A strong and innovative defence sector is vital to Canada's security, economic resilience and sovereignty. By investing in the development of made-in-Canada technologies, the Government of Canada is strengthening domestic supply chains, accelerating innovation, building capacity in critical sectors, and positioning small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to succeed in global markets.
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced that the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) has invested more than $135 million in defence and dual-use technologies since launching Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist). The initiative helps Canadian businesses understand the defence market and procurement processes, explore early-stage R&D ideas and refine, test or validate technologies that are closer to completion.
From cybersecurity and communications infrastructure, to maritime and underwater systems, aerospace, drones and space, Canadian SMEs are advancing the critical technologies that will strengthen our economic and national sovereignty. Since its launch in January 2026, DI Assist has helped 860 Canadian SMEs, enabled over 540 innovation projects and supported more than 2,300 jobs across Canada.
DI Assist supports innovation across all 10 key sovereign capabilities identified in Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). The investment and initiatives under the DIS are helping create 125,000 jobs, increase Canada's defence exports by 50%, and position Canada's defence economy at its strongest level in decades.
Through NRC IRAP expertise, networks, and targeted funding, DI Assist is helping Canadian companies bring strategic technologies to market, support high-quality jobs, strengthen Canada's industrial and innovation capacity, and contribute to Canada's defence and security objectives.
