Eurocopter and National Research Council Canada Sign Cooperation Agreement at Paris Air Show

Eurocopter and the National Research Council Canada (NRC) have signed a 10-year agreement to work together to develop innovative research, development and technology solutions for the aerospace industry.

This new agreement is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between NRC and Eurocopter’s parent company EADS in June 2008. “As a global company, EADS with all its divisions is entering into cooperation with high-skilled international partners such as the Canadian R&D community” said Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer of EADS. “This network of partnerships is boosting the competitiveness of all participants.”

Eurocopter and NRC will engage in a series of collaborative aerospace projects, including the development of innovative manufacturing technologies and high-tech flight tests for environmental investigations.

Meanwhile, Eurocopter and NRC will also encourage participation from industry partners in Canada to promote competitiveness and share knowledge.

“Canada is one of the major aeronautics nations in the world, so it is only natural that Eurocopter and the NRC should want to cooperate,” said Yves Favennec, Vice-President Research and Innovation of Eurocopter. “We look forward to working together, especially through our local subsidiary, Eurocopter Canada Limited, which has grown extensively over the past years. This new agreement will upgrade the status of our relationship to a formal program with an enhanced spectrum of research work to increase the eco-efficiency of modern helicopters even further.”

“This agreement builds on 20 years of research collaborations between NRC and EADS and signals another important step forward in our business partnership,” said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. “Together we will continue to develop technology solutions in the lab for the global marketplace. This helps strengthen Canada’s innovation system, benefits the Canada’s aerospace supply chain and contributes to a healthy aerospace industry in Canada.”

For more than 50 years, the National Research Council Canada has helped Canada adapt to the changing needs of the aerospace industry and gain world leadership in niche markets, such as regional and commuter aircraft, civilian helicopters, and small gas turbine engines. This innovative support is becoming more important as the industry moves towards a greater emphasis on research-intensive technologies, such as composites, nanostructures, alternate fuels and other green aerospace technologies.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5 billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

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