up
- Provide training and activities that foster exchanges between researchers, students and industry professionals
These initiatives will help address major challenges such as reducing carbon emissions, electrification and system autonomy.
"Aerospace is a strategic sector for Quebec and one in which Concordia makes a significant contribution," says Concordia President Graham Carr. "Through our participation in this project, we reaffirm our commitment to working with partners to drive innovation, promote sustainability and strengthen Quebec's position on the global stage."
Learn more about the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University.
