As one of Canada's ten identified sovereign capability priorities under the DIS, uncrewed and autonomous systems are central to ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) can operate effectively and independently in a rapidly evolving threat environment. Through BOREALIS, the Government of Canada is accelerating innovation, strengthening Canada's defence industrial base, and helping deliver operational capabilities to the CAF.
Today, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced the launch of the Uncrewed Systems Defence Innovation Secure Hub (UxS DISH) under the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS) in Mirabel, Quebec.
An Espace Aéro-led consortium will receive $29.6 million over two years to establish and operate the UxS DISH. The consortium includes 30 organizations from industry, academia, and the not-for-profit sector. Through the hub, participants will collaborate to accelerate the transition of promising Canadian technologies from research and development into field-ready solutions that support Canada's defence and security priorities.
DISHs are secure, mission-oriented hubs established to enable collaboration between government, industry, and academia in support of Canada's defence and national security priorities. They are intended to address a persistent gap in the defence innovation ecosystem by helping innovators overcome barriers to engaging with defence organizations. DISHs provide trusted environments, infrastructure, and services that support the design, testing, validation, and transition of advanced technologies toward operational use.
Sponsored by the Canadian Joint Forces Command (CJFC), the UxS DISH will provide a secure environment where government, industry, academia, and innovators can collaborate to develop, test, validate and integrate emerging uncrewed and autonomous systems technologies into operational capabilities. CJFC was created to address gaps in how joint capabilities are generated, developed, managed, and sustained to facilitate a centralized approach to improve coherence, accountability, and innovation.
The consortium was selected through a competitive Call for Proposals held from February 18 to April 2, 2026. The UxS DISH builds on the success of the Maritime DISH pilot and represents another important step in the implementation of BOREALIS and Canada's broader effort to strengthen sovereign innovation capabilities through collaboration among government, industry, and academia.
