The Small Business Innovation Technology (SBIT) award recognizes a business that has developed advanced or innovative technologies to meet the needs of the aerospace industry in Canada or globally. These achievements have contributed to making Canada a strong and rapidly growing innovation economy and made a positive impact in the industry and community.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SBIT award, nominees must have been in operation for a minimum of 5 years, headquartered in Canada, and have less than 250 employees.

Award Criteria

To win this award, all nominees will be required to provide:

  • A minimum 500-word description of how the company’s product or service is innovative, and how the company is leading innovation in the aerospace industry.
  • Identify the problem the company sets out to solve and how their technology is redefining the industry by addressing it.
  • Explain how R&D practices are supported in the company
  • Provide at least 1 testimonial to support the nomination

Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Awards.

To nominate a candidate or sponsor an award, please contact Bill Yetman at byetman@aiac.ca .

Award Presentation

The Industry Excellence Awards are presented annually at the Annual Aerospace Dinner, which takes place during the Canadian Aerospace Summit. This event gathers attendees from all segments of the Canadian aerospace industry, other leading aerospace nations, various levels of government, the financial and investment community, and international and trade press.

This year’s Summit is November 5-6 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

2024 Winners

  • Horizon Aircraft is at the forefront of developing advanced aviation technology. Horizon is a visionary leader in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) space, pioneering new designs that have the potential to transform how we think about mobility and air travel. Over the past year, Horizon Aircraft has made remarkable strides, particularly with its innovative eVTOL aircraft that is helping expand the possibilities for urban and remote-area air mobility. With a hybrid-electric propulsion system, Horizon Aircraft has achieved advancements in range and performance that address critical industry demands, such as sustainability and efficiency. These innovations are not only setting new standards but also helping to pave the way for Canada to be a global leader in sustainable aviation solutions. Horizon’s commitment to pushing boundaries, to advancing technologies that will shape the future of aerospace, is precisely what keeps Canadian aerospace strong and competitive on the global stage. By pursuing ambitious goals and delivering cutting-edge solutions, Horizon Aircraft has demonstrated that small businesses can lead transformative change.
  • Pole Air Aviation (PAA) has shown extraordinary commitment to innovation and excellence, pioneering advancements that enhance our industry’s capabilities. PAA is a Transport Canada (TC) and EASA Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) with maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities for military, commercial & regional transports, private & corporate aircrafts and helicopters. Located in Montreal, PAA’s 33,000 sq ft, headquarters is a state-of-the-art repair and overhaul facility that consistently exceeds customer expectations. PAA key component capabilities include wheels & brakes, landing gear, cabin equipment, generators, instruments, hydraulics, pneumatics & fuel systems, electrical & lighting equipment and water & waste. Solidified by 50 years in business, PAA is committed to offering quality products and competitive Turn Around Time (TAT) to reduce the impact of aircraft downtime.

Previous Winners

  • Cyclone Manufacturing (2023)
  • Mannarino Systems and Software Inc. (2018)
  • Avior Integrated Products (2019)
  • Contextere (2022)