Sponsored by The Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec Discover the success, projects and ambitions of Québec’s aerospace industry, a genuine world-class ecosystem.
Sponsored by the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec
An exclusive interview with Québec Minister of Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development Pierre Fitzgibbon
Courtesy of MDA Space Ltd
What sets the Québec aerospace industry apart in the global arena?
Québec’s aerospace expertise and engineering are unparalleled. Our industry relies on highly qualified workers and an extensive ecosystem that can design, manufacture, and market state-of-the-art technologies that satisfy the environmental and economic imperatives of the aircraft of tomorrow. Québec is carrying out concrete action to ensure the sector’s long-term growth. In February 2022, we launched The Québec Aerospace Strategy Horizon 2026.
What is The Québec Aerospace Strategy?
The QAS has a $334-million financial framework for the period 2021-2024. It comprises eight measures to support investments estimated at nearly $2.8 billion. It centres on three key initiatives:
o shape the future of aerospace through innovation; o diversify the industry; o strengthen value chains and boost their international growth.
Is the strategy meeting its objectives?
The QAS has already produced tangible results. Take the first key initiative to shape the future of aerospace through innovation. Last April, the Québec government granted nearly $56.5million dollars to the Coalition for Greener Aircraft under Phase 2 of the initiative devoted to collaborative projects to produce the aircraft of the future. It comprises five R&D projects focusing on hybrid electric propulsion, evolved aerodynamics, flight autonomy, and systems devoted to a new type of aircraft. We also announced the awarding of $16 million to the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec (CRIAQ) for its precompetitive research, major technology demonstrator, and international partnership projects.
Let us now turn to the second key initiative, devoted to diversifying the industry. In 2021, we supported an innovative project at Pratt & Whitney Canada to develop technological blocks and design a hybrid electric propulsion demonstrator aircraft in collaboration with De Havilland Aircraft. We have also supported CAE’s extensive R&D program in the digital technologies, electric aviation, and health fields. Our initiatives worth $170.5 million have facilitated both projects, which total $965 million in investments in Québec.
To conclude, the third key initiative focuses on strengthening value chains and boosting their international growth. Indeed, the size of Québec SMEs affects their access to global value chains and, consequently, their long-term survival. To consolidate our key aerospace suppliers and overcome certain shortcomings in the financing chain, especially at the buyback stage, the Québec government has helped to establish the Thrust Capital Partners specialty fund. With a target capitalization of $100 million, the fund will facilitate access to growth capital by key players in the aerospace industry. Through Investissement Québec, our government will invest up to $30 million in the new specialty fund.
We have also granted nearly $13 million in assistance to Aéro Montréal for the MACH FAB 4.0 initiative to support SMEs in carrying out their digital transformation and supporting the preferred supplier approach.
Why is the preferred supplier approach unique in Québec?
In Québec, we ensure that our firms are at the forefront of supply chains and set themselves apart on international markets. Through the preferred supplier approach, we are helping companies, such as subsidiaries and SMEs, to acquire and maintain all the elements that are essential to satisfy the needs of major prime contractors. This approach bolsters the competitiveness of Québec firms and sends a strong message to international prime contractors, i.e., that they will find in Québec not only companies that can successfully carry out their innovation projects but also pursue them up to the industrialization and marketing phases in a highly competitive global marketplace.
How is Québec collaborating to meet environmental challenges?
Several organizations are working at the global level to decarbonize air transport. Québec’s expertise makes it a key player in this mission. More than 75% of Canadian aerospace research and development is conducted in Québec, which is significant. To develop the aircraft of the future, we are participating in international development programs and are inviting major global players to join our projects.
Moreover, I encourage industry members to participate in our call for projects devoted to the transportation of the future. This major initiative covers air, land, and sea transportation. It has a budget allowance of more than $115 million and will generate investments estimated at more than $230 million. You have until September 18, 2022 to submit your partnership projects with Québec firms. I invite all participants in the Farnborough International Airshow to visit the Québec space in the Canadian pavilion. More than 30 Québec companies are present there, including the Aéro Montréal industrial cluster and the Québec government, with the support of its partners Investissement Québec International and Montréal International.
Lastly, make Québec your next business destination. Visit our offices in Québec City and Montréal. We will be pleased to discuss with you Québec’s initiatives and ambitions in the aerospace sector to shape together the future of the industry.
