Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Funding available
$ 3,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
Innovation Networks supports collaborative research micro-networks that build expertise for Canada’s defence and security needs. It funds new research clusters and encourages collaboration among academia, industry, and other partners to advance ideas, research, technology development, knowledge transfer, and testing across the innovation continuum.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Collaborative research micro-networks for defence and security challenges.
- Research and development on TRL 1 to 6 solutions.
- Basic and applied research, technology development, and knowledge transfer.
- Testing and validation in simulated or laboratory environments.
Documents Needed
- Completed Innovation Networks Proposal Form.
- List of partner organizations and institutions.
- Work plan with project activities and budget.
- Supporting details for the proposed research and development approach.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian universities.
- Canadian incorporated for-profit organizations.
- Canadian incorporated not-for-profit organizations.
- Canadian provincial, territorial, and municipal government organizations.
Who is not eligible
- Federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations.
- People employed by federal departments, agencies, or crown corporations.
- Post-doctoral fellows as lead applicants or partners.
- Adjunct professors as lead applicants.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and benefits for students, research assistants, and technical staff.
- Equipment purchases or rentals.
- Professional or consultant services from third parties.
- Research and development expenses, including lab analysis, materials, travel, publication, outreach, communication, and data acquisition.
- Administrative overhead and intellectual property protection costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- In-kind contributions.
- Salaries and benefits for university investigators already paid directly and continuously by the university.
- Land or building purchases, and moving a lab.
- Hospitality, gifts, alcohol, and entertainment.
- Patent fees, lobbying, and direct marketing or promotion.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the challenge objectives.
- Innovation and novelty.
- Scientific or technical quality.
- Micro-net management and collaboration capacity.
- Benefits to Canada and sustainability.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the applicant guide and proposal form
- Read the challenge statement and submission instructions.
- Use the official Innovation Networks Proposal Form.
- Step 2: Create a CPC Connect account
- Register on the CPC Connect platform if needed.
- Prepare the account for electronic submission.
- Step 3: Request a Connect conversation
- Email IDEaS with the email address linked to the CPC Connect account.
- Do this at least five business days before the closing date.
- Step 4: Submit the proposal
- Upload the completed proposal through CPC Connect before the deadline.
- Wait for the confirmation message in the conversation.
Processing and Agreement
- Proposals are reviewed by subject matter experts and may include other government representatives or external consultants.
- Only proposals meeting mandatory and point-rated criteria enter the pre-qualified pool.
- Selected applicants may be asked for additional information and further financial or technical assessments.
- Applicants invited to fund will sign a contribution agreement before funding is issued.
- Final funding decisions are considered final and there is no appeal process.
Contacts
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Frequently Asked Questions about the IDEaS - Innovation Networks Program
What is the IDEaS - Innovation Networks?
Innovation Networks supports collaborative research micro-networks that build expertise for Canada’s defence and security needs. It funds new research clusters and encourages collaboration among academia, industry, and other partners to advance ideas, research, technology development, knowledge transfer, and testing across the innovation continuum.
How much funding can be received?
IDEaS - Innovation Networks Funds up to $3,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the IDEaS - Innovation Networks program?
To be eligible for the IDEaS - Innovation Networks program, you must:
Multidisciplinary team
Canadian university lead
TRL 1 to 6
What expenses are eligible under IDEaS - Innovation Networks?
Collaborative research micro-networks for defence and security challenges.
Research and development on TRL 1 to 6 solutions.
Basic and applied research, technology development, and knowledge transfer.
Testing and validation in simulated or laboratory environments.
Who can I contact for more information about the IDEaS - Innovation Networks?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca.
Where is the IDEaS - Innovation Networks available?
The IDEaS - Innovation Networks program is available across Canada.
Is the IDEaS - Innovation Networks a grant, loan, or tax credit?
IDEaS - Innovation Networks is a Grant and Funding