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Source verified September 16, 2026
IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security
Defence innovation support for Canadian solutions
Latest source updateLast Update: September 16, 2026Latest change: The IDEaS opportunities listing now shows six new open opportunities with new opening and closing dates, including 2026 intake windows.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 16, 2026
Latest change: The IDEaS opportunities listing now shows six new open opportunities with new opening and closing dates, including 2026 intake windows.
IDEaS opportunities updated
The IDEaS Opportunities page now shows six new open opportunities and replaces several previously listed closed ones. The new entries include explicit opening and closing dates, including 2026 intake windows such as 2026-08-11 to 2026-12-01, 2026-09-10 to 2026-10-20, 2026-08-14 to 2026-10-14, and 2026-08-27 to 2026-10-08. The listing also shifts the program’s project scope toward urban counter-UAS, northern operations, minefield breaching, and austere medical environments. One sandbox entry also advertises $1.75M in prizes.
Funding available
$ 6,750,000
Deadline
October 9, 2026
Opened September 14, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry.
See full eligibility
Overview
IDEaS – Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security supports Canadian innovators working on defence and security challenges. The program advances ideas from early development through real-world testing across contests, competitive projects, innovation networks, sandboxes, and test drives.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 6,750,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- 2SLGBTQI+
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Activities funded
- Research and development in the hypersonic technology domain, including propulsion, flight dynamics, guidance-navigation-control, detection, and materials.
Documents Needed
- Proposal form
- Applicant guide
- Company one-pager
- Test plan template
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry.
Who is not eligible
- Federal and provincial crown corporations are not eligible for funding.
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program:
- Research and development costs
- Prototyping and testing expenses
- Technology demonstration costs
- Networking and collaboration expenses
- Travel costs related to project implementation
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Proposals must be selected for the next round of the contest to proceed.
- For Round 2, innovators are invited to Round 3 of the Contest: Prototype development.
How to apply
- IDEaS is transitioning to a new Portal to receive submissions from the innovator community for this challenge.
- To apply, consult the Solicitation Guide available on CanadaBuys.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed against the challenge or contest requirements.
- Some programs use a stage-gated evaluation and selection process.
- Successful applicants may be invited to later rounds, demonstrations, or pitch events.
- Funding agreements are issued before financial support is provided.
Additional information
- IDEaS is designed to improve DND’s access to the creative potential of Canadian innovators.
- The program aims to create economic impact and build an innovation ecosystem for national defence.
- It supports solutions from the early stages of an idea to final testing in a real-world environment.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Counter uncrewed aerial systems (urban) sandbox 2027Urban counter-drone testing opportunity
- IDEaS - Autonomous Systems for Defence and Security: Trust and Barriers to AdoptionFunding for defence autonomy research and adoption
- IDEaS - Best of both worlds: Human autonomy teaming for effective decision makingFunding for trusted human-autonomy teaming solutions
- IDEaS - Better than Meets the Eye: Reliable Object Detection Amongst the WavesMaritime object detection innovation challenge
- IDEaS - Beyond GPS: Quantum solutions for next generation multistatic radar systemsQuantum solutions for synchronized radar systems
- IDEaS - Challenge: Understanding cyber intentFunding for cyber threat detection innovations
- IDEaS - Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Hazard Detection and PlanningInnovative CBR threat detection solutions
- IDEaS - Code meets combat: Architecting the future of electromagnetic spectrum superiorityCounter-UAS solutions for military integration
- IDEaS - Collaboration of Robotic SystemsSupport for advanced robotic control solutions
- IDEaS - Competitive ProjectsPhased funding for defence and security innovation
Frequently Asked Questions about the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Program
What is the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security?
IDEaS – Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security supports Canadian innovators working on defence and security challenges. The program advances ideas from early development through real-world testing across contests, competitive projects, innovation networks, sandboxes, and test drives.
How much funding can be received?
IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security Funds up to $6,750,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is October 9, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program?
To be eligible for the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program, you must:
Individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry can apply.
What expenses are eligible under IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security?
Research and development in the hypersonic technology domain, including propulsion, flight dynamics, guidance-navigation-control, detection, and materials.
Who can I contact for more information about the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security?
You can contact Department of National Defence (DND) by email at DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca.
Where is the IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security available?
The IDEaS - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program is available across Canada.