The European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) has strengthened ties with the National Research Council (NRC) with the opening of an office in the Montreal branch of the NRC Institute for Aerospace Research (IAR). The new office follows the June/08 signing of a five-year memorandum of understanding between the two organizations, which has already produced a 10-year framework cooperation agreement between NRC and EADS-owned Airbus. It's estimated that EADS programs in Canada generate $800 million in direct and indirect activity annually and support about 4,000 jobs….