defence

National defence, industrial capacity and innovation policy are increasingly connected. New federal commitments aim to capitalize on an investment in defence to build a stronger R&D ecosystem, drive domestic production and create opportunities to grow exports while supporting Canadian jobs. The opportunity is significant, but so is the challenge – Canada must overcome weak business innovation, lagging productivity and a persistent gap between discovery research strengths and lagging real-world adoption.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations include:

• Organize defence research under the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science around a clear pathway from operational need to validated capability
• Mobilize federal research funding by enabling equality of access for polytechnics and universities
• Ensure the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s (NRC IRAP) Defence Industry Assist includes a structured defence-readiness and onboarding pathway for small- and medium-sized businesses

Canada is entering a period that will be defined by its ability to deliver on national priorities. Significant federal investments in housing, infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and defence set an ambitious course for the country’s future. The challenge will be to activate capacity in every corner of Canada to ensure investments translate into tangible outcomes.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations include:

• Invest $100 million per year to support Applied AI Research Grants
• Implement a $10 million per year research security framework for polytechnics and colleges
• Mobilize post-secondary capacity to meet national defence needs
• Establish a Train Canada Strong Pass for rapid skills development
• Eliminate apprentice waitlists by scaling capacity at Canada’s largest trainers