14 APRIL/MAY 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com
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SIT REP
NRC Invests $900M to Accelerate Defence Innovation
By linking research, industry and procurement, Canada is
accelerating the path from breakthrough technologies to
operational capability. Image source: https://x.com/NRC_CNRC/
status/2031086437953671633
Building on its long-standing collaboration with the Depart-
ment of National Defence and industry partners, the NRC will
grow domestic capacity in drone and aerospace technologies,
including the creation of a new Drone Innovation Hub, and
acquire a Canadian-built Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for
defence-related technology development with industry and
academia. A new Defence Industry Assist stream within the
NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program will support
Canadian businesses developing dual-use technologies. The
investment also accelerates research in biomedical counter-
measures and reinforces Canada's edge in quantum technolo-
gies for defence applications.
The NRC's partnership with DND is its single largest client
relationship today. Since 2021, the NRC has delivered more
than 975 joint projects with DND across aerospace, sensors,
marine, and biosecurity technologies. The Canadian defence
industry contributes nearly $10 billion to Canada's GDP and
supports over 81,000 jobs nationwide.
"Today's investments will give Canadian industry the oppor-
tunity to deliver for the Canadian Armed Forces by innovat-
ing, competing and creating good-paying jobs for Canadians.
Together with the Defence Investment Agency, we will move
cutting-edge capabilities into the hands of our forces faster,
build a more resilient supply chain and grow Canada's defence
industrial base," said Secretary of State Fuhr.
On March 9 in Ottawa, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, Minis-
ter of National Defence David McGuinty, and Secretary of State
(Defence Procurement) Stephen Fuhr announced that the Na-
tional Research Council of Canada will invest more than $900
million under Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy to acceler-
ate the development of defence and dual-use technologies
and build a globally competitive Canadian defence sector.
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