Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research Consortium (DAIR) has collaborated with Bombardier to set up an aerospace hub in Toronto, Canada.

Bombardier will make a range of investments to support DAIR’s academic and research activities, as well as promoting its operations, and preserving the aerospace heritage of the site.

DAIR is an association of large aerospace companies and leading post-secondary education institutions from the Greater Toronto area who support the creation of an Aerospace Hub at Downsview Park in Toronto.

DAIR executive director Andrew Petrou said: “This commitment will enable the growth of the Downsview Aerospace Hub through support for training and research, DAIR Innovation Centre physical space and operations, and preservation of the site’s aerospace heritage.

“Through this partnership with Bombardier, DAIR will be uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the development of tomorrow’s aviation solutions.”

“Through this partnership with Bombardier, DAIR will be uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the development of tomorrow’s aviation solutions.”

As part of the commitment, Bombardier will provide $1.1m over the next five years to fund core research at the Aeromaterials Research Centre, which will be established at the DAIR Innovation Centre to bring industry and academic partners together to form aerospace training and education  partnerships.

From next year, the company will also provide $751,037 over five years to establish two Aerospace Research Centres at Ryerson University and the University of Toronto.

Bombardier will provide funding to Centennial College to complete its Landing Gear Research project and to extend its current training programme to train a minimum of 50 individuals.

The company will also provide $675,933 over the next three years to support formal operations at the DAIR Innovation Centre, and a total of $1.9m in capital funding to revamp the centre’s ‘Moth Building’.