NGen announces $79.5M to support 20 new AI projects in Canada – including InDro Robotics

NGen announces $79.5M to support 20 new AI projects in Canada – including InDro Robotics

Mar 31, 2026 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, NGen, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

New funding, totalling $79.5M, will help 20 Canadian companies – including InDro Robotics – advance their AI capabilities in order to be more globally competitive.

The money includes $50.3M in direct investment from industry partners and $29.2M in Federal funding from the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy – an initiative within the department of Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The announcement was made March 31, 2026 at Next Generation Manufacturing Canada‘s (NGen’s) N3 Summit in Toronto, a gathering featuring some of the country’s leaders in robotics, AI, automation, defence, quantum and more.

“This is not another year; 2026 is what the Prime Minister calls a hinge moment,” said Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation (and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), as he announced the funding.

“We are seeing the biggest realignment in history since the Second World War….at the same time there is a technological revolution. We need to seize this opportunity, or as the Prime Minister says: ‘If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu’…The strategy is led by our North Star, our foundational principle, which is AI for all,” he told those in attendance.

The funding will benefit 20 projects which, says the news release accompanying the announcement, “bring together manufacturers, technology firms, and researchers to solve production-level problems – from improving safety, quality control and output – while enhancing the commercialization of Canadian artificial intelligence.”

“These projects are about turning Canadian AI into Canadian productivity — keeping machines running longer, reducing waste, and preventing costly shutdowns,” said Jayson Myers, CEO of NGen. “Manufacturers are under intense pressure to control costs, build resilient supply chains, and compete globally. By putting Canadian AI directly onto factory floors, we’re helping manufacturers do that now, not years from now.”

It’s all part of the push toward Industry 4.0 and – in multiple sectors and use-cases – greater global economic opportunities for cutting-edge Canadian technology companies.

Above: Federal Minister Evan Solomon at the NGen N3 Summit. Below: The InDro Cortex – an AI brain-box that allows for teleoperation, advanced autonomy, and the seamless integration of ROS-2 compatible sensors on ground robots, humanoids, quadrupeds and drones. It’s also a popular platform for advanced R&D work. Second image: Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales at the N3 show

InDro Cortex Robot Developer Kit for Autonomous Robots and Drones
Luke Corbeth at the N3 Conference in Toronto

THE MONEY

 

Ottawa is adding $29.2M, and Minister Solomon – a former entrepreneur – made it clear that he and the Federal Government are fully committed to assisting Canadian companies in the AI space…and to retain that talent and capacity within Canada. 

“It is time to stop the pattern where Canadians plant the seed, we water it, we grow the plant, and someone else harvests it and takes away our headquarters, our IP and our best minds. That is coming to a stop,” he said to spontaneous applause.

“This is the age of the entrepreneur. The moment when the distance between idea and execution has never been shorter,” he said.

While NGen coordinated the projects and played a key role in securing the industry funding, it is not a government department or agency. Next Generation Manufacturing Canada is, according to the news release, “an independent, industry-led organization responsible for selecting, managing, and supporting projects that address real manufacturing challenges and deliver commercial results.”
 
 
 

THE FOCUS

 

The twenty projects selected focus on real-world industrial challenges, with the overall goal to boost commercial made-in-Canada AI solutions and boost the sector’s global competitiveness. The projects will support manufacturers across a broad swath of sectors, including defence and security technology, automotive, food production, life sciences, home building and advanced materials.

Specifically, according to the release, those challenges include:

  • AI-powered quality inspection and traceability systems
  • Smarter and more flexible robotics for manufacturing and construction
  • Digital twins to speed up production in life sciences
  • AI-enabled equipment that can adapt in real time to changing conditions
  • Advanced 3D inspection and automated testing tools

We don’t have the space to highlight all twenty projects, but we do want to give you a sense of the breadth of them. Martinrea Automotive Inc., along with partners Polyalgorithm Machine Learning (Poly ML), will be working on a Machine Health Monitoring System. It’s described as “AI that listens to machines before they fail, cutting downtime, reducing waste, and keeping Canadian automotive supply chains running strong.”

Electrophotonic-IC Inc., along with partner Dream Photonics will pursue AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing for the next generation of data centres, with the goal of “strengthening Canada’s position in advanced semiconductor technologies.”
 
And yes, InDro Robotics, along with partners the LFL Group (which owns leading furniture and appliance retailer Leon’s) and Owen and Company Holdings Inc. will be working on “AI-enabled perception that allows robots to understand the real world, pushing Canadian robotics toward smarter, more flexible manufacturing automation.” 
 
“NGen’s mission is to build world-leading manufacturing capabilities in Canada and take it to the world,” said Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair of advanced manufacturer Linamar. “NGen has been an enormously successful initiative. Today it’s such a powerful network, with more than 13,000 member companies across this country, including 10,000 Small and Medium Enterprises representing nearly 200,000 employees – and NGen is actively connecting them.”

