Pratt & Whitney Canada has announced in both its Longueuil (Quebec) and Mississauga (Ontario) facilities that it will invest over $1 billion in research and development over the next 4.5 years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the Government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) program.
"The government of Canada's investment enables Pratt & Whitney Canada to invest over $1 billion overall to pursue its long-standing legacy of innovation and sustain its engineering and manufacturing centers of excellence in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia," said John Saabas, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada. "The government of Canada's continued commitment to the aerospace industry will help support high-quality job opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers in Canada and allow Pratt & Whitney Canada to continue to be an innovative leader in the industry."
This R&D investment will also strengthen Pratt & Whitney Canada's collaboration with major universities and suppliers across Canada. "Every year, we invest $10 million in projects with close to 20 Canadian universities to develop new engine technologies for the next generation of environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft," said Saabas. "To date, hundreds of students have worked on more than 800 projects in collaboration with P&WC's engineering team. We are proud to contribute to the development of future engineers and technicians."
"This important announcement is a testament to the government of Canada's pledge to support homegrown R&D through effective industry-university collaboration," said Sheldon Levy, president and vice Chancellor, Ryerson University. Added Suzanne Fortier, principal and vice chancellor of McGill University, "We look forward to continuing to work closely with Pratt & Whitney Canada on a number of projects critical to the growth of Canada's aerospace sector, including projects in the emerging and innovative field of additive manufacturing.