Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, read about Bombardier’s flight testing program in Victoria, a cleantech call for innovation, the tie between a popular Latin American drink and Victoria’s Tiny, and a local entrepreneur’s learnings after a career in innovation.

Now, onto today’s briefing. It’s 826 words, a three-minute read.

Bombardier is taking off in Victoria

Thanks to a recent spate of incidents involving airplanes — a tragic accident in Tokyo, an Alaska airlines flight losing a piece of fuselage mid-flight, and a nose wheel falling off a Boeing before takeoff — I have become keenly interested in all things aircraft, including the staggering amount of fuel that they consume.

For those who fly on a regular basis — people working in business, for example — getting on an airplane makes up a significant chunk of their carbon footprint. It’s just one of the challenges that Bombardier’s EcoJet Research Project aims to tackle — now in partnership with the University of Victoria.

Debuted around 15 years ago, the project explores the “blended wing body” aircraft configuration and new technologies to reduce business jet emissions by up to 50 percent. In 2017, prototypes spanned eight feet; the project has now moved to a flight vehicle more than twice as large.

The University of Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research (CfAR) and British Columbia’s SME Quaternion Aerospace complement Bombardier’s expertise with know-how in scale model fabrication and operations.

“For more than a decade, the Centre for Aerospace Research has grown from strength to strength, and our cutting-edge work with Bombardier represents the most significant research partnership in our history,” said Afzal Suleman, Canada research chair, and director and professor at the Centre for Aerospace Research at University of Victoria. “Through this collaboration, our students and researchers are gaining critical real-world skills while helping to push forward the frontiers of sustainability and redefining the boundaries of what is possible for the future of the global aviation industry.”

The partnership announcement is the first of many anticipated academic collaborations as the Bombardier program ramps up its second phase.

SPONSORED BY RBC

Early-bird tickets on sale now

Rising Economy — the business event for business insiders — returns March 6-8 at Victoria's Delta Ocean Pointe Resort. Make valuable connections and gain actionable takeaways with 25+ high-ROI sessions from AI to economic outlooks. Help your organization succeed in the new economy. Early-birders save 25%. Sponsored by RBC.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

☎️ Hello, it’s me: The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) put out a call for innovation. CICE is looking for clean energy and climate technology innovators working on solutions to accelerate the world towards a net-zero carbon future.

👑 New ways to innovate: After an almost nine-month search, Innovate BC has announced it’s found its next CEO. Effective February 5, the new head of the crown agency will be Peter Cowan. 

🤝 Have a drink on me: Victoria’s Tiny and Dr. Andrew Huberman announced the U.S. debut of their yerba mate beverage, Mateina.

🦁 In the circle of life: Owen Matthews, chairman of Alacrity Canada, joined The Startup Science Podcast for a conversation on his career as a tech entrepreneur, lessons learned along the way, and what’s next for Canadian tech.

SPONSORED

Join Canada's Top Business Leaders at INNOVATEwest for a transformative session on generative AI with Google Cloud Canada's VP, Sam Sebastian. Discover how generative AI is reshaping industries, enhancing customer experiences, and driving business growth.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Software Developer Team Lead at STR SpeechTech

• Coordinator, Procurement at BCI

• Senior Web Application Developer at Atomic Crayon

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

⭐ Feb 1 | Victoria Tech Journal & Club Kwench Happy Hour

Kick off the new year in style and join us at Victoria Tech Journal for happy hour at Kwench’s stylish downtown coworking space. Check out a new work space, meet the community, and unwind after a long day.

Feb 22 | Back to the Nachos

​Are you feeling more like Doc and less like Marty McFly lately? Don’t worry — cold beer, melted cheese and great conversation will have you feeling like it’s 1985 again. ​Brought to you by Victoria Tech Nachos, a covert group at the intersection of nachos and technology.

Feb 22-23 | 5th Western Angel Investment Summit in Victoria

Join days of fun, networking, socializing, company pitches, speakers and panelists. Not sure what to expect? Check out highlights from the 2023 Summit.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or a suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].