July 26, 2010 — Ottawa, Ontario
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bombardier Aerospace for cooperation on research and development initiatives.
“The pursuit of new technologies is essential to the continued success of our industry, and more broadly, of the Canadian economy,” said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry. “This government is committed to our aerospace sector and we are setting the right conditions for investment, research and development.”
The agreement is the first step in a process to streamline setting up fee-for-service and collaborative research projects of mutual interest to the two organizations. Down the road, this agreement will give Canadian small and medium business enhanced access to emerging technologies and markets. This will enable Canadian businesses to better compete in an increasingly global, competitive industry and to provide them with the potential to create good jobs and growth for Canadian businesses and workers.
“We believe this MOU between the NRC and Bombardier Aerospace will help Canadian companies grow and become more globally competitive,” said Mr. McDougall, President of the NRC. “It will strengthen the long-standing collaborative relationship between our organizations, which will result in more innovative technology solutions for the aerospace industry. It will also lead to significant business opportunities among the many smaller suppliers who support the larger players in the industry and who need to remain competitive on a global scale.”
“Canada’s aerospace industry is home to a wealth of engineering knowledge, and this expression of our alliance with the National Research Council Canada is an important step in the development of innovative solutions that will fuel the competitiveness of our future aircraft,” said Mr. Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bombardier Aerospace. “Bombardier is committed to designing products that will perform beyond current requirements of the aviation industry as it moves towards carbon-neutral growth, and this collaboration will help us reach our goal.”
The NRC and Bombardier Aerospace have previously collaborated on a number of projects ranging from aerodynamic studies, including wind tunnel testing, for several Bombardier aircraft concepts, to the development of advanced manufacturing methods, including automated fabrication of composite aircraft fuselages. Today’s MOU signing reinforces this mutually beneficial relationship and sets a governance model that will greatly facilitate future collaborations.
Recognized globally for research and innovation, the National Research Council of Canada is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology. As home to Canada's national aerospace laboratory, the NRC undertakes and promotes research and development in support of the Canadian aerospace community, in matters affecting the design, manufacture, performance, use and safety of aerospace vehicles.
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation with its headquarter in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010, were $19.4 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes.
