Safran and Centech announce the startups selected for the Safran Explore Canada program

MONTREAL, October 21, 2024 – Safran and Centech today unveil the first cohort of startups selected for the Safran Explore Canada program. This innovative program, developed in partnership between Safran and Centech, aims to identify Canadian startups and growth companies in several strategic fields that will help meet the challenges of decarbonization and digital transformation in the aerospace industry.

 

Launched in March 2024, the Safran Explore Canada program offers Canadian innovators a unique opportunity to develop their technological solutions by working closely with Safran teams. Participants will be able to evaluate and test their technologies with the support of Safran experts on one of the following challenges: 

  • Next-generation sensors for next generation products
  • Autonomous collaborative systems and AI optimization
  • New space, new challenges
  • Data management for advanced manufacturing and maintenance
  • Towards a more sustainable and eco-responsible aerospace industry

 

 

Ten startups have been selected for this first cohort. They will benefit from direct collaboration with Safran’s technical experts for the development and implementation of pilot projects, as well as dedicated financial support. In addition, they will receive personalized coaching to perfect their business proposals, and access to a network of high-tech investors through Safran Corporate Ventures and Centech. 

 

“We are delighted to be working with Centech on this ambitious program. The selected startups are at the forefront of technological innovation and could fuel the transformation of the aerospace industryBy joining forces, we have the opportunity to develop solutions that will contribute to the decarbonization and digitalization of the industry, while supporting emerging companies in Canada,” says Florent Illat, Managing Director of Safran Corporate Ventures. 

 

“The Safran Explore Canada program reflects our commitment to supporting promising startups and encouraging fruitful collaborations with industry leaders like Safran. We’re excited to see how these young companies will work alongside Safran experts and get involved in pilot projects that will shape the future of the aerospace industry.” – Julian Lucchesi, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Centech 

 

Here are the companies selected for this first cohort: 

 

Acerta Analytics

Forged from industrial experience and driven by data science, Acerta assists precision manufacturers to take their digital transformation beyond manually crunching sensor data. Our ML/AI-powered software services enable companies to make the right decisions fast, optimize production and improve product quality. 

 

Conducteurs Boréal

Boreal Conductors Inc. develops and manufactures High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS) tapes with increased robustness working at cryogenic temperatures. Those highly robust HTS tapes are integrated to obtain a superconducting power cable capable of delivering several thousands amps in a compact space. Our technology is also an enabler to integrated fault current limitation capabilities in the power cable which increase the resilience and reliability of the electrical network.  

 

Eigen Innovations 

Eigen Innovations is shaping vision for the smart factory. We help manufacturers from all industries reduce variation, eliminate uncertainty, and accelerate productivity with standardized, scalable, and flexible software. Eigen helps manufacturers unlock the full potential of machine vision beyond quality inspection.  

 

Equispheres 

Equispheres has developed a novel production technology to make metal powders which have superior characteristics for metal 3D printing while providing manufacturing benefits over existing powder production techniques. 

 

Ferreol Technologies 

Ferreol Technologies, provides innovative and high-strength materials in the most sustainable way. The goal is to help companies overcome the supply and mechanical property problems associated with certain essential materials. Ferreol Technologies is developing the world’s strongest aluminum alloy (Scalium™), made from Quebec aluminum, which is known to be one of the world’s smallest ecological footprint aluminum. 

 

KYNZE 

KYNZE custom designs interconnected sensor systems comprising various sensor types on a common platform for 4D mapping in real-time. KYNZE integrates multiple mm-wave radars, RF sensors, cameras and other sensor types; provides reference design and electronic modules which usually fit in as a sub-system in an integrated product. KYNZE has the expertise to design the data processing algorithms specific to the mission and perform systems integration. 

 

Metaspectral 

Metaspectral delivers the next generation of computer vision software, capable of remotely identifying materials and determining their chemical composition, defects, and other properties otherwise invisible to conventional cameras. It achieves this by leveraging hyperspectral sensors and analyzing the data captured in real-time using artificial intelligence (AI) via its scalable, cloud-based platform. The software is already deployed in a range of industries including aerospace, defense, agriculture, manufacturing, and more. 

 

One Silicon Chip Photonics 

As an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) company, One Silicon Chip Photonics (OSCP) designs, develops and produces Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs)-based gyroscopes, and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) for autonomous vehicles market. 

 

Qoherent 

Qoherent helps scientists and engineers explore applications of AI on software-defined radios. We drive the creation of intelligent radio innovations through rapid prototyping and design automation tools that are tightly integrated with existing commercial technologies. Focused on the complex spectrum conditions inherent to the space, telecommunications, and defense sectors, we empower our customers to create AI-enabled solutions for more effective sensing and communications systems. 

 

SBQuantum

SBQuantum is developing Quantum Magnetics for Earth and Space to “Reveal the Invisible”, be that underground, underwater or concealed by the environment. Funded and based in Sherbrooke, Québec, the company’s vision is to use Magnetic Intelligence to do what is impossible with conventional sensors. 

 

#### 

 

 

Contact médias Centech 

Geneviève Lacoursière

genevieve.lacoursiere@centech.co

 

 

Contacts Presse Safran 

Charlène Collard : charlene.collard@safrangroup.com / + 33 6 76 34 69 52 

Isabelle Javary : Isabelle.javary@safrangroup.com / + 33 7 86 10 59 16 

 

About Safran

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defence and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 92,000 employees and sales of 23.2 billion euros in 2023, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes research and development programs to maintain the environmental priorities of its R&T and innovation roadmap. 

 

About Centech 

Centech is an ecosystem that propels technological innovation and entrepreneurship projects from science and engineering. Open to all, Centech was founded in 1996 by the École de technologie supérieure. Thanks to its programs, Centech acts as a real instrument of growth, thus creating one of the largest concentrations of technology entrepreneurs in the start-up phase in Quebec and Canada. Since 2018, Centech has its own open innovation hub, the Collision Lab, where large companies are supported in their open innovation initiatives in collaboration with technology startups.