Could you provide a brief introduction to INO and its main product and service offering?

AF: INO is a research and technology company of around 200 employees, the vast majority of which are dedicated to developing technology based on optics and photonics. About two thirds of our work is with SMEs, whilst approximately 15% is with large corporations and the rest with government and universities. 50% of funding for internal research comes from the Québec and federal governments and the other 50% comes from direct contracts with companies. This balance is important for us to preserve because it helps maintain our role as a key player in the innovation chain between universities and companies. Even more importantly, it demonstrates the relevance of our internal R&D activities and their contribution to the growth of industries.

Over the years, we have executed 68 technology transfers and 32 spin-off companies. In the last five years, the proportion of our projects with aerospace-focused companies has been about 8% and these have been mostly focused on payloads. The percentage has previously been higher but the freeze on the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has affected demand for our services. With regard to aeronautics projects, we have participated in eight technology transfers.

Québec City is a center of excellence for optics and photonics. How dynamic is the local ecosystem?

FC: Laval University is a very important player as it generates a lot of highly skilled manpower in optics and photonics. Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) has an optronics center in the city which also generates many new ideas and technologies. Along with INO, these two organizations have been most active in building the optics and photonics ecosystem in Québec City.

AF: By generating such a high number of companies, INO has also contributed to the ecosystem given that most of them have chosen to locate here. Some of these companies are now bigger than INO. Examples of successful SMEs we have spun off include Optel (optical technologies for pharmaceuticals) or TeraXion, which manufactures and markets photonic products such as components for fiber-optic telecommunication industry, for industrial fiber lasers and for optical sensing applications. More broadly, there are many more optics companies in the Quebec City ecosystem including EXFO, which is involved in test and measurement instrumentation and services for fiber-optic telecommunication.

Could you provide more details on INO’s involvement in international aeronautics and space projects?

FC: Since the global space industry is very nation-state focused, we mostly work with the CSA. Where we do work with international space agencies, it is because of our specialist knowledge in niche areas. Uncooled infrared microbolometers is one of them since INO is, to our knowledge, the only organization offering custom developments around that technology. We also have conducted several space projects with the CSA and European Space Agency (ESA) such as investigating the radiation hardness of optical fibers and transceivers and developing a fiber laser transmitter for optical based communication between satellites. In addition, we have developed technology in the area optical processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and in the area of carbon-reinforced polymer materials, allowing us to create extremely light-weight optical payloads that are also very robust against temperature change. This technology will become more important as the space industry continues to move towards smaller spacecraft with lower thermal mass which are therefore more susceptible to large swings in temperature.

AF: As part of a wider life sciences program, we have also worked with the CSA to develop a flow cytometer for biofluid analysis which could be used on manned spacecraft to diagnose disease. The technology has already been successfully tested on the International Space Station (ISS). Aeronautics-focused technology transfers include, for example, a tarmac surveillance system at airports and baggage screening, the latter of which resulted in a spin-off company. In addition, we recently worked on a project to identify light sources on the tarmac to help aircraft land more easily in adverse conditions, supported by a database we have created on optical conditions depending on different weather situations.

What are some of the advantages of using fiber optics in aircraft?

AF: Compared to electrical components, optical components do not create a spark or electro-magnetic interference (EMI), making them a safer option overall. Fiber optics are also lighter than electrical components and use a low amount of energy. Given these advantages, there are a few company making strides in bring this technology to market–in particular, TeraXion is developing fiber optic telecommunication platform for multi-sensor deployment onboard an aircraft. The sensors are not necessarily optical but the data transmission will ultimately be optical fiber-based.

How could the government better support Canada’s space industry?

FC: Canada is relatively small compared with countries like the United Sates or China and the government’s support is commensurate with the country’s size. Nevertheless, a large part of the CSA’s budget is allocated to large projects such as the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which restricts funding for other important initiatives that we might work on. It would be better if the CSA had a base budget to engage in technological development and additional funding if Canada would like to engage in international projects. This would help position the Canadian space industry more competitively globally, especially given foreign governments want the assurance that a company’s home government has shown confidence in their technology before also investing in it. 

What are the key objectives for INO in the next few years?

AF: One of the key goals is to provide packaging solution for integrate photonics devices which includes optical fibers and electrical feedthroughs. Printed photonics is also a new area we are working on that will be a big area of focus. It is expected that printed photonics technology will lower the cost of photonics devices and the new types of sensor will include capabilities for physical, chemical as well as biological detection. We will continue to develop our expertise in infrared imaging which has applications in aerospace and defense. Whilst not our main focus, aerospace is an important area for us and we will continue to develop technology related to space and defense, focusing on aspects such as reducing the weight of optical systems while improving their performances.