Hamburg Aviation and the Canadian aerospace cluster Aéro Montréal signed a new agreement to deepen their collaboration. The Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed as part of the delegation trip of Hamburg’s First Mayor, Dr. Peter Tschentscher, to Canada. It reaffirms the partnership established in 2008 and aims to further expand joint innovation projects in the aerospace sector.
The agreement strengthens cooperation between the two leading aerospace hubs and focuses on key topics including cabin interiors, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), skills development and workforce training, decarbonization, advanced air mobility, autonomy, automation, and advanced manufacturing. These areas are crucial to securing the competitiveness of the aerospace industry and driving the transformation towards a sustainable and digital future.
Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg said: “The aviation industry is a key economic factor in the Hamburg metropolitan region, employing over 48,000 people. As important research locations and innovation hubs, Hamburg and Montréal can contribute to making aviation more climate-friendly with the help of new technologies.
“Hamburg Aviation and Aéro Montréal support this goal by promoting exchange and cooperation between companies and the science and innovation centers of Hamburg and Montréal in the field of aviation.“
Ralf Gust, Managing Director of Hamburg Aviation, commented: “Hamburg is one of the world’s leading aerospace locations, but the challenges facing our industry do not stop at national borders.
“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.”
A Longstanding Partnership – New Initiatives
Hamburg Aviation and Aéro Montréal have enjoyed a close partnership since 2008, resulting in numerous projects and research initiatives. A notable example is the collaboration between the Zentrum für Angewandte Luftfahrtforschung (ZAL) in Hamburg and the Canadian aerospace research consortium CRIAQ. The two institutions further strengthened their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show in June 2025.
Looking Ahead: Germany to be Partner Country in 2026
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 innovation capabilities internationally and establish new business contacts.
Supporting Internationalisation of SMEs
With the signing of the LoI, Hamburg Aviation and Aéro Montréal aim to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the aerospace industry in expanding their international presence. The agreement foresees regular virtual working meetings, delegation visits, and professional exchange programs to intensify knowledge transfer and facilitate access to international markets
About Hamburg Aviation
Hamburg Aviation is the aviation cluster of the Hamburg metropolitan region – one of the world’s leading locations for civil aviation. Almost 49,000 skilled workers are employed here in over 300 companies along the entire value chain: from aircraft construction and maintenance to aviation research, cabin technology and urban air mobility. Hamburg Aviation connects industry, science, universities, associations and politics in order to efficiently put innovations, products and services into practice. A particular focus is placed on sustainable technologies and digital solutions. In 2008, Hamburg Aviation was awarded the title of ‘leading-edge cluster’ by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and since 2014 the cluster has held the GOLD label of the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA).
Featured image credited to Hamburg Aviation
