Program
Thank you to the 145 speakers who shared their expertise with our participants during the 2024 edition of the International Aerospace Innovation Forum.
Rediscover the themes covered below
– Day 1 –
Collaboration: Innovation’s accelerator
7:00 - 8:18 a.m.
Welcoming participants
8:18 - 8:30 a.m.
Opening introduction
Hosts
Jarrod Morley, Senior Director – Strategy & Head of Innovation, Aéro Montréal – Co-host
Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications, CAE – Co-host
8:30 - 9:12 a.m.
Government of Quebec’s perspective on the aerospace industry
Speakers
9:12 - 9:22 a.m.
Welcoming remarks
Hosts
Bicha Ngo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Investissement Québec
9:22 - 9:27 a.m.
Introductory remarks
Speaker
9:27 - 9:32 am
Introduction to Collaboration: Innovation’s Accelerator
Speaker
9:32 - 10:02 a.m.
Industry Analysis
By way of introduction, Kevin Michaels and Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory set the scene by sharing data and information on market trends, emerging technologies and the effects of ICAO’s ambitious targets on the industry.
Speakers
Kevin Michaels, Managing Director, AeroDynamic Advisory
10:02 - 10:47 a.m.
Towards Net Zero: New Aircraft Programs & Configurations
To meet ICAO’s ambitious targets for 2050, industry, governments and research centers need to promote collaborative innovation towards different aircraft types to understand the opportunities for reducing the industry’s carbon footprint, ensuring passenger safety and comfort, while mitigating operating cost surcharges. This section will highlight some of the new thinking behind the design of the aircraft of the future.
Moderator and speakers
Sofiane Benyouci, Vice-President, Consulting, Innovitech
Speakers
Rui Pedro Silva, Vice President Engineering, Bombardier
Nathalie Duquesne, Managing Director, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse
10:47 - 11:11 p.m.
Coffee break
11:11 - 11:56 a.m.
Towards Net Zero: Advances in Propulsion
Propulsion is a determining factor in terms of operating costs, aircraft performance and environmental footprint. Engine manufacturers have an inherent desire to increase operational efficiency and demonstrate evolutionary improvement towards Net Zero. Our guest presenters will showcase what their organizations are doing to advance propulsion that satisfies their customers, passengers and the environment.
Moderator and speakers
Eymeric Boyer, Principal, Roland Berger
Speakers
Uwe Minkus, Chief Engineer Research, Technology and Future Programmes, Rolls-Royce
Alexandre Gagnon, Vice-President Corporate Affairs & Transformation, Pratt & Whitney Canada
11:56 - 12:11 p.m.
Towards Net Zero: A Keynote Overview of Hydrogen in Aerospace
Delivered by one of the industry’s leading innovators, this comprehensive presentation will provide a summary of the different approaches to hydrogen, the recent progress we’ve seen, and its importance in bringing the industry closer to its Net Zero aspirations.
Speaker
12:11 - 12:26 p.m.
Transition to the workshops
12:05 - 12:50 p.m.
Roundtable: The steps, benefits and challenges of integrating hydrogen into aerospace.
This workshop is designed to explore in more detail the challenges of using hydrogen as an energy source for sustainable flight. Contributors will be asked to discuss the challenges around long range flight missions while considering not only its benefits but the challenges in aircraft design, operational propulsion, storage (in both the aircraft & ground infrastructure), its production & availability, safety & public perception acceptability.
Moderator and speakers
Susan Liscouet-Hanke, Associate Professor, Concordia University
Speakers
Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia
Hans Bernd Aringhoff, Head of Corporate Innovation, Lufthansa Technik
Karine Guenan, Vice-President Ecosystem (ZeroE), Airbus
Mikael Cardinal, Vice-President E-Avation – organ delivery systems, Unither Bioelectronics
12:05 - 12:50 p.m.
Fully Electric Flight – The Future State of Batteries in Aerospace
This round table is designed to explore the benefits and challenges of all-electric flight. Contributors will be invited to discuss where the industry stands in terms of how batteries are being integrated into aviation, what remains to be achieved, and the potential for battery applications based on the current and projected power density of electric flight.
Moderator and speakers
JR Hammond, Executive Director, CAAM
Speakers
Martin Larose, Chief Executive Officer, H55
Karim Zaghib, Professor at Concordia University and CEO of Volt-Age Electrifying Society
Riona Armesmith, Chief Technology Officer, MagniX
Erika Holtz, Head of Engineering and Quality, Harbour Air
12:50 - 1:20 p.m.
