Vanguard Magazine

34 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 www.vanguardcanada.com reveals the sector as a strong driver of innovation StAtE of CANAdA'S dEfENCE INdUStRy The numbers are in: DeFenCe innoVaTion by ChrisTyn CianFarani and innovation. In- deed, the genesis of Silicon Valley was in defence contracting, whereby many products that consumers en- joy today, such as the iPhone, are based on technologies that were initially created for military applications. SSE also commits the Department of Na- tional Defence to develop a closer partner- ship with the private sector, an approach that the governments of Australia and the U.K. are already taking with their defence industries. The Canadian government's focus on defence innovation to meet the demands of the Canadian Armed Forces and deliver high quality jobs and growth to the Cana- dian economy rests on a solid foundation, for which we have significant new evidence. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), in part- T he Government of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE), contains two key ideas supporting the na- tion's defence industry. First, the policy recognizes that this indus- try is a vital element of sovereignty and na- tional defence. An innovative defence sector, according to SSE, is now one of five domes- tic priorities for national defence, alongside safeguarding Canada, effective search and rescue, rapid disaster response and enhanced Arctic presence. Second, SSE signals that the defence in- dustry is an important part of the national economy. As a result, the government has expressed a desire to tie the national defence mandate more closely to its broader innova- tion agenda, with the aim to "grow compa- nies and accelerate growth" and "encourage an entrepreneurial and creative society." Canada has awakened to something other countries recognized long ago: there is a strong link between defence procurement nership with In- novation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Statistics Canada, recently published a study titled State of Canada's Defence Industry (2018), which builds upon a previous one completed in 2016. The new report provides critical insights into the shape and economic performance of the industry. It clearly reflects a sector steeped in innovation, confirmed by high- intensity research and development (R&D), a diverse workforce with broad STEM com- petency, and cutting-edge products and ser- vices that compete and win in a competitive, highly protected global marketplace.

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