Regional Defence Investment Initiative helps businesses grow, innovate and scale up for global defence opportunities
In a fast-changing and uncertain world, the Government of Canada is investing in industries that strengthen the economy and support national security. In Atlantic Canada, these investments are helping grow the aerospace and defence sector, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and strengthening a key driver of the region's economy.
Today, David Myles, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Nature) and Member of Parliament for Fredericton-Oromocto, announced a federal investment through ACOA's Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) to support Vimy Forge Corp., as it launches a new innovation accelerator program for Canadian defence-sector small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) ($997,000). The announcement was made on behalf of Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The goal of this accelerator program is to contribute toward a more integrated, resilient, and future-ready national defence innovation framework. The first cohort of early-stage companies will benefit from hands-on mentorship and targeted training, as well as opportunities to engage with industry leaders, government partners, and potential customers. Through the program Vimy Forge aims to accelerate early-stage Canadian firms, build sovereign capability in critical technology domains, and generate measurable outcomes in adoption, scale, and export readiness.
The program has attracted interest from companies across Canada to participate in its inaugural cohort. The ten companies selected represent a diverse range of defence related technologies and capabilities. They include two companies from New Brunswick - Seafarer AI (Saint John) and Vartis Space (Fredericton); four from Ontario - Engineering Design Lab and Wuxly (Toronto), Tehama (Ottawa), and Xubin Aerospace (Oakville); two from British Columbia - Prodigy Intelligence (Surrey) and Cellula Robotics (Burnaby); and two from Quebec - 123 Cyber and Bloomsco (Montreal).
Through the RDII, the Government of Canada is supporting businesses as they build capacity, strengthen supply chains, and advance marine, aerospace, and defence technologies, including dual use solutions that serve both civilian and defence markets, contributing to good-paying jobs and long-term economic growth.
