Announcement – Strix new wave of projects
The Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) is launching its second wave of innovative research projects with a total value of nearly 87.4M$.
Paris, France – Monday, June 16th – Strix, the organization managing The Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) is pleased to announce the launch of its new wave of projects aimed at supporting the decarbonization of the aerospace industry and the aviation sector through innovative technologies. These projects, each supported by a network of academic and/or industrial partners, represent a total project value of $87.4M with a contribution of $24.8M in funding from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
Program scaling up
INSAT is committed to playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of the aerospace industry, by supporting the innovation and competitiveness of this key sector of our national economy.
“Today, we are announcing these new projects supported by INSAT in a unique economic environment. Many others are currently in development, with more to be added very soon, allowing us to support Canadian companies by helping them innovate,” declared Michel Dion, CEO of Strix.
“The Government of Canada is reinforcing the aerospace sector’s position as a global leader and hub for cutting-edge innovation. These projects will strengthen the resiliency of the Canadian aerospace supply chain and accelerate the development and commercialization of new products to help Canada lead in this new, fast-evolving world. INSAT is emerging as a key player in helping Canada’s aerospace industry expand while contributing to Canada’s economic growth and creating new, high-paying jobs for Canadians.” said The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Innovative Research Projects
Below, we present the projects supported in this second announcement.
Cabin for Light and Efficient Electric and Responsible Vehicles
Collaborators: Delastek Inc (Quebec) and Flying Whales Quebec (Quebec)
The CLEVER project aims to develop a lightweight crew cabin for the LCA60T hybrid-electric airship, designed for heavy-lift transport to infrastructure-limited regions. As part of a broader initiative to decarbonize aviation, the solution represents a disruptive innovation to reduce the environmental footprint of transport, in alignment with Canada’s goals.
The cabin is divided in two mission-critical zones: flight operations (cockpit) and payload management (LEO). Its design leverages advanced systems integration, particularly with respect to electrical systems, and structural weight reduction through computational modeling and novel manufacturing processes. The objective is to validate key technologies through the development of a full-scale (1:1) cabin prototype. The project aligns with Pillar 2 of INSAT and provides an adaptable architecture compatible with the next generation of electric aircraft, including eVTOL platforms.
This initiative brings together SMEs, academic institutions, and system suppliers to develop expertise in emerging aerospace technologies and generate high-skilled employment. It also presents an opportunity to open new export markets, particularly targeting European OEMs and integrators.
The LCA60T solution is expected to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure for renewable energy and the sustainable extraction of critical minerals, thereby supporting Canadian territorial sovereignty, fostering industrial diversification, and driving the economic development of remote communities.
LEAF: Low Emission Aircraft Flight Testing and Control Laws Development
Collaborators: Bombardier (Quebec), University of Victoria, Center for Aerospace Research (British Columbia) and Quaternion Engineering Inc. (British Columbia)
The primary objective of this project is to validate and assess flightworthiness, control laws (CLaws), and stability and control of an innovative blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft configuration during flight. The goal is to explore and leverage the environmental benefits inherent in the BWB design. This endeavor aims to build upon existing knowledge and fully exploit this design’s potential, particularly in reducing emissions and minimizing fossil fuel consumption. Considerable research and development efforts have already been dedicated to the incremental exploration of the BWB aircraft.
Scalable Remote Sensing with Ultra Endurance Solar Electric Drones
Collaborators: Superwake Ltd (Ontario), Toronto Metropolitan University (Ontario)
Superwake and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are working on the world’s first fully airspace-integrated long-range drone surveying solution for large-area, on-demand imaging services. The consumer base includes conservation authorities, wildfire fighters, climate scientists, foresters, and farmers. The proposed solution would shift the industry from using crewed aircraft. Superwake and TMU have worked together to build ultra-high endurance solar electric drones that can remain airborne for 24+ hrs. To achieve the next leap forward, Superwake and TMU are developing four key technologies: i) onboard detection and avoidance system; ii) extreme cold weather batteries; iii) low-drag, aeroelastic-tailored wings; and iv) flight-path optimization.
On-board DC microgrids for sustainable aircraft: from design to proof-of-concept by simulation
Collaborators: OPAL-RT (Quebec), Université Laval (Quebec)
New generation electric aircraft, which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, require the development of a high-performance onboard microgrid compliant with the MIL-STD-704F standard. DC distribution has advantages such as improved efficiency, but it creates potential stability and safety issues in the event of an electrical fault. Choosing network architecture requires careful analysis to optimize weight, efficiency, reliability, and resiliency. The research, carried out in collaboration by Laval University and OPAL-RT, focuses on optimization of network components, energy management, and co-simulation-based implementation to accelerate design through prototypes and realistic demonstrations.
DéCAF : Développement des Contrôles de l’Avion du Futur écoresponsable
Collaborators: Thales Canada (Quebec), Bombardier (Quebec) and ICARUS (Quebec)
The project Développement des Contrôles de l’Avion du Futur écoresponsable – DeCAF focuses on the design and the validation of a next-generation control architecture by Thales, in addition to supporting the development of the advanced aircraft configuration known as blended wing-body developed by Bombardier. The main goal for Thales is to put forward its expertise in critical systems by designing and developing an architecture for control, command, navigation and surveillance. ICARUS, for its part, will develop a retractable mount technology, integrated into the control systems, which will enable the deployment of active systems. DeCAF supports the roadmap of the Ecojet research project, which aims to develop technologies that will reduce the carbon emissions of aircraft by up to 50%, notably by using scale models as a means of validation.
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 innovation by fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and access to resources – driving sustainable development and integration of technologies and platforms of the future.
About INSAT
The Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) is a program dedicated to promoting innovation and sustainability in the aerospace sector. By bringing together experts from various fields, INSAT works to develop advanced technological solutions for a greener and more responsible aviation future.