Two major aerospace clusters – Hamburg Aviation in Germany and Aéro Montréal in Canada – have signed a new partnership agreement that will see them collaborate more closely. This agreement reaffirms the partnership established between the clusters in 2008, and aims to further expand joint innovation projects, particularly between support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand their international presence.
The contract focuses on key topics including cabin interiors, MRO, skills development and workforce training, decarbonisation, advanced air mobility, autonomy, automation, and advanced manufacturing. The clusters foresee regular virtual working meetings, delegation visits, and professional exchange programmes to facilitate knowledge transfer and access to international markets.
“The aviation industry is a key economic factor in the Hamburg metropolitan region, employing over 48,000 people,” said Dr Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg’s First Mayor, who signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) as part of a delegation trip to Canada. “As important research locations and innovation hubs, Hamburg and Montréal can contribute to making aviation more climate-friendly with the help of new technologies.”
A highlight of the enhanced cooperation will be the International Aerospace Innovation Forum in Montréal in April 2026, where Germany will be the official partner country. Hamburg Aviation will coordinate the German delegation in cooperation with its partners, offering companies from the Hamburg Metropolitan Region an opportunity to showcase their capabilities internationally and establish new business contacts.
“Hamburg is one of the world’s leading aerospace locations, but the challenges facing our industry do not stop at national borders,” said Ralf Gust, MD of Hamburg Aviation. “That is why we need strong international networks and partners like Aéro Montréal. Together, we are laying the foundation to bring innovations to market more quickly, strengthen the competitiveness of our companies, and actively shape the future of aviation.”
