Seen & Heard: Defence Innovator Exchange in Toronto

Canada has the builders Canada needs for a stronger defence economy. The gap is turning dual-use innovation into real capability at home, at the pace the moment demands.

On February 5, the Council of Canadian Innovators hosted a special Defence Innovator Exchange in Toronto, supported and moderated by RBCx. The session brought together over 100 leaders from Canada’s dual-use and defence tech ecosystem alongside government officials to talk candidly about emerging opportunities, procurement barriers, and what it will take to strengthen Canada’s defence innovation pipeline.

Here’s what we heard from the leaders in the room:

Patrick Searle, CEO of the Council of Canadian Innovators, opened the Exchange with a clear message:

“Canada’s prosperity and security depend on backing Canadian innovators. When government works with domestic companies that build for both civilian and defence markets, Canada keeps critical capability at home and builds a stronger, more sovereign economy. Tonight, this room is full of the brightest minds who can deliver that future.”

Procurement Speed and the Path to First Purchase

Ian L. Paterson, CEO of Plurilock, opened the panel by naming the core constraint holding dual-use companies back in Canada: slow procurement feedback cycles and an unclear route from interest to contract.

“Too often, the feedback cycle is measured in years. That reality forces companies to prove themselves elsewhere first, even when the problem set is Canadian and the solution is Canadian. You can build the technology. The harder part is navigating the process to earn trust and move from interest to a real contract.”

From Collaboration to Capability

Rutha Astravas, Director of R&D External Partnerships and Engagement at DRDC, focused on making sure R&D partnerships lead to deployment, not just discussion.

"Partnership is not the end state. The goal is capability. That means aligning research collaboration with pathways to testing, validation, and procurement. For Innovators to be ready to work with government, it is important to understand the dual use context. Register for the Controlled Goods Program, understand industrial security and cybersecurity requirements, be part of Public Services and Procurement Canada Buy & Sell standing offers lists, take note of Indigenous procurement, and among other requirements. Many things are changing in how we work and decisions need to move faster. We need mechanisms that let companies go from pilots to outcomes without losing momentum.”

A Defence Innovation System That Companies Can Actually Use

Matthew Lombardi, Founder of The Icebreaker, spoke to the need for a more deliberate, networked approach that helps firms connect, qualify, and scale inside Canada’s defence ecosystem.

“Canada has the companies. What we do not have is a system that helps them connect, qualify, and scale, instead of forcing each firm to reinvent the process on its own. Consistent engagement between builders and buyers is how you build trust, shorten learning cycles, and move faster. The strategy will matter most if it creates practical routes that companies can actually use, not another layer to navigate.”

The discussion returned to a shared theme: Canada can build and buy more capability at home, but only if procurement pathways are clearer, timelines are shorter, and trust-building steps are made navigable for companies that are ready to deliver.

This Exchange was made possible thanks to the commitment of our partners. Special thanks to RBCx for supporting a direct conversation with innovators.

Sign up for CCI’s newsletter to receive more updates on our advocacy work and future policy conversations on Canada’s economic and national security.

‍

About the Council of Canadian Innovators

‍The Council of Canadian Innovators represents more than 175 of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies. Founded in 2015, CCI advocates for policies that help Canadian innovators scale globally, create prosperity at home, and strengthen Canada’s economic sovereignty.