MBiz

36 WINTER 2024 T he sky's the limit for a Manitoba business that's been a world- wide leader in drone technology for three decades and counting. MicroPilot, based in Stony Mountain, specializes in making control systems for drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Owner Howard Loewen recalls the early days when they first launched into the international market. "We had no choice but to export right away. It was years before we even had customers in Canada," he says. "Because it's a very niche product, there are not many companies that make drones or UAVs — and especially 30 years ago, there were far fewer than there are today." The timing was ideal to start the company in the mid-1990s when the internet was beginning to bolster the industry. "When we started, Google was relatively new. One of the first uses of search engines was for engineers trying to find information on products they wanted to incorporate into their designs. So we put up a webpage and it was relatively easy to get good search engine placement — and then people just started contacting us," he says. "Without the internet, it would have been impossible to start a company like MicroPilot because you just couldn't reach your customers. If we started ear- lier, it would have been much harder." To date, the local company has worked with about 1,500 organizations on different projects around the globe. "We've worked in all major countries of the world and quite a few minor countries at one time or another. Certainly, exporting isn't easy. There are some time-zone challenges and language challenges, but you can find commonality and connect from a pro- fessional standpoint," he says. "Every company has to look at where it has potential to grow. The world is a big place, and there are customers everywhere." After 30 years in business, MicroPilot continues to reach new heights. The company recently signed a contract with Boeing to work with its subsid- iary Aurora Flight Sciences to develop and test software. This opportunity is MicroPilot's first project funded by Boeing's Industrial and Technological Benefits obligations, commonly referred to as offsets. "I'm very grateful to the Government of Canada, and I want to thank them for devising their Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy," Loewen says. "This project with Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences would not be possible if it wasn't for the foresight of the Canadian government." He also expresses gratitude to the trade commissioners, as well as the National Research Council of Canada's industrial research assistance program. For other businesses looking to export, he suggests reaching out to the World Trade Centre Winnipeg. "To be able to make use of an orga- nization like that to get information on how to export would be invaluable," he says. Looking ahead, MicroPilot is poised for a bright future, and Loewen contin- ues to enjoy the dynamic environment. "The whole challenge of solving problems and helping customers bring products to market is really exciting," he says. "Technology is always changing, and there's always something new coming along. It's fascinating — and a lot of fun." WORLD TRADE CENTRE WINNIPEG BY JENNIFER MCFEE THE SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR MICROPILOT "The whole challenge of solving problems and helping customers bring products to market is really exciting." – Howard Loewen, owner of MicroPilot

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