EADS and Creaform have entered into a technological partnership agreement covering 3D optical measurement for aerospace and defence applications.

The agreement was finalized in the presence of Charles Mony, President of Creaform, Stéphane Galibois, Vice-President Americas and Aerospace at Creaform, Pierre Delestrade, President and CEO of EADS Canada, Olivier Le Gall, Vice-President for Industrialization and Globalization at EADS, and Yann Barbaux, Head of EADS Innovation Works. It was announced at the National Research Council Canada's Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Centre, and with the support of the Quebec Aerospace Association.

This 5-year agreement provides for the development of innovative applications in the field of optical 3D measurement for non-destructive testing (NDT), test monitoring and form and surface measurement, applied to aeronautics, space and defence.

"EADS has successfully implemented Creaform's 3D scanning and optical measurement technologies since 2008. The developments planned will enable EADS to reduce its development time cycle, create synergies and reduce the time-to-market of its new products," said Yann Barbaux, Head of EADS Innovation Works.

"Innovation and the development of 3D optical measurement is at the core of our growth strategy," explained Charles Mony, President of Creaform. "This technological partnership with a world leader in aerospace and defence, in addition to the support that EADS Innovation Works will provide, will enable us to speed up our development process and focus our technological advances so to meet the needs of these particular sectors. As a young Canada-based company founded only 10 years ago, we are particularly pleased with EADS's trust in us, and with potential side benefits of this agreement on our innovation capacity and the development of skilled labor in our region", he added.

"We are delighted to have concluded this agreement, which reflects EADS' support to Canadian SMEs active in innovation and new technologies – a support that is necessary to ensure they are competitive on the international market," said Pierre Delestrade, President and CEO of EADS Canada.