Watch Out opens AI micro-factory centre at Mirabel to revolutionise Quebec’s aerospace manufacturing

Left to right: Patrick Charbonneau, Mayor of Mirabel; Olivier Chéret, Executive Vice President, Growth and Strategy – Watch Out; Bernard Mariette, Executive Chairman – Watch Out; Sylvain Choinière, Vice President, Legal Affairs, Real Estate and Ground Transportation – Aéroports de Montréal; Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO – Aéroports de Montréal; Mélanie Lussier, President – Aéro Montréal; Pascal Désilets, Executive Director – Espace Aéro. Credit: CNW Group/Watch Out.

At the Paris Air Show, Watch Out, ADM Aéroports de Montréal, Espace Aero, and Aero Montreal announced the opening of a new research, development, and assembly centre within the YMX Innovation Centre, located at YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel. The site will strengthen Québec’s position in aerospace manufacturing, with Watch Out, a Quebec-based builder of autonomous, AI-powered micro-factories, set to produce precision parts for aerospace, defence, and advanced industries.

AI advances in aerospace manufacturing

By the end of the year, the Mirabel site will host micro-factories for R&D programmes aimed at extending the technology to new sectors and testing Canadian-developed algorithms. A pilot assembly line will also be installed to assemble the first Quebec-made micro-factories, with parts preferably sourced from Canadian companies. Three local suppliers have already been selected and received orders.

Christine Frechette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, commented:
“The opening of this new research, development, and assembly centre in Mirabel is yet another example of Quebec’s leadership in the aerospace sector… it will further showcase Quebec’s ingenuity and leadership in technological innovation and artificial intelligence across future-oriented industries.”

Sebastien Laporte, Founder and CEO of Watch Out, said:
“The YMX Innovation Centre is an ideal place to strengthen our collaborations with the Canadian aerospace ecosystem… a driving force in the next technological transformation of Quebec’s manufacturing industry.”

Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of ADM, added:
“This marks the beginning of a major collaboration… and reaffirms our Aerocity’s mission to host high-tech projects.”

Pascal Desilets, Executive Director of Espace Aero, said:
“This project strengthens our mission… to transform advanced manufacturing in Quebec.”

Melanie Lussier, President of Aero Montreal, stated:
“The deployment of autonomous micro-factories in Mirabel is a concrete response to the productivity and labour shortage challenges… and embodies the future of smart manufacturing.”

Since 2023, Watch Out has built a full industrial ecosystem in Quebec: a precision workshop in Dorval, an AI team in Montreal (with MILA), HQ functions in Montreal, and the 2025 Mirabel opening. The company is also integrating three Quebec-based suppliers.

Watch Out is the first to deliver autonomous AI micro-factories for aerospace, defence, and medical use, addressing labour shortages while improving quality, costs, and sustainability. Strategic investor LISI Aerospace already operates nine of them in France.

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