Part of International Aerospace Week - Montréal 2018 - The Québec aerospace industry reaffirms its global leadership

More than 1,000 decision-makers in the Canadian and international aerospace industry attend the 2018 Aerospace Innovation Forum

MONTRÉAL, April 16, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, today launched the 6th edition of the Aerospace Innovation Forum under the theme "Aerospace in the Era of Disruptive Technologies," in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC). More than 1,000 Canadian and international aerospace representatives are attending this major event, which is being held April 16-17, 2018 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

"The Forum, one of the biggest gatherings of the global aerospace industry in North America, provides a unique opportunity for participants to share best practices in innovation developed by the industry," says Suzanne M. Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal. "As part of this sixth edition of the Forum, we will explore, with the exceptional contribution of nearly 90 international speakers, how disruptive technologies are influencing the aerospace industry in the way it conducts business. We will also look at how these disruptions will affect the way innovation is deployed within companies in the coming years."

"Thanks to the Forum, we can count on a special platform to explore, together, how disruptive technologies are impacting aerospace innovation and other sectors of the economy," notes Fassi Kafyeke, Forum Co-Chair and Senior Director, Strategic Technology and Innovation at Bombardier. "The Forum is focusing on six areas that have the biggest potential for changing our sector: advanced manufacturing; additive manufacturing; clean technologies; big data for mobility, aviation and space; autonomous vehicles; on-demand mobility; and, finally, virtual design and testing."

 "Transformative technologies that transcend traditional industries will change the aerospace industry and Canadian society over the next several years," says NRC President Iain Stewart. "At the same time, business models are shifting to the delivery of product-centric services. More and more, companies will have to look outside the traditional aerospace sector to develop new technologies and adapt to changes in products and service delivery."

"Participants have the opportunity to take part in high-calibre activities, including plenaries, conferences, workshops and B2B meetings, with major OEMs including Airbus, Bell, Boeing, Bombardier, CAE, Embraer, GE Aviation, L-3 MAS, NASA, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Uber. In addition, they have access to an exhibition hall and networking events. More than 1,400 business meetings between Québec SMEs and world-class OEMs are being arranged during the Forum. Since its launch in 2013, the Forum has multiplied business opportunities leading to the signing of international agreements," adds Ms. Benoît.

Airbus, Bombardier and Ernst & Young are Lead Partners of the Aerospace Innovation Forum this year. This event is part of International Aerospace Week - Montréal 2018, during which many other major events are taking place with our various ecosystem partners. They include Vitrines 2018, which aims to underscore to the public the many career opportunities available in the industry. A luncheon conference, organized in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, on the theme "In search of talent, the aerospace industry is mobilizing to create the future!" concludes the Week.

About Aéro Montréal

Created in 2006, Aéro Montréal is a strategic think tank that groups all major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, as well as associations and unions. Aéro Montréal's mission is to engage Québec's aerospace cluster with a view to increasing its growth and expansion on the global scene. Its vision is to become the global aerospace reference. To this end, it champions the following values: excellence, commitment, collaboration, integrity, agility and audacity.

SOURCE Aéro Montréal

Gwenaël Brisé, Manager, Communications and Media Relations, Aéro Montréal, 438 497-3857, [email protected]