News
Bell aerospace consortium receives $49.5 million in federal funding
April 18, 2018 By Government of Canada
The Government of Canada is investing in Canada’s aerospace sector to advance innovation and create well-paying middle-class jobs.
Bell’s 505 Jet Ranger X built in Mirabel On April 16, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced an investment of $49.5 million in an aerospace consortium led by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd. Minister Bains made the announcement during Aéro-Montréal’s Aerospace Innovation Forum.
The funding will help Bell and 18 industry and academic partners develop innovative technologies to be integrated into next-generation helicopters, which can fly with or without a crew on board, and fully autonomous aerial systems. Other innovations include technologies to make aircraft more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable as well as technology to reduce noise pollution—the first of its kind on any aircraft.
The collaboration is projected to create or maintain more than 300 jobs in Canada, contribute almost $178 million to Canada’s GDP over the next five years and strengthen Canada’s position as a world-leading centre for innovation.
The 18 industry and academic partners include Pratt & Whitney Canada, CMC Electronics, Esterline Technologies Corporation, several small and medium-sized businesses, and nine Canadian universities. Bell and its partners are investing more than $125 million in Canada’s aerospace industry through this project.
Canada is an ideal destination for aerospace investment. The federal government is supporting innovation in the aerospace industry and is committed to attracting investment in this important sector of the economy by investing in the technology, talent and infrastructure needed to shape the future of this innovative sector.