Below: Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair of Linamar, who on the N3 main stage early at the show. She’s followed by Jayson Myers, NGen CEO

Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair, Linamar
Jayson Myers, NGen CEO

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The NGen announcement is yet another important and strategic move to bolster made-in-Canada innovations and prepare them for the global market. It’s also Federal recognition, via the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, of the role AI will play across a multitude of sectors going forward.

“InDro is pleased to be working with Owen and Company Holdings Inc. and LFL Group on this ambitious project,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re also proud to be amongst the twenty projects named and in the company of other innovative Canadian firms pushing the envelope on AI-enabled projects. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the team at NGen.”

Interested in future NGen funding programs? Keep an eye on their website.

InDro’s VR humanoid draws crowds at MWC26

InDro’s VR humanoid draws crowds at MWC26

Mar 5, 2026 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

InDro is proud to be displaying, alongside Ericsson, at the huge Mobile World Congress (MWC26) in Barcelona. It’s a massive show, highlighting connectivity and the near-endless variety of solutions that rely on it: Everything from industrial robots and other Industry 4.0 innovations through to AI-powered smart glasses and the myriad of other devices that can help enhance life at home.

We’re alongside Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions – which is demonstrating the power of its Ericsson Private 5G network, or EP5G. It’s the solution for the growing number of companies and sectors that need their own secure, high-bandwidth and ultra low-latency networks to enhance data processing, speed and efficiency. Problem is, you can’t actually *see* what a private 5G network looks like. InDro is on the scene to provide, in a tangible way, a look at what such networks enable.

In this case, we have a humanoid that can be remotely operated over 5G or WiFi using a high-resolution headset and hand controllers. It’s being operated at the show by InDro Forge Hardware Engineering Manager Joel Koscielski. It’s a perfect solution for situations where you might not want to put a person at risk.

“Connected through EP5G, the system essentially allows a highly trained technician to physically embody the robot and perform a series of actions. It’s really been a crowd pleaser so far, and we think it’s a critical stepping stone,” says InDro Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth, who’s also on the scene.

Ericsson also invited Canadian company Cypher Robotics. InDro has incubated Cypher and assisted with the development of its breakthrough Captis system for autonomous cycle counting and inventory management. Rather than explain it all here, check out Luke’s post from the floor of WMC26:

WAIT A MINUTE

 

While our VR tele-operated humanoid is certainly very cool, you might ask yourself: ‘Hang on. That looks cumbersome. Why not just send in a fully autonomous robot to do those difficult jobs?”

Good question. But there’s a gap between perception and reality when it comes to humanoids and their capabilities. Before a robot of any kind can be deployed for a truly autonomous task, it needs to be programmed and trained. This involves machine vision, machine learning, simulation – and much more. But the actions Joel is taking in the video above could actually be used to train that humanoid for a specific task. Here’s Luke once again:

“Imagine you have your most highly trained technician performing a task. The system can collect visual and motion and haptic data, which we can then put into a reinforcement learning algorithm via simulation and then deploy that skill or policy,” he says. In other words, what Joel is doing could be used to teach that robot to one day carry out those functions entirely on its own. 

“Everyone sees humanoids through sci-fi and other mediums and expects them to be autonomous. And while that is the end goal here, we’re showing what we think is a critical, critical piece in that whole puzzle.”

The InDro demo has been drawing huge crowds throughout the show – and those in attendance fully understand the significance of what we’re showing, along with how EP5G is a critical enabler in settings where security and speed count.

Below: The Ericsson/InDro/Cypher Robotics display grabs attention at WMC26, followed by the Cypher Robotics Captis system.

 
 
 
WMC26 humanoid
WMC26 Captis

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We love big shows, and take pleasure not only in showcasing our own innovations, but seeing all the amazing things that others from around the world are working on. WMC26 is a huge show, and we’re still processing everything we’ve seen – and will likely be exploring other innovative technologies which caught our attention that might push InDro’s offerings even further along that cutting edge. 

“We’re pleased with the feedback we’ve received on our VR humanoid project,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re grateful to Ericsson for once again choosing InDro – as well as Cypher Robotics – to help potential clients visualise the incredible power of private 5G networks and the kinds of solutions they enable.”

Luke is planning a full video of his trip – including many of the cool things he saw at the show, as well as a glimpse of Barcelona. Keep an eye out for that on LinkedIn!

InDro Robotics named in new CENGN Cohort

InDro Robotics named in new CENGN Cohort

Mar 5, 2026 | CENGN, InDro News, Industry News, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Some very exciting news for nine Canadian technology SMEs was announced last week – and InDro Robotics is one of them. CENGN, Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks, revealed the first cohort of its Living Lab Initiative. All nine of these cohorts will share in funding totalling $6.5M, which includes $2.6M from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Strategic Response Fund (SRF). They will also have access to “Living Labs” – real-world cross-sector environments for testing and hardening innovations on the road to commercialisation.

