Vanguard Magazine

The Innovation for Defence Excel- lence and Security (IDEaS) pro- gram – announced in June 2017 in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged – was officially launched in early April 2018. The program is designed to innovate to meet security chal- lenges of today and to develop capabilities to address the prob- lems of the global security envi- ronment. Some of the challenges to be addressed include domains such as surveillance, cyber tools for defence, space, artificial intelli- gence, remote-pilot systems, data analytics, and human performance. Canada launches IDEaS Program Indigenous entrepreneurs pitch business ideas at Lockheed Martin Canada's IMPACT Centre Minister of National Defence Harjit S. Sajjan, in launching the program today, said it "will provide unique opportunities for Canadians to put forward their best solutions on defence and security challenges, and will help put those solutions into the hands of the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces." He went on to add that this investment will support the growth and expansion of Canada's innovation commu- nity for the next 20 years. Over this period, Canada will invest $1.6 billion into Canada's innova- tion community for the IDEaS program. Through the launch, the Minister issued the first call for proposals under the IDEaS Competitive Projects element, in which 16 defence and security challenges were identified. The deadline for those who are in- terested in submitting proposals is May 24, 2018. All proposals received will undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review. The first contracts are expected to be awarded in the fall of 2018. 8 APRIL/MAY 2018 www.vanguardcanada.com From le to right: Lynn Poole-Hughes, CEO of JEDI; Chelsea Griffith and Jenilee Paul with PLATO Testing; Gary Fudge, Acting Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Canada RMS. Photo: Lockheed Martin Canada. sit rep On March 28, Indigenous entrepreneurs of six start-ups and small busi- nesses from New Brunswick faced off in a business pitch competition at Lockheed Martin Canada's IMPACT Centre. The program was organized by the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI), to promote economic and workforce development for Indigenous people in the eastern province. This competition resulted from a 10-week program that helped the entrepreneurs to "turn their ideas into strong businesses, focused on exporting and creating new intellectual property," according to a press release. The program, known as the JEDI Business Accelerator, was de- veloped in reply "to a targeted strategy for Indigenous people to pursue opportunities related to Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy." Since the inception of this program in 2015, Lockheed Martin Canada has partnered with JEDI. "We are particularly proud of this partnership because of its focus on mentorship opportunities, and to support the next generation of Indig- enous entrepreneurs and business leaders who have so much to contrib- ute to Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy," said Gary Fudge, Acting Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Canada RMS. "JEDI is pleased to partner once again with Lockheed Martin Canada on our Business Accelerator, and travelling to the nation's capital for this year's pitch competition is a great way to mark our third anniversary," said Alex Dedam, President of the Joint Economic Development Initiative. The JEDI Business Accelerator group for this year's competition in- cluded: • Monty Paul – St. Mary's First Nation – Founder of A1 3D Printing (Addi- tive Marine Technologies) • Katie Lunney – Elsipogtog First Nation – Founder of Lunney Develop- ment (Website Developer & Social Media Management) • Cody Brooks – St. Mary's First Nation – Founder of Sacred Lands Eco Resort (Eco-Tourism) • Adam Kennedy – Eel River Bar First Nation – Founder of Sma'knis Mari- time Security & Safety Training (Security Services & Training) • Andrew Martin and Michael Stemm – Esgenoopetitj First Nation and Eel Ground First Nation – Co-founders of Down to Earth (Video Production & Drones) • Chelsea Griffith and Jenilee Paul – St. Mary's First Nation – Represen- tatives of PLATO Testing (Software Testing Solutions) PLATO Testing emerged as the winner of the annual Indigenous Busi- ness Pitch Competition after a day of excellent pitches from all par- ticipants. PLATO Testing develops and leverages a network of approxi- mately 70 Indigenous software testers across Canada. It provides outsourced testing solutions to clients throughout North America, with a focus on projects that would have previously been sent offshore. Es- tablished by industry veteran and PQA Testing founder, Keith McIntosh, PLATO Testing addresses the technology talent shortage in Canada and brings meaningful training and employment to Indigenous people. This year's pitches incorporated the five factors that formed IMPACT, after which the Lockheed Martin Canada's IMPACT Centre is named: In- novation, Mentorship, Partnership, Collaboration and Technology.

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