Lunch service
1:20 - 1:35 p.m.
Lunch conference
Innovation and sustainability at the heart of Bombardier’s new brand identity
Speaker
1:35 - 2:05 p.m.
Lunch conference
Bombardier: The Story and Future of the Ecojet
Hear the story behind Quebec’s historic aviation company as it unveils its newest revolutionary business aircraft to date, promising state of the art technologies, unmatched sustainability and an aircraft configuration that may set a new standard in civil aviation.
Speakers
Enguerran Michel, Director, Research & Technology, Bombardier
Sid Banerjee, Technical Expert, Engineering, Bombardier
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Roundtable: SAF
This roundtable is designed to explore what is needed to coordinate local, regional and international strategies around sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). What is, can be, and should be done about its means of production, its classification & certification, its scalability, transportation, distribution, storage and current and projected costs around this essential pathway to meeting ICAO’s aspirational net zero targets by 2050.
Moderator and speakers
Jean-Sebastien Pard, Senior Manager Facilitation, Passenger Services and Operations,
Airports Council International (ACI) World
Speakers
Michel Chornet, Executive Vice-President, Technology, and global commercialisation, Enerkem
Catherine Guillemart, Head of Public Affairs Canada, Representative for ICAO, Airbus
Robert Peluso, Executive Director – Systems Engineering, Pratt & Whitney Canada
Dale Smith, Regional Director, SAF Producers, Policy, Business development & Climate Policy, Boeing
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
OEM & Startup Collaboration Models
With an accelerated technology transition in the aerospace sector, traditional internal development is giving way to a more open invitation to emerging or scaling external disruptive technology developers such as startups. This discussion will explore how leading aerospace companies are working with these companies to deliver leading innovation benefits.
Speakers
Julian Lucchesi, Director – Development & Strategic Partnerships, Centech
Speakers
Félix Bélisle Dockrill, CEO & Co-founder, AXYA
Jean-Francois Barrand, Head of Startup Engagement, Airbus Innovation X
Sarah Legendre Bilodeau, Chief Executive Officer, Videns Analytics
Grégoire Michel, Open Innovation Manager, Safran Corporate Ventures
2:35 - 2:50 p.m.
eVTOLs: The Last 2 years
This keynote will present the ins and outs of the advanced air mobility market, highlighting emerging players, the status of the pioneers, the changes in the industry over the last 24 months and where the market is headed.
Speaker
2:50 - 3:35 p.m.
Advanced Air Mobility: The Vehicles, a Manufacturer’s Perspective
Leading and emerging eVTOL manufacturers will share their individual operational realities and collective needs to make advanced air mobility a success, as they progress on their roadmap to certification.
Moderator and speakers
Stella Marissa-Hughes, Air Traffic Services Training Leader, CAE
Speakers
Brandon Robinson, Co-founder and CEO, Horizon Aircraft
Guillaume Beauchamp, Head of Aircraft Development, Wisk
Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM, Joby Aviation
Blain Newton, Chief Operating Officer, BETA Technologies
3:35 - 4:05 p.m.
Coffee break
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Air Corridors and the Social Acceptability Challenges of AAM
Developing, certifying, and selling emerging AAM vehicles have their own challenges. However, where they can take off from, the flight paths that they can take, and the infrastructure where they can land pose another set of challenges. Regulators, air traffic control, and the social acceptability of airports versus vertiports versus urban city rooftops are another set of challenge (noise, flight corridors, safety, congestion, affordability, etc.) are essential factors for successfully bringing about this disruptive form of transportation.
What are stakeholders doing in different regions to prepare for the operationalisation of these quickly approaching technologies?
Moderator and speakers
Thomas Bombaert, RPAS Technical Officer, ICAO
Speakers:
Gary Cutts, Challenge Director – Future Flight, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
Catherine Roy, Design Center Quebec Leader, Design Center Network Community Leader, Thales
Ryan Coates, Director RPAS, Transport Canada
Bob Tanner, Executive Director of Aerospace Partnerships, Parallax Advanced Research
4:05 - 4:35 p.m.
Canadian Collaborative Innovation Models: New Opportunities on the Horizon Europe & Eureka
Quebec and Canada have made an important push to capitalise on its leadership as an expert in certifying its aviation innovations and opportunities for collaboration have grown with its acceptance to the invitation to join collaborative initiatives internationally.
Speaker
4:35 - 4:45 p.m.
