Overview
CANNAPE created a platform for enhancing aeronautics and air transport research and development cooperation between the EU and Canada, and explored the potential for promoting the participation of Canadian stakeholders with their European counterparts in common activities.
The objectives were:
- To explore the potential for enhancing EU and Canadian cooperation through analysis of themes and topics of aeronautics and air transport R&D;
- To develop and enhance networks and partnerships between EU and Canada in specific technical themes that would provide mutually beneficial R&D cooperation;
- To promote Canadian participation in the aeronautics and air transport activities of FP7 through focused workshops, information and advisory services.
CANNAPE built on previous work undertaken, and captured the aeronautics and air transport capabilities and needs of the EU and Canada, to enhance further co-operation. CANNAPE was to be the catalyst for R&D projects that would have both Canadian and European partners. CANNAPEs successes and impact assessment were to be based on:
- Success in bringing about increased networking and partnering in the aeronautics R&D community, measured by determining the greater extent of FP7 consortium arrangements, and the range and number of EU partner organisations with which Canada could collaborate;
- Involvement of key Canadian organisations who could assist with Canadian engagement in joint activities,
- The extent to which cooperative relationships were leveraged through joint identification of needs and priorities for collaboration, and;
- An overall increase in participation in FP7 by the Canadian aeronautics research communities.
The project had a core group of partners which undertook facilitation with the wider community. Other participants were to be part of a Steering Group, participating in specific tasks. Both groups consisted of Canadian and European partners.
Funding
Results
EU–Canada aerospace partnerships fly high
Enhanced networking between Canada and Europe in the aerospace industry has paved the way for cutting-edge projects related to the sector, benefiting industry, economy and society.
Canada’s industry has a strong and established place in aeronautics that could benefit from EU collaboration and sharing its expertise with European counterparts. The EU-funded project 'Canadian networking aeronautics project for Europe' (CANNAPE) enhanced cooperation between Canada and the EU in aeronautics and air transport research and development. CANNAPE worked on improving EU/Canadian cooperation in aeronautics research under innovation-led EU-funded projects, using many networks that were led by 5 key Canadian partners and 14 European ones.
The project reviewed the needs of the aerospace industry to identify common areas of interest and benefit. It created a strong, overall network that prioritised key topics for possible collaboration, and built a database of Canadian organisations and capabilities. Main areas for potential collaboration covered the ACARE high level objectives, i.e. greener air transport, greater time efficiency, customer satisfaction, safety, cost efficiency and pioneering air transport.
Importantly, the project team developed a cooperation plan for the future in line with the vision of the EU's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, outlining achievable objectives. This would involve enabling key Canadian partners and organisations, including networks and clusters from the aeronautical industry, research organisations, universities, regions, provinces and government, to work with European partners in the future.
CANNAPE achieved its aims by developing networks and partnerships through the organisation of workshops in Canada and Europe. It also created dedicated areas for its endeavours on existing websites in both regions of the world along with a project website to enhance networking.
Starting from a level of no involvement, a major outcome of this project was to have a significant number of proposals with Canadian partners, submitted under the last 2 Calls of FP7. This resulted in several, successful projects, including ones of high Technical Readiness Level. Overall, CANNAPE has acted as a catalyst to outline common collaboration areas, identify barriers, and enhance research and technology development.
Key impacts were increased awareness within the EU research community regarding opportunities in Canadian research and innovation programmes related to aeronautics, and increased involvement of influential Canadian organisations that can facilitate collaboration. CANNAPE has supported trans-Atlantic collaboration and has contributed to tackling the specific global challenges faced by both countries. Stronger aeronautics industries and improved air transport are set to emerge from this budding partnership.