Aéro Montréal Welcomes Quebec’s Commitment to Supporting the Competitiveness of the Aerospace Industry

Aéro Montréal Welcomes Quebec’s Commitment to Supporting the Competitiveness of Quebec’s Aerospace Industry

Over $85M Granted for the Implementation of 3 Aerospace Initiatives

Montréal, Friday, April 29, 2022 – At Aéro Montréal’s Annual General Meeting, the Minister of Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development, Mr. Pierre Fitzgibbon, announced an envelope of $85M for the implementation of three initiatives in the aerospace sector. The event was held in the presence of 150 top executives from the business community, academia, research, and organizations within the aerospace ecosystem, at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

$12.77 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

At this gathering of aerospace industry stakeholders, Minister Fitzgibbon announced an envelope of $12.77M to enable Aéro Montréal to launch the second phase of the MACH FAB 4.0 initiative as well as to participate in the “Preferred Supplier” approach.

Launched in 2016 as part of Quebec’s 2016–2026 Aerospace Strategy, the MACH FAB 4.0 initiative was created to promote the integration of digital and advanced manufacturing technologies among SMEs.

Through this support, the Government of Quebec intends to continue assisting digital transformation projects already underway, while also expanding awareness and diagnostic efforts as part of the government’s Digital Transformation Offensive (OTN).

This key lever for Quebec SMEs also paves the way for the new “preferred supplier” approach. By combining in-depth knowledge of Quebec government financial support programs with greater visibility into prime contractors’ needs and Quebec suppliers’ capabilities, the preferred supplier approach will help preserve the competitive advantage of Quebec’s aerospace companies.

“By accelerating and strengthening the digital transformation initiated during Phase 1, the extension of the MACH FAB 4.0 initiative is an essential asset to ensure the competitiveness of our Quebec aerospace companies during this period of economic recovery. By solidifying the value chain, from SMEs to OEMs, the Government of Quebec is enhancing the attractiveness of cluster companies and enabling them to adapt to market needs. The operational optimization offered through this 4.0 shift helps mitigate the labour shortage issue, reduces carbon footprints, and optimizes manufacturing costs. This initiative undeniably preserves the aerospace sector’s ability to remain Quebec’s top manufacturing exporter,” said Suzanne M. Benoît, President and CEO of Aéro Montréal.

MASSIVE MOBILIZATION FOR RECOVERY

Two complementary initiatives will also be supported by the Government of Quebec.

The Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ) will receive $16M to carry out pre-competitive research projects, large-scale technology demonstrators, and international partnerships. The Green Aviation Research and Development Network (SA²GE) will also be supported with an allocation of $56,472,754 to implement Phase 2 of the large-scale collaborative project Les projets collaboratifs de l’aéronef de demain (LPCAD-2).

These investments in research and sustainable innovation will act as a lever to support innovation, which has been identified by industry stakeholders as the key link in ensuring an effective recovery.

ATTRACTING THE NEXT GENERATION – A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE

Aéro Montréal’s Annual General Meeting was also an opportunity to highlight the massive commitment of industry players within Quebec’s aerospace cluster. In 2021, more than 480 executives and aerospace specialists contributed to the cluster’s working groups and committees, all focused on a common concern: attracting tomorrow’s talent.

As the sector begins its recovery, a large majority of companies are facing a labour shortage.

“The labour shortage defined the year 2021 and is likely to persist in the coming years. To address this, Aéro Montréal mobilized in an unprecedented way in 2021 to identify creative solutions that will be implemented in 2022. We launched a community of interest on this issue, bringing together HR professionals, increased our public presence, and through our tools, facilitated the alignment between sector opportunities and available talent. Going forward, we will make sure to reach out to the next generation and convince them of the exciting opportunities our industry has to offer,” stated Ms. Benoît.