Announcement – Strix third wave of projects
Strix is launching its third wave of innovative research projects totaling nearly $62M through the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) program.
North York, Ontario, October 23, 2025 – Strix, the organization managing the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) program 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.
In 2023, the Government of Canada announced a $350 million investment through the Strategic Response Fund to support INSAT in funding collaborative research and development projects, aimed at accelerating the green industrial transformation of the aerospace industry
INSAT is contributing $18M to these projects, each supported by a network of academic and/or industrial partners representing a total project value of $62.3M.
New impactful projects
Strix aspires to be a driving force in shaping the future of Canadian aerospace and defence by nurturing innovation, enabling technological breakthroughs, and strengthening global competitiveness. Through this commitment, we aim to contribute not only to the advancement of these strategic industries, but also to the security, sustainability, and long-term prosperity of our society.
“These new projects mark important progress in advancing sustainable aviation technology in Canada. INSAT continues to drive innovation and foster the development and commercialization of sustainable, cutting-edge technologies. This wave of projects will help reinforce Canada’s position in global aerospace markets and support the creation of high-value jobs for Canadians,” said said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
“Innovation in aerospace, and in defence, is not only a driver of technological progress, but also a cornerstone of industrial growth, global competitiveness, and long-term economic resilience. For Canada, in the current global context marked by heightened geopolitical challenges, these sectors play a decisive role in strengthening our economy, securing high-quality jobs, and ensuring our position as a reliable partner on the international stage”” declared Michel Dion, CEO of Strix.
Innovative Research Projects
Below, we present the projects supported in this third announcement.
SAF Flight School
Collaborators: BioFlight Fuels Inc. (Ontario), Ivys Adsorption Inc. (Quebec), Brightspot Climate Inc. (British Columbia)
The SAF Flight School project will certify sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from biogas and validate its environmental benefits. BioFlight, in collaboration with Ivys Adsorption, and Bright Spot Climate, will integrate advanced biogas upgrading and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technologies to produce ASTM-certified SAF. A carbon reduction model and a certified supply chain framework will be developed to ensure SAF compliance with regulatory standards and maximize GHG reductions. This project will help unlock new feedstock sources, support commercialization, and contribute directly to Canada’s net-zero aviation targets.
CRYSTAL: Canadian Research Yielding SusTainable All-weather Lift system
Collaborators: New Horizon Aircraft Operations Ltd. (Ontario), The Governing Council of the University of Toronto (Ontario), Flight Test Centre of Excellence Inc. dba Certification Center Canada (Quebec)
Project CRYSTAL (Canadian Research Yielding SusTainable All-weather Lift system) will focus on developing and testing an all-weather vertical propulsion system for an eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft by analyzing the viability of implementing advanced anti-icing, de-icing, and ice detection technologies. Project CRYSTAL’s success could lead to broad adoption of eVTOLs worldwide, revolutionizing not only the way people and critical goods are moved around the planet, but also reducing the environmental footprint that is left behind.
Project CRYSTAL is being led by New Horizon Aircraft Operations in partnership with Flight Centre of Excellence (dba Certification Center Canada, “3C”) and the University of Toronto.
MoTEAVH2É: Testing methods and trials for green, hybrid hydrogen, and electric aviation
Collaborators: Flight Test Centre of Excellence Inc. dba Certification Center Canada (Quebec), MTLS Aerostructure Inc. (Quebec)
The MoTEAVH2É project being undertaken by MTLS Aerostructure and Flight Test Centre of Excellence involves the research and development of a comprehensive set of modular tools, ground and flight test equipment. This test infrastructure is required to enable the test and certification of technologies needed to decarbonize the aeronautical sector such as hybrid, electric, and hydrogen new propulsion systems.
MACADA: MAturity of Collaborative Avoidance Development Approach
Collaborators: Thales Canada (Quebec), Jaunt Air Mobility Canada (Quebec), Vertiko Mobilité Inc. (Quebec)
To sustain the growing expectations in the UAV and eVTOL sectors, manufacturers are developing new aircraft but face technical challenges, particularly in air space sharing and operational predictability. Key issues include information sharing, connectivity, navigation planning, and air collision avoidance. Air collision avoidance is a shared responsibility between air traffic control and aircraft systems, with standardization efforts underway. The proposed project aims to enhance a system for detecting, navigating, and avoiding air conflicts for UAV and eVTOL aircraft, focusing on energy management and operational scenarios. The project involves realistic simulations, hardware prototyping, and flight tests to evaluate system performance. It contributes to the INSAT program’s pillars of aircraft architecture, systems integration, and operational support. The consortium includes Thales, Vertiko Mobilité, and Jaunt Air Mobility, with Thales leading the development of detect-and-avoid technologies.
CAVALHYÉ : Control and Avionics for Light Hybrid-Electric Air Vehicle
Collaborators: Les Dirigeables Flying Whales Québec Inc. (Quebec), Thales Canada (Quebec)
Flying Whales is developing a large-capacity transportation solution, the LCA60T airship, designed to efficiently serve remote regions. This low-carbon mode of transport enables the movement of heavy and bulky loads without ground footprint, while significantly reducing logistics costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Enabling this innovative solution, CAVALHYÉ project focuses on developing the flight control, avionics, and electrical distribution systems of the LCA60T, which is equipped with 32 electric propeller motors, winches and electrical tail actuators. These systems are essential for operations, particularly while hovering for the load exchange operations. Aligned with Pillar 2 of the INSAT objectives — Aircraft and Systems Architectures — the project targets a TRL 7 through integration tests on ground testbench and demonstrations on simulator.
The expected outcomes are significant: these systems will enable the safe commercial operation of the airship, helping to break the isolation of remote areas. The technological advances will also contribute to the electrification of the aerospace sector, with potential applications on other platforms such as eVTOLs. CAVALHYÉ thus acts as a catalyst for airship-based transport and aerospace innovation in Canada.
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 INSAT
The Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) program is 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.