The federal government is injecting $900 million into the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to jumpstart a drone innovation hub and launch a defence-focused stream under its Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).
Industry minister Mélanie Joly and defence minister David McGuinty announced the commitment, which is part of the recently unveiled $6.6-billion Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), while surrounded by drones, planes, and helicopters inside the NRC Research Center at Ottawa’s airport.
Alongside the Department of National Defence (DND) and industry partners, the NRC is committing $500 million of this funding to aerospace and autonomous technologies. One part of this is the creation of the Drone Innovation Hub, which aims to grow domestic capacity in drone and aerospace technologies.
The government said the hub will enhance drone and counter-drone development and testing capabilities, as well as provide a path for industry to qualify new technologies for drones. NRC will also use the aerospace funding to acquire a new Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to be used for defence-related technology development with industry and academia.
Meanwhile, NRC IRAP’s DI Assist stream will provide $241 million in “funding and advice” to what the government called high-potential, innovative Canadian small-to-medium enterprises.
Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the DIS last month. The $6.6-billion strategy aims to ensure Canadian industry reaps the rewards of the nearly $82 billion that the feds plan to pour into defence over the next five years.
Among other priorities, the DIS indicates Canada will focus on buying Canadian, investing in areas where the country has existing strength or potential to lead (like in AI and quantum), and helping scale some of the country’s small and medium-sized defence businesses into “national champions.”
Feature image courtesy Alex Riehl for BetaKit.
The post Ottawa gives NRC $900 million for drone innovation hub and defence-focused IRAP stream first appeared on BetaKit.
