CCI Response to Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) welcomes the release of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy as an important signal of intent to deepen Canada’s capability to defend itself and grow our domestic defence capacity. At a time of growing geopolitical risk, the strategy signals an important recognition of CCI’s foundational viewpoint: Canada must rebuild the domestic industrial and technological capacity needed to defend itself and support its allies. The opportunity now is execution.

“The strategy identifies the right instruments: investment, financing, Industrial and Technological Benefits reform, and more details about the Defence Investment Agency,” said Dana O’Born, Chief Strategy Officer at CCI. “We look forward to supporting the government on designing the forcing functions that turn policy into contracts. Without binding requirements, transparent milestones, and real accountability, the risk is that the strategy remains aspirational rather than operational.”

The strategy will require an execution plan for IP protection and domestic anchoring as defence spending increases, including accountable owners, time-bound deliverables, and specific mechanisms. Absent clear authority that ties capital allocation to Canadian ownership and control of IP for any technology developed and deployed, these investments will export strategic value and erode Canada’s long-term economic and security advantage.

“Our allies are moving quickly to mobilize their industrial bases,” said O’Born. “Canadian companies are ready to serve. This strategy evokes confidence, but procurement certainty through the DIA should immediately be empowered with real decision-making authority and tip-of-the-spear purchasing power. That includes reducing the bottlenecks created by fragmented approvals and giving the agency a clear mandate to move at the speed of operational need.”

The next phase must quickly surface an execution plan for capacity-building: owners, timelines, and accountability. We also need a deliberate plan for standards and IP—because that is where defence technologies become locked in and where value chains are won or lost. That means protecting Canadian-controlled IP created with public dollars, structuring procurement to anchor domestic value capture, and ensuring Canada has a permanent, effective presence in global standards-setting where market access and strategic advantage are increasingly determined.

CCI has identified more than 400 Canadian dual-use technology companies with the capabilities to support Canada’s defence and security priorities. We will continue to advocate for policies that ensure increased defence spending strengthens domestic industrial capacity, anchors strategic technologies in Canada, and builds the sovereign capabilities required for the decades ahead.

CCI will continue to work with the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada to ensure Canadian innovators are front and centre as this strategy is rolled out.

‍

Media Contact‍

Michel LeClair
Communications Coordinator
mleclair@canadianinnovators.org