The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is investing up to $709,000 over the next three years into the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Aerospace Composite Materials Lab (ACML) to strengthen Calgary’s aerospace sector and diversify the city’s economy. This funding is expected to amplify Calgary’s position as a key player in Canada’s aerospace ecosystem, while filling critical skills gaps in the city’s workforce.
Calgary: home base for aerospace leaders
“Calgary has become the home base for aviation leaders, and this investment is a continuation of collaboration and growth in this sector,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “By OCIF supporting this lab, we’re enhancing local research and development capabilities while strengthening Calgary’s reputation as an aerospace hub.”
This investment will enable the ACML at SAIT to foster growth in Calgary’s aerospace industry by using cutting-edge manufacturing and testing equipment at its facility. The lab will facilitate collaboration between industry experts, researchers, students, and SMEs to provide innovative solutions to aerospace’s biggest challenges including improving aircraft performance and reducing environmental impacts.
“The ACML will be a transformative resource for Canada’s aerospace industry and is a testament to OCIF’s role as a catalyst for economic diversification in Calgary,” said Brad Parry, CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. “This investment adds one more piece of the puzzle that will help build an aerospace innovation ecosystem and position Calgary as a leader in the sector.”
Training Calgarians as the aerospace leaders of tomorrow
The ACML is expected to train 21 individuals and support 25 companies over its duration, with students from SAIT and other institutions participating in hands-on, applied research projects for a minimum of six months. These efforts will directly address labour shortages and skill gaps in the industry by providing high-quality training to the next generation of aerospace professionals.
“Alberta’s aviation sector is set for significant growth and this investment into an Aerospace Composite Materials Lab will further position us as leaders in the industry research and manufacturing,” says Mark Butler, Vice President, Corporate Development, Applied Research and International, SAIT. “SAIT was recently honoured to be recognized as the fourth top research college in Canada and this additional lab space will be another area set for extraordinary innovation and research outcomes.”
Alignment with OCIF's strategic investments
The project aligns with OCIF’s previous investments in the Aerospace Innovation Hub (AIH) and boosts Calgary’s aerospace cluster. The AIH is a collaboration between Innovate Calgary, WestJet, the Calgary Airport Authority and Chapter.ai Ventures to help Calgary’s aerospace innovators gain access to funding, business support and the ability to validate their technologies in real-world settings.
The ACML also strengthens Calgary’s capacity to support global defense initiatives. Through the partnership between NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program and SAIT’s Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, the ACML will further enable SAIT’s capacity to join in transatlantic partnerships. This collaboration will give SAIT access to NATO’s network and resources to accelerate aerospace research and development.
Developing new advancements in other sectors
By focusing on cross-sectoral research, including advancements in robotics and composite materials manufacturing, the ACML will enable interdisciplinary partnerships that benefit not only aerospace but also industries like automotive, energy, and construction. This support of research and skills development reinforces Alberta’s capacity to lead in two crucial areas: robotics and automation, and composite manufacturing.
OCIF joins PrairiesCan, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and industry as key funders of the ACML.
To date, OCIF has allocated over $83 million to 32 projects, which has created or retained over 3,000 jobs, created or scaled almost 900 companies and generated almost $800 million in economic activity – nine times return on funds committed.