Saab, a global company providing world-leading products, services, and solutions from military defence in all domains to civil security, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitacs to drive innovation through research and development in Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs fosters growth and innovation by solving challenges with research solutions from academic institutions.
According to a news release, this partnership establishes the means to drive innovation by providing Saab access to the precise Canadian postsecondary expertise and know-how required to advance their R&D activities in Canada. Through this new collaboration, Mitacs will match highly qualified research experts from Canadian academic institutes to advance Saab’s next-generation technologies. Saab, on the other hand, will provide industry guidance and other in-kind resources. Both Saab and Mitacs will share the financial cost to support these applied research and innovation internships.
“Saab works closely with universities around the world in fostering the academic research that can ultimately end up at the heart of our long-range radars that can see stealth aircraft or helping to deliver the benefits of digitalization into airports,” said Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and Saab’s Head of business area Aeronautics. “The MoU with Mitacs gives us the chance to extend that approach to Canada’s universities, and we look forward to exploring new technologies and areas of research across Canada.”
Designed to work at two levels, the first – macro level – will have participating students and the selected projects to boost innovation by advancing Saab’s development agenda with wider economic benefits in job creation and further industrialization of the research. The second – intern level – will facilitate skills development and work-integrated learning as Saab and Mitacs advance the mutually beneficial goals.
“Mitacs is proud to partner with Saab and connect them with talent to advance business goals through research and development. Canadian student researchers drive innovation and benefit from working with Saab and applying their skills to advance aviation technologies. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for investing in R&D,” said John Hepburn, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs.
This new MoU is a result of Industrial and Technological Benefit commitments made by Saab as part of its bid for the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP). Through this bid, Saab is offering 88 Gripen E fighters for the FFCP with a comprehensive ITB offer involving the Gripen for Canada Team.