Unlocking the Potential: A Subnational Model of Collaborative Innovation between Kansas and Quebec
Kansas and Quebec, two powerhouse regions in the aerospace industry, boast a thriving partnership exemplified by Bombardier’s strategic choice of Wichita, Kansas as its U.S. headquarters. This presentation delves into the existing synergy between the two subnational entities and outlines strategies to amplify their collaboration in burgeoning fields like sustainable aviation and defense innovations.
Speakers
Jean-François Hould, Quebec’s Delegate in Chicago, Government of Quebec.
Keynote by:
Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas
4:45 - 5:15 p.m.
A NASA Aeronautics Sustainable Aviation Overview
One of the most recognized, influential, and unparalleled innovators of the industry, NASA has been at the forefront of pioneering breakthroughs in aviation and space for over 3-quarters of a century. This presentation will focus on what happens next, and the resources and people involved in the process.
Speaker
5:15 - 5:45 p.m.
Emerging technology and collaboration opportunities in the United-Kingdom
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is a vital catalyst for aviation innovation in the UK, driving collaborative research and development to propel the industry forward, ensuring global competitiveness and sustainable advancements. This presentation will discuss the roadmap to those innovations and the opportunities to participate in putting them into the air.
Speaker
5:45 - 6:00 p.m.
Aéro Montréal Enterprise Innovation recognition award
Presenter
Closing remarks
Presenter
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Transition to the 7th floor for the International Networking Cocktail
6:15 - 8:15 p.m.
Rooftop Networking Cocktail
– Day 2 –
Collaboration: Innovation’s accelerator
8.05 - 8.15 a.m.
Opening introduction
Hosts
Janie Mercky, Senior Manager – Public Affairs and Global Communications, CAE
8.15 a.m. - 8.45 a.m.
Espace Aero – the role of municipalities in stimulating inclusive & collaborative Innovation.
Businesses play an obvious role in aerospace innovation. As the need to accelerate innovation grows, what do municipalities see as the value and opportunity that they can add to the process to assure that growth reaches the greatest number of people?
Speakers
Mélanie Lussier, President, Aéro Montréal
Luc Rabouin, Chairman of the Executive Committee – responsible for finance, economic development and higher education, Borough Mayor, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Patrick CharbonneauMayor of Mirabel
Julie Ethier, Chief Leader, Economic Development, Longueuil Agglomeration
8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Uniting Forces to deliver long-term value for a sustainoble industry
Sustainability is instrumental to generating long-term value not just for a given company, but for all stakeholders. CAE will share its experience on the mobilisation of the value chain to mutually reinforce operational excellence and advance the sustainability agenda. They will also draw on the capabilities of industry organizations such as IAEG to accelerate decarbonization.
Moderator and speakers
Janie Mercky, Senior Manager – Public Affairs and Global Communications, CAE
Speakers:
Hélène V. Gagnon, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement, CAE
Valerie Myers, Senior Director – Global Supply Chains & Sustainability, CAE
9:15 - 10:00 a.m.
International Forum on Aviation Research (IFAR) Panel Presentation
IFAR is the world’s aviation research establishment network of 26 research centers which aims to connect research organisations worldwide, to develop a shared understanding on the challenges faced by the aviation research community, develop views and recommendations and facilitates opportunities for networking and partnerships. Select members from the organisation will provide a briefing on what is new and what to expect in terms of challenges and ways forward.
Moderator and speakers
Jarrod Morley
Senior Director of Strategy and Head of Innovation, Aéro Montréal
Speakers:
Ibrahim Yimer, Vice President Transportation & Manufacturing, National Research Council Canada
Dr. Bjorn Nagel, Founding Director – Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Marc Lesturgie, Director of international affairs, ONERA
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
Coffee break
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Royal Canadian Air Force 100th Anniversary Keynote Presentation
Speaker
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Artificial intelligence: An accelerator to sustainability
AI has grown in popularity socially through applications like ChatGPT and has demonstrated value in the aerospace in improving fuel efficiencies, part design, supply chain activities, inspection processes and even in manufacturing. This panel of experts will explore the further use of the technology sharing proven use-case testimonials and ponder the future state of the technology and the interconnectivity of the industry.
Moderator and speakers
Allison Meyssonnier, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, MILA – Quebec’s Artificial Intelligence Institute
Speakers
Amine Smires, Chief Executive Officer, CS Group North America
Youssoupha Diop, Managing Director, Sopra Steria Canada
Remi Duquette, Vice-President & Industrial AI, MAYA HTT
Geraldina Iraheta, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Digital Catapult
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Innovation & Collaboration in Defence
The defense aerospace industry may be required to fulfill different missions than that of the civil aviation sector, but it shares similar goals in increasing operational performance and reducing costs.
