In the Spring of 2000, the idea was initiated of bringing together all Quebec players involved in aerospace research and innovation:
universities, industry, and government. A paper by Jean Nicolas and François Charron of the University of Sherbrooke dealing
with the scientific, technological, economic, and social relevance of creating a consortium for aerospace research and
innovation in Quebec was submitted to “Valorisation-Recherche Québec” (VRQ) which considered it to be relevant within
the framework of its Major Projects (Projets d’envergure) program.
Membership was built-up throughout 2001, and regular meetings were held. The membership consisted of:
Six industrial members:
-
- Bell Helicopter Textron
- Bombardier Aerospace
- CAE
- CMC Electronics
- EMS Technologies
- Pratt & Whitney Canada
Six universities:
- Concordia
- École de technologie supérieure
- École Polytechnique
- Laval
- McGill
- Sherbrooke
And:
- The Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Centre of the National Research Council of Canada (AMTC).
From the outset, the fact that industry agreed to contribute at least 25% in cash to the cost of the projects in addition to
the operating expenses of the consortium, had a crucial impact on the positioning of CRIAQ. As a consequence, VRQ awarded
CRIAQ $5.2 million over a period extending to 2006.
Concurrently, the “Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies” (FQRNT) awarded CRIAQ a network
operating grant of $100,000 for the first year and 400 000$ for the following three years.
In 2006, the Ministry for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (MDEIE) took over the financing by awarding
the CRIAQ $8.6 million for a period ending with the fiscal year 2009-2010. FQRNT continues to provide support and the
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is a financing partner to all endorsed projects.
Since 2002, major and sustained efforts by the partners have turned the Consortium into a reality:
- Organization and conduct of a university/industry/government forum on the needs and potential of pre-competitive aerospace research.
- Incorporation as a not-for-profit organization and approval of CRIAQ's rules and regulations.
- Constitution of the Board of directors and the Executive Committee.
- Launching of a first competition (2003) and selection of 13 research projects.
- Setting up a task force on intellectual property.
- Setting up of Research Committee.
- Official inauguration of CRIAQ on January 20, 2003.
- Negotiation of projects in the context of IP requirements and the many partners involved.
- Appointment of a new management team in January 2004.
- Organization and conduct of two additional research forums (2004 and 2006) for launching a 2nd and 3rd round of projects.
- Negociations relating to Controlled Goods regulations.
- Development of Partnership Agreements.
- CRIAQ's 5th Anniversary celebration on August 23, 2007.
- International cooperation agreements.
- A total of 41 projects (finished, on-going and in preparation), for a total value of $33.6 million.
- Preparation for a 4th research forum - Spring 2008.
