Today, the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS), is launching a Call for Proposals (CFP) to provide up to $50 million in non-repayable contributions over two years to support the establishment of new Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISHs). This CFP is focused on advancing mission-focused research in quantum technologies and uncrewed systems (UxS) - two critical technology areas that will support the development of Canada's sovereign capabilities identified in Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy and that are shaping the future of defence and national security.
Canada has strong research and innovation capabilities for quantum technologies spanning sensing, communications, computing, and cryptography. Transitioning quantum technologies from laboratory demonstrations to defence and security applications requires secure facilities, close engagement with end users, and opportunities for rapid integration and testing. Quantum DISHs will enable innovators to advance defence-relevant quantum applications within trusted environments equipped with specialized infrastructure.
UxS innovation spans platforms, sensors, communications, autonomy software, and enabling systems. While many UxS technologies demonstrate promise at early stages, advancing them into defence and security contexts requires overcoming challenges like electronic warfare, limited endurance, interoperability, regulatory compliance, and validation against operational concepts. Defence and security stakeholders are also looking to bolster Canadian counter-UxS capabilities to protect Canadian forces, assets and facilities from rapidly growing threats. The goal is to establish a DISH where innovators have access to defence end users, controlled testing environments, and opportunities to integrate their technologies into broader systems-of-systems. The DISH will also provide opportunities to test how uncrewed and autonomous systems perform when integrated and deployed in contested and degraded environments.
BOREALIS is seeking to establish DISHs that will accelerate the transition of cutting-edge Canadian research into operational capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces, helping move innovations from lab to field faster. DISHs provide secure, mission-oriented environments where government, industry, academia, and not-for-profit organizations can collaborate to address a persistent challenge in defence innovation: translating promising research and early-stage technologies into capabilities that can be tested, integrated, and advanced within secure, defence-relevant environments. Through access to trusted environments, infrastructure, and sustained engagement with defence stakeholders and defence end users, these hubs will provide secure, defence-relevant environments for testing, validation, and integration directly with end users, ensuring operational relevance from day one.
