Strix and DAIR sign agreement for Ontario aerospace support opportunities
Expanding on a well-established, pre-existing relationship – Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR) and Strix are strengthening their collaborative endeavours through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The close alignment in vision and mission between DAIR and Strix’s aerospace programs make the partnership a natural fit, and through collaboration the organizations look to find more opportunities for innovative SMEs in Ontario amid shared success.
Stead-fast progress in new aerospace technologies
For Strix and DAIR, this collaborative agreement is realized at a fitting moment in their respective journeys as they continue to anchor themselves as powerful drivers of sustainable innovation in the aerospace industry with new achievements.
In 2022, DAIR introduced their sustainable aerospace program for Ontario SMEs, the Green Fund (GF), and in 2023, Strix introduced their own for Canadian SMEs, the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT). This week, both sustainable champions have made major milestone announcements at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Under a fifth wave of innovative research projects, Strix has shared that INSAT reached $100M of contributions for projects worth a total of $350M. And working with the government Government of Ontario, DAIR has revealed new funding in the amount of nearly $2.6M supporting three programs, which includes a 5th GF cohort.
Building on the past, working towards a sustainable future
In 2024, DAIR hosted the second edition of DAIR to Innovate (D2I) which featured opportunities to exchange knowledge, network and showcase Ontario aerospace innovation. It was there that Strix and DAIR first worked together when Michel Dion – CEO of Strix – began promoting INSAT through platforms like D2I. Since that moment, the two organizations have only become closer as DAIR invited Strix to host a Forum as part of the following year’s D2I edition.
With Strix and DAIR’s relationship being reinforced by an official collaborative agreement, Ontario’s aerospace innovators will realize greater value in the real-world support they receive. So far, Strix has more than 20 Ontario-based companies in its network in which 9 are involved with INSAT projects; through the GF, DAIR is supporting 35 Ontario-based projects between 4 cohorts. Combining their expertise, they hope to greatly expand their impact.
In addition to new collaborative events, DAIR and Strix will explore support continuity between INSAT and GF. To that effect, among opportunities, program administrators and regional development managers will assist in maximizing breakthroughs by advising on project management and fund stacking.
About Strix
Strix is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting innovation and collaborative research in the Canadian aerospace industry and related sectors. We aim to position Canada as the global leader in aerospace and defence innovation by fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and access to resources — driving sustainable development and integration of technologies and platforms of the future.
About Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR)
DAIR is a federally incorporated not-for-profit consortium and innovation hub advancing Canada’s aerospace and defence sector. By bringing together industry, academia, and government, DAIR supports collaborative R&D, technology adoption, workforce development, and supply chain competitiveness through strategic partnerships, programs and shared infrastructure at Downsview Park in Toronto.