Closed
Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies
Operational testing for defence innovations
Last Update: June 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 2,300,000
Timeline
- Open Date : January 21, 2025
- Closing date : February 11, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
This program supports late-stage pre-commercial prototypes for operational testing in Canada’s defence and security context, with a military component of CAD 2.3 million. Eligible innovations include autonomy, quantum, sensing, communication, and cooperation solutions that can be tested in real-life settings.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Strengthen cybersecurity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 2,300,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : January 21, 2025
- Closing date : February 11, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Testing and evaluation of late-stage pre-commercial prototypes in real operational environments.
- Development and testing of autonomy solutions for navigation, perception, communication, and cooperation.
- Development and testing of quantum sensing and quantum communication technologies.
Documents Needed
- Proposal submission form
- Technical description of the proposed innovation
- Evidence of operational readiness and prototype status
- Risk, certification, licence, and approval information
- Intellectual property ownership or licensing information
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian businesses and entities.
- Canadian SMEs eligible for the commercialization pathway.
- Offerors with late-stage pre-commercial prototypes.
Who is not eligible
- Businesses without a Canadian place of business.
- Offerors whose innovation has already been sold commercially.
- Offerors whose innovation has already been conditionally qualified under prior programs.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Innovation and pre-commercial readiness.
- Safe deployment and risk mitigation.
- Fit with the selected problem statement and outcomes.
- State-of-the-art advancement and competitive advantage.
- IP strategy, EDI approach, and commercialization potential.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the solicitation documents
- Read the call for proposals and related solicitation documents before applying.
- Step 2: Prepare the proposal
- Confirm eligibility, prototype readiness, IP status, and Canadian content.
- Identify the problem statement and outcome(s) addressed by your innovation.
- Step 3: Submit the offer
- Complete and submit the proposal through the program application process before the closing date.
- Step 4: Await evaluation results
- The offer is reviewed against mandatory, technical, and scored criteria.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed against mandatory criteria and technical screening criteria.
- Qualified proposals are assessed against scored evaluation criteria.
- Successful offerors may be placed in a pool of conditionally qualified innovations.
- For commercialization, eligible SMEs may apply within 12 months after the initial testing contract ends.
Additional information
- Only one offer may be submitted under this solicitation.
- Eligible innovations may later enter a Pathway to Commercialization for up to three years.
- If selected for the commercialization pathway, the same innovation must be sold as in the initial testing contract.
- Participation in the commercialization pathway ends eligibility for additional testing under this stream.
Contacts
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies Program
What is the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies?
This program supports late-stage pre-commercial prototypes for operational testing in Canada’s defence and security context, with a military component of CAD 2.3 million. Eligible innovations include autonomy, quantum, sensing, communication, and cooperation solutions that can be tested in real-life settings.
How much funding can be received?
Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies Funds up to $2,300,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was February 11, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies program?
To be eligible for the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies program, you must:
Canadian offeror with a place of business in Canada.
Pre-commercial prototype ready for operational testing.
At least 80% Canadian content.
What expenses are eligible under Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies?
Testing and evaluation of late-stage pre-commercial prototypes in real operational environments.
Development and testing of autonomy solutions for navigation, perception, communication, and cooperation.
Development and testing of quantum sensing and quantum communication technologies.
Who can I contact for more information about the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies?
You can contact Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) by email at TPSGC.PASICVoletessai-APISCTestingStream.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
Where is the Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies available?
The Innovative Solutions Canada - Continental Defense and Security Technologies program is available across Canada.