Are there others, such as sustainability?
What are the priorities in terms of innovation?
How do they compare? Are they dual use innovations?
What are the perspectives on collaboration models?
Our panelists will explore these questions and share strategic priorities and ways to collaborate within the defense aerospace sector.
Moderator and speakers
Louis Brunet, Managing Director – Canada, Collins Aerospace
Speakers:
Inbal Marcovitch, Acting Section Head at the Research and Development Security Science Center (DRDC), Defense Canada
Ray Townsend, Chief of Operations, Lockheed Martin Canada
Mouhab Meshreki, Director General, National Research Council Canada
Anne-Marie Thibaudeau, Director, Program Capture, Bombardier Defense
12:45 - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch service
1:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch conference
Technologies behind a more connected and sustainable aviation
In a world with increasing demand for air travel and the need to address global challenges such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, seismic shifts are coming in aviation. With pressure on airport infrastructures to serve more with less, new aircraft designs, changes to how we gather and use data, we are revolutionizing how we take on the sky. As the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, RTX focusses its efforts on enabling more connected and more sustainable aviation.
Speakers
Nivine Kallab, Vice-President Customer Programs, Pratt & Whitney Canada
1:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Next Generation Workforce Series: Industry Needs
This workshop will address the diverging needs of talent required by aerospace industry players to meet the needs and demands to innovate and include new technologies in their current or upcoming aerospace programs.
Moderator and speakers
Dominique Sauvé, Director, Canadian Mobility and Aerospace Institute (CMAI)
Speakers:
Patricia Gilbert, Programs Portfolio Manager, Collaboration and Government Programs, and Academic Partnerships
Marco Beaulieu, Director, School Partnerships & Internship Experience, Bombardier
Chantal Boucher, Integrated Product Team Manager, Commercial Programs, Bell
Kathy Malkoske, Chief Financial Officer, Boeing Winnipeg
William Denaire, Senior Director Human Resources, Airbus Canada
1:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Next Generation MRO
New emerging technologies, adoption of advanced materials as well as a shrinking workforce; new and existing aircraft require maintenance and repairs. How are MRO services preparing for the eVTOL revolution? How are they innovating to respond to innovation? What technologies are being adopted by them to support their workforce and enhance productivity? These questions and many others will be answered during this round table.
Moderator and speakers
Damien Pereira, Director, Growth & International Affairs, Aéro Montréal
Gilles Néron, Vice President, Strategic Procurement , Air Canada
Moderator:
Michaël Kamel, Partner – Value Creation, Industrial Manufacturing Deals Leader Price Waterhouse Cooper
Speakers:
Louis-Philippe Mallette, President AJW Technique
Etienne Thibault, Software Engineer, Beslogic
Kevin GS Jo, President & CEO, Augmented Knowledge
David Pollock, Engineering Manager, Rolls-Royce
Michael Ernst, Co-Founder & Sales Director, 3D.Aero
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
Next Generation Workforce Series: Academic Approach
This workshop will address how learning & training institutions are evolving to consider the interests and career paths of the student body while harmonizing the needs of industry into a dynamic and evolving curriculum to meet the technological, operational and sustainability expectations of the of the industry, the passenger, and the environmentally conscious general public.
Moderator and speakers
Carole El Ayoubi, Director of Education, CIADI Concordia University
Speakers:
David Rancourt, Professor, Université de Sherbrooke
Annie Ross, Deputy Director for Research, Research and Innovation Directorate, Full Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal
Susan Liscouet-Hanke, Associate Professor, Concordia University
Siva Nadarajah, Professor, AIAA Associate Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director, McGill Institute for Aerospace Engineering, McGill University
Julien Lavergne Roberge, Electrical Engineering Master’s student, Polytechnique Montréal
Patrick Germain, Director, Aerospace Engineering Department, Ecole de technologie supérieure
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
Challenges in Materials: Ambitions of Lighter, Stronger & More Sustainable
Materials will continue to remain a critical cost and performance factor in aerospace. How is the industry looking to optimize materials for performance, cost and reliability while further make them even more environmentally sustainable?
Moderator and speakers
Christian Moreau, Professor, Canada Research Chair Tier 1 Thermal Spray and Surface Engineering, Concordia University
Speakers:
Stéphane Drouin, Vice-President, Investissement Québec
Kahina Oudjehani, Senior Lead – R&T and Sustainable Innovation, Airbus
Ron Haber, President, Aerocycle
Pooja Bajaj, Director Materials Engineering, Collins Aerospace
3:15 - 4:45 p.m.
