How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 2300000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Continental Defense and Security Technologies?

Continental Defense and Security Technologies is funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

What are Continental Defense and Security Technologies's eligibility criterias?

The Offeror must meet the definition of a Canadian Offeror, having a place of business in Canada operational on a permanent basis. At least 80% of the financial proposal costs must consist of Canadian goods or services. The Offeror must be the owner or licensee of the Intellectual Property for the proposed innovation.

Continental Defense and Security Technologies

Last Update: March 27, 2025

Canada

Seek innovative prototypes for real-life government testing

Continental Defense and Security Technologies at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $2,300,000

Timeline

Open Date : January 21, 2025
Closing date : February 11, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Public administration

Grant Providers

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Status

Closed

Overview of the Continental Defense and Security Technologies program

The Continental Defense and Security Technologies grant, sponsored by Defence Research and Development Canada, provides up to $2,300,000 CAD in funding for the procurement, testing, and evaluation of innovative pre-commercial prototypes. The program is designed to enhance operational capabilities by supporting advancements in autonomy and quantum technologies.

Financing terms and conditions

Funding is provided through a contract mechanism.
The program comprises two components: Standard and Military, with the Military Component offering a funding package of up to $2,300,000 CAD.
Financial aid is specifically aimed at testing and evaluating pre-commercial innovative prototypes within operational environments.
The funding is conditional on meeting specific outcomes related to navigation, perception, and cooperation technologies in defense and security, as well as quantum technologies.
The program supports the development of conditionally qualified innovations for potential future acquisition by Canadian government organizations.
Financial contributions are limited to prototypes that adhere to the program's pre-commercial criteria and have not been previously commercialized or funded under similar government initiatives.

Eligible projects & activities

Development and testing of autonomous technologies for enhanced navigation, communication, perception, and cooperation in various environments including space, aerial, ground, underground, and underwater.
Testing and evaluation of pan-domain robotics with solutions enabling high precision navigation and operation in GNSS denied, jammed, or complex environments.
Integration of sensory data to create accurate environmental representations, including through the use of 4K video streaming over long distances for real-time operational support.
Advancement and testing of quantum-enabled technologies such as quantum sensors, quantum radar, and quantum lidar systems for applications in defense, public safety, and environmental management.
Development of quantum communication technologies with potential applications in defense, telecommunications, aviation, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
Solutions for human-robot team operations to enhance cooperation and communication robustly across multiple domains.

Eligibility criteria of the Continental Defense and Security Technologies program

The applicant must meet the definition of a Canadian Offeror, being a Canadian person or entity with a permanent place of business in Canada that is identified by name and accessible during normal working hours.
At least 80% of the financial proposal costs must consist of Canadian goods or services.
The applicant must own the intellectual property (IP) for the proposed innovation or possess a licence from a Canadian licensor, ensuring no infringement of any IP rights.
The proposed innovation must not be commercially available or sold on a commercial basis as of the date of submission.
The proposed innovation or any version of it must not have been previously awarded a contract in the Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) or its predecessor, the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP), or in the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) Testing Stream.
The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed innovation is aligned with the mandate of the ISC Testing Stream, being ready to test in an operational environment at the time of offering.
50% or more of the applicant's full-time equivalent employees must have Canada as their ordinary place of work, and over half of the annual wages and fees should be paid to those working primarily in Canada.
50% or more of the applicant's senior executives must have Canada as their principal residence.

Who is eligible?

Canadian companies engaged in the development of pre-commercial innovative prototypes.
Businesses focused on defense and security technologies, particularly in the fields of autonomy and quantum technologies.
Companies that meet the Canadian Content and Ownership criteria, demonstrating a significant Canadian presence.
Entities that have not previously received a contract under similar innovation programs like BCIP or CICP and meet the Pre-Commercial Status requirement.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies or entities conducting activities on a permanent basis in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the Continental Defense and Security Technologies program

Innovation: The proposed innovation must align with ISC definitions and show significant improvement or novelty. (Pass/Fail)
Operational Readiness Validation: Demonstrate that the innovation is ready for testing, at least at TRL 7. (Pass/Fail)
Risk Considerations: Assurance of safe deployment and risk mitigation strategies. (Pass/Fail)
Scope – Outcomes: The proposed innovation must address one or more selected Outcomes and Problem Statements. (Pass/Fail)
Advance on State of the Art: Innovation must improve upon or define new market spaces compared to existing state of the art. (2-40 points)
Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy: Suitable strategy for IP protection and commercialization. (0-12 points)
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Benefits: Implementation of policies to achieve diversity and equity. (0-12 points)
Commercialization Strategy: Credibility and adequacy of the commercialization strategy. (0-32 points)

How to apply to the Continental Defense and Security Technologies program

Review of the solicitation documents

Consult the available solicitation documents for the call for tenders.
Ensure that you understand the eligibility criteria and technical requirements.

Preparation of the proposal

Develop your project proposal by describing how it addresses the problem statements and expected outcomes.
Gather the required documentation, including proof of intellectual property and the pre-commercial status of the prototype.

Registration and submission

Log in or create an account on the BuyCanada portal.
Upload all required documents and complete the online submission form.
Perform a final check to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided.
Officially submit your proposal before the deadline of February 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM (Eastern Time).

Confirmation of receipt

Wait for the electronic acknowledgment of your submission.
Keep the acknowledgment for your future records.

Additional information

The program includes both a Standard Component and a Military Component, with specific funding allocated for the Military Component.
There is a dedicated email address for questions regarding the call for proposals: TPSGC.PASICVoletessai-APISCTestingStream.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
The innovations selected will be tested and evaluated in real-life settings to meet specific needs identified by the Government of Canada.
The call for proposals includes specific outcome requirements that innovations must meet to qualify for consideration.
The funding mechanism is via a contract, distinct from grants or loans.
Applicants must ensure that innovations are not commercially available and have not been previously sold on a commercial basis.
Detailed evaluation criteria and scoring details are available for assessing the innovations on various parameters like innovation level, operational readiness, IP strategy, and EDI benefits.
The deadline for submission is February 11, 2025, at 14:00 Eastern Time.
Specific instructions and documents must be reviewed carefully before submitting a proposal.
The program provides a Pathway to Commercialization for eligible Canadian SMEs after initial testing, offering an opportunity to sell innovations directly to the Government of Canada post-validation.