Press Release: New phase of successful collaboration to drive future aviation technologies.
Fifteen years after signing their first framework cooperation agreement, Polytechnique Montréal and Safran have finalized the renewal agreement for their partnership, which will take effect on November 20. This new phase, covering the period from 2025 to 2030, will support 20 research projects and new collaborative initiatives across the full spectrum of sustainable aviation technologies. These include high-temperature fuel cells, rare-earth-free electric motors, next-generation composite materials, recycling of critical metals, jet engine noise reduction, turbine aerothermodynamics and many other innovations.
Rising to the climate challenge
The aerospace industry is at a decisive turning point. With a sector-wide goal of net zero carbon by 2050 and air traffic expected to double in the next 20 years, the pace of transition must accelerate. Safran is already committed to this challenge: the Group allocates over 75% of its self-funded R&T investment to improving the environmental performance of its products. Renewing the strategic partnership with Polytechnique Montréal is fully aligned with this technology roadmap.
Extension of two research chairs
The renewal of the strategic partnership coincides with the extension of two major research chairs at Polytechnique Montréal.
Led by Daniel Therriault, Full Professor at Polytechnique Montréal’s Mechanical Engineering Department, the Industrial Research Chair on Additive Manufacturing of Organic Matrix Composites (FACMO) develops new manufacturing processes for composite material parts for the aerospace sector. The initiative brings together six Polytechnique professors — most of them affiliated with the Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics (LM2) — and is funded by industry partners Safran and Dyze Design, as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and PRIMA Québec, for a total of $5.1 million over five years.
The Industrial Chair on Multifunctional Passive Acoustic Treatments for Turbofan Composite Structures (TAPPIS) develops new materials and manufacturing processes to reduce aircraft engine noise. Led by Annie Ross, Full Professor at Polytechnique Montréal’s Mechanical Engineering Department, the chair brings together seven Polytechnique professors and research professionals. It draws on the facilities of Polytechnique Montréal’s Laboratory for Acoustics and Vibration Analysis (LAVA) and is funded by Safran and FDC Composites, with support from NSERC and PRIMA Québec, for a total of $3.8 million over five years. SphereCo Technologies, Carleton University and CTT Group (Saint Hyacinthe) are also contributing partners.
A partnership with wide-ranging impact
What began in 2010 as a single project on organic matrix composite materials led by two professors has grown into a partnership between Safran and Polytechnique Montréal spanning more than 40 projects across at least 15 key areas of technology. This momentum is underpinned by Safran’s significant support, reflecting a shared ambition to innovate.
Fourteen Safran entities are involved in the program, including three based in Canada. At Polytechnique Montréal, nearly 30 professors lead the research, working with Safran researchers and around 15 Canadian companies. Together, they have built a genuine innovation network in Montréal.
The results are tangible, with over 300 scientific papers, around 50 patents and inventions, and two spinoff companies to date. The agreement also helps leverage these discoveries beyond aerospace by partnering with non-competing SMEs to maximize the benefits for the broader Canadian ecosystem.
Training of highly qualified personnel
Since 2010, collaborative projects with Safran have helped train more than 50 students at all academic levels. In the last five years alone, around 50 industry internships have been completed at Safran in Canada and France, giving Polytechnique Montréal’s next generation of engineering talent hands-on experience in developing aerospace technologies.
The vast majority of the students involved in these projects are subsequently hired by Canadian companies and institutions, creating a pool of qualified talent and strengthening the country’s aerospace ecosystem.
Consolidating world-class leadership
The collaboration with Safran has helped propel Polytechnique Montréal to the forefront of global research in composite materials, additive manufacturing and advanced aerospace technologies. This expertise makes the engineering school a key strategic partner for developing the sustainable aircraft of the future.
“Polytechnique Montréal’s expertise in composite materials and additive manufacturing, especially in the development of new processes and innovative materials, is a real asset in tackling the challenges of sustainable aviation. Thanks to this collaboration, we’re accelerating the development of key technologies for the future of aerospace. The synergy between two major industry and academic players makes this partnership highly effective and promising,” said Eric Dalbiès, EVP Strategy and Chief Technology Officer for Safran.
“Safran’s visionary commitment to fundamental and applied research enables Polytechnique to develop cutting-edge expertise, positioning Canada at the forefront of sustainable aviation,” said François Bertrand, VP Research and Innovation at Polytechnique Montréal.
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