Wings of Unity – Strengthening International Collaborations in Aerospace
Propelled by Aero Montréal – Global Aerospace Cluster Partnerships – Ministry of International Relations and Francophone Affairs
These discussions convene key aerospace clusters and governmental representatives from around the globe to explore the vital role of global partnerships in advancing aerospace innovation and sustainability. Through insightful discussions and diverse perspectives, participants will delve into the opportunities and challenges of international cooperation, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and collective progress in the aerospace sector. Through insightful discussions and diverse perspectives, participants will delve into the opportunities and challenges of international cooperation, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and collective progress in the aerospace sector.
Moderator and speakers
Welcoming remarks
Damien Pereira, Director, Growth & International Affairs, Aéro Montréal
Thilo Schoenfeld, Deputy Director International Affairs, Aerospace Valley
Introductory remarks – Aerospace diplomacy
Moderator:
Elisa Valentin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Relations and de la Francophonie
Speakers:
Chloe Adams, British Consul General Montreal, British High Commission
Hyelim Juliana Kim, President Quebec-Korea Business Association
John Fleming, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Ottawa
Panel on the Americas
Moderator:
Marie-Eve Jean, Vice-President, Export, Investissement Québec International
Speakers:
Mélanie Lussier, President, Aéro Montréal
Nikki Malcolm, CEO & Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) – USA
Antonio Velasquez, General Manager, Querétaro Aerospace Cluster – Mexico
Panel on Europe-Middle East-Africa (EMEA)
Moderator:
Erandi Motte Cortes, Senior Director, International Markets, Entrepreneurship and Business Information, Investissement Québec
Speakers:
Andrew Mair, Chief Executive officer, Midlands Aerospace Association – UK
Francine Schulz, Manager Sustainability and International Affairs, Hamburg Aviation – Germany
Petr Tomasek, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Cluster of Czech Republic
Panel on Asia Pacific
Moderator:
Thi Be Nguyen, Executive Director, Canada-ASEAN Business Council
Speakers:
Sia Kheng Yok, Chief Executive, Association of Aerospace Industries Singapore
Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah, Chief Executive Officer, National Aerospace Industry Corporation (NAICO) – Malaysia
Arrey Perrez, President and CEO, Clark Int’l Airport Corporation, Philippines
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Digital series: Quantum Sensing
The notion of advanced quantum computing incites much potential but continues to confuse many. This discussion will explore where the technology currently is, and how it may prove a game changer in flight optimisation, development of advanced materials, enhanced communications, increased security, and even a more sustainable industry.
Moderator and speakers
David Rancourt, Professor, University of Sherbrooke
Speakers:
Vincent Aimez
Vice-President of Partnerships & Knowledge Transfer, University of Sherbrooke
Lilian Childress, Lead Scientist, SBQuantum
Jérome Bourassa, Chief Executive Officer, Qubic Technologies
Geraldina Iraheta, Chief Technology Officer, UK Digital Catapult
15:45 - 16:15 p.m.
Coffee break
4:15 - 4:45 p.m.
CAE’s journey to sustainability through Collaboration; Update on the Electric Aircraft Modification Program and other key collaborative opportunities
This fireside chat will provide an update on CAE’s electric aircraft conversion program which is at the heart of its decarbonization journey. Through this case study and other examples, CAE will share its perspective on how to strengthen collaboration with OEMs, SMEs, colleges, universities, governments, and municipalities.
Moderator and speakers
Janie Mercky, Senior Manager – Public Affairs and Global Communications, CAE
Speakers:
Hélène V. Gagnon, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement, CAE
Stella Filippatos, Director, Program Management – Electric Aircraft, CAE
5:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Collaboration Opportunities in Québec & Canada
Québec and the aerospace regions of Canada are positioning themselves to accelerate the rate of transition towards sustainable and intelligent air mobility. Recognised and emerging innovation programs & institutions share their mandate, their focus, the opportunities, and the next steps for innovative collaboration.
Moderator and Speakers
Catherine Beaudry, Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Management and Economics of Innovation
Speakers:
Fassi Kafyeke, Project Manager, Espace Aéro, Québec Aerospace Innovation Zone
Michel Dion, General Manager, Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology™ (INSAT)
Guillaume Coté, President and CEO, Consortium de recherche et d’innovation en aérospatiale au Québec (CRIAQ)