Commitment comes through $6.6-billion Defence Industrial Strategy.<\/p>\n
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The federal government is injecting $900 million into the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to jumpstart a drone innovation hub and launch a defence-focused stream under its Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Industry minister M\u00e9lanie Joly and defence minister David McGuinty announced the commitment, which is part of the recently unveiled $6.6-billion Defence Industrial Strategy<\/a> (DIS), on Monday while surrounded by drones, planes, and helicopters inside the NRC Research Center at Ottawa\u2019s airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen DND and the CAF need a technical solution that doesn\u2019t yet exist, we count on the NRC to help build it, and to find it.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside the Department of National Defence (DND) and industry partners, the NRC is committing $500 million of this funding to aerospace and autonomous technologies. One part of this is the creation of the Drone Innovation Hub. Based out of Ottawa and the Montr\u00e9al area, the hub aims to grow domestic capacity in drone and aerospace technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n The government said the hub will enhance drone and counter-drone development and testing capabilities, as well as provide a path for industry to qualify new technologies for drones.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf you need any other evidence of the need for this research, turn on the newscasts,\u201d McGuinty said in his remarks.<\/p>\n RELATED: Dominion Dynamics says it will invest $50 million to build a \u201csovereign autonomous wingman\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n NRC will also use the aerospace funding to acquire a new Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft that will be used for defence-related technology development with industry and academia. Joly said it will be the first time Canada has had a Canadian-built aircraft to do research at home.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, NRC IRAP\u2019s DI Assist stream will provide $241 million in \u201cfunding and advice\u201d to what the government called high-potential, innovative Canadian small to medium enterprises (SMEs). The DI Assist stream is intended to build a domestic base of companies developing dual-use technologies, meaning it has both civilian and military applications. The NRC says it will also inform the DND of emerging technology and manufacturing opportunities.<\/p>\n Other commitments in Monday\u2019s announcement include the NRC investing more than $161 million over five years \u201cto advance Canada\u2019s leadership in quantum technology for defence and security applications.\u201d NRC said this includes funding for industry, academia, and government researchers for quantum sensing, internetworking, and quantum-safe communications. NRC is also investing $28 million to improve its ability to quickly respond to biological threats.<\/p>\n McGuinty said that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has worked alongside the NRC for decades to deliver innovations that give the military \u201can operational advantage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n RELATED: \u201cThe world has changed\u201d: Canada\u2019s new Defence Industrial Strategy aims to reduce US dependency<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cToday, [that] means collaborating on autonomous systems, quantum technology, underwater sensors, and preparedness against biological threats,\u201d McGuinty said. \u201cWhen DND and the CAF need a technical solution that doesn\u2019t yet exist, we count on the NRC to help build it, and to find it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Daniel Perry, the director of federal affairs at the Council of Canadian Innovators, told BetaKit that his lobby group is encouraged to see continued support for defence research and innovation, but \u201cas with any major investment, the details will matter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPublic funding should help scale Canadian-headquartered firms that develop, manage, and commercialize their technology in Canada, ensuring that the intellectual property, talent, and economic benefits remain anchored here at home,\u201d Perry said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Joly told reporters that the government wants to make sure Canadian SMEs can get a first contract from DND so that they can invest in their companies. She added that she wants the Business Development Bank of Canada, which recently unveiled a $4-billion defence technology platform<\/a>, to coordinate with NRC IRAP.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI want to make sure that, ultimately, we\u2019re not duplicating too much, and that we\u2019re actually very targeted,\u201d Joly said.\u00a0<\/p>\n RELATED: Why Canada\u2019s defence spending should follow this Cold War blueprint\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n