Montréal, 12–16 April 2026 – As part of the German-Canadian aviation cooperation initiative, a delegation of over 50 people from the German federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin/Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Lower Saxony visited the city of Montréal. The trip offered numerous opportunities for exchange, for showcasing German innovation and for strengthening transatlantic partnerships.
A flying start in Montréal
On Sunday, 12 April, the delegation arrived individually at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Even before the official proceedings began, the participants gathered at the offices of the Bavarian State Ministry in Montréal for an informal get-together. The evening was rounded off with a political briefing by the German Ambassador to Canada, Tjorven Bellmann, which provided an initial overview of the delegation’s strategic objectives.
Joining in the International Aerospace Innovation Forum
On Monday and Tuesday, 13 and 14 April, the entire delegation attended the International Aerospace Innovation Forum at the Montreal Congress Centre, organised by Aéro Montréal. The German representatives showcased their companies at a joint stand and used the platform to hold targeted discussions with international partners. Three speakers from Hamburg took to the main stage and discussed innovation zones, international cooperation in aviation research and the transformation brought about by AI applications in aviation with other panellists. One of the highlights of the forum was the presentation of the Innovation Recognition Award to Hamburg Aviation member Soji AI, a clear signal of the Hamburg network’s innovative strength.
Networking event and visibility
Following the official part of the forum, a joint German reception was hosted at the prestigious law firm Gowling WLG. There, the delegation met with selected representatives from the local aviation industry to discuss potential areas of cooperation. The reception was not only a venue for informal discussions, but also highlighted the high profile of German aviation stakeholders in Montréal.
Company visits and practical examples
On Wednesday 15 April, the delegation set off on a series of company visits. Following a morning bus journey, the participants visited Airbus Canada, Avianor and the YMX Innovation Centre. The visit to YMX and a presentation by the CRIAQ (Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec) highlighted the importance of research partnerships for the further development of sustainable aviation systems. This was followed by visits to Samuel Son & Co. and L3 Harris MAS, where the latest developments in avionics, MRO and defence technology were presented in particular. The evening continued with a group dinner, which provided the delegates with an opportunity for in-depth discussions.
On Thursday, 16 April, visits to the Meloche Innovation Lab and Groupe DCM were on the agenda. The two companies presented their work in the fields of materials research, lightweight construction, additive manufacturing and robotics – key technologies for reducing emissions in the aviation sector. This was followed by further visits to Bombardier, CAE and thyssenkrupp. These visits provided insights into current programmes, such as the development of training simulators and the manufacture of aircraft components.
Partnerships and Collaboration: A strong outlook
The delegation’s visit concluded in the late afternoon of 16 April with a transfer to the airport, from where the participants returned to Germany. The visit not only raised the profile of the German and Hamburg aviation communities in North America, but also identified concrete opportunities for future collaboration. In particular, the award presented to Soji AI, the handover of aviation experiment kits to the Alexander von Humboldt German International School in Montréal, and the in-depth discussions with leading Canadian companies highlight the potential for a long-term, innovation-driven partnership.
Hamburg Aviation will use the momentum gained to further strengthen links between German and Canadian stakeholders and to consolidate Hamburg’s position as an international hub for innovation in the aviation sector in the long term.