InDro’s project – which we’ll get to shortly – will take place at Area X.O, which is powering the Smart Mobility and Smart Agriculture Living Lab, one of several Living Labs that play a critical role in this initiative. In fact, immense credit is due to Susanne Cork, Business Development Director, Smart Farm and Advanced Robotics with Area X.O and Invest Ottawa. Prior to CENGN even making a call for proposals, Susanne had the idea of bringing InDro together with an AI-focused partner on the agricultural side of things – envisioning that such as project could both be synergic and help highlight some of the many opportunities Area X.O offers as a high-tech development centre and real-world proving ground.

This is the first cohort in an ambitious, long-term project. CENGN plans to eventually assist 100 Canadian tech startups and scaleups via this initiative, which includes Living Labs in the areas of Smart Agriculture, Smart Mobility, Connected Robotics and 5G (with more to come with future cohorts).

The initiative has multiple goals, including:

  • Acceleration of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for innovations made by Canadian companies
  • Boosting GDP growth via new technologies, IP, sales and jobs for skilled workers
  • Sales growth and follow-on investments for domestic technology firms

“By offering access to advanced infrastructure, expert support, and real-world testing environments, the CENGN Living Lab Initiative drives technology adoption across key economic sectors. It plays a critical role in boosting Canadian industry competitiveness, fostering new Intellectual Property, and fueling the growth of the country’s most promising technology ventures,” states its news release announcing the cohort.

Above: Head of R&D Sales, Luke Corbeth, demonstrates an InDro-enhanced humanoid at GCXpo in September of 2025. Below: Detail of humanoid, which features the InDro Backpack, enabling remote teleoperation, autonomous missions, and the quick integration of additional sensors. The Backpack contains the InDro Cortex brainbox

Humanoid

INDRO’S PLANS

 

InDro Robotics specialises in innovative solutions that include custom UGVs, UAVs, autonomy software stacks – and much more. Over the past few years, we’ve also been working hard in the quadruped and humanoid space. We’ve gained a solid reputation by vastly enhancing the capabilities of existing platforms, often by integrating our proprietary InDro Cortex brainbox and our InDro Controller interface for mission planning, monitoring and data acquisition.

When CENGN issued its call for proposals, we suggested the Living Labs Initiative would be the perfect opportunity – and Area X.O the perfect locations – to test and further develop a humanoid for a specific agricultural task (we can’t reveal too many details yet). CENGN and Area X.O shared our vision of its possibilities.

“Partnering with CENGN enables InDro Robotics to validate our dexterous humanoid solution in a real-world agricultural environment, advancing our systems with a clear path toward commercial deployment,” says Philip Reece, Founder and CEO of InDro Robotics.

“Access to CENGN’s Living Labs, including high-performance 5G connectivity, allows us to test our teleoperation, autonomy, and data streaming under realistic conditions alongside our end user, significantly reducing technical risk and accelerating time to market.”

 

THE COHORT

 

Eight other Canadian technology companies are in this first cohort, and we’re proud to be in their company. They represent a broad cross-section of the tech sector, and we’d like to highlight and congratulate each and every one of them:

EcoSystem informatics Inc. specialises in AI-driven air quality monitoring for cities and municipalities, industrial clients, NGOs and more. “Carrying out a CENGN project will enable our organization to validate and scale real-time environmental intelligence within connected mobility infrastructure, including electric vehicles,” says company CEO/CTO Shirook Ali.

Strategic weed management firm GECO uses satellite imagery and AI to generate multi-seasonal weed maps. That data can then be used for precision agriculture – whether it’s for the pinpoint application of herbicide or strategic seeding. “Our CENGN project will enable Geco to significantly advance our weed detection capabilities by working with a network of researchers and commercial farms across Canada and internationally,” says Founder and CEO Greg Stewart (PhD).

GEOMATE helps advance Smart Mobility by utilising AI to transform geospatial imagery of cities into high-resolution maps and simulation environments for urban planners and the autonomous mobility sector. “Carrying out the CENGN project will accelerate industry adoption of GeoMate’s flagship product, RealSimE. The platform empowers cities for CAV readiness and enables scalable AD/ADAS testing and validation across new geographies,” says company Co-Founder and CEO Amin Gharebaghi.

Ever wonder how many people actually look at billboards, ads on benches, or any other branded media intended for consumers? Mobilytics uses sensors and proprietary software to capture accurate data, indoors or outdoors, on everything from digital screens to buses to shopping carts. “As our team moves into a global rollout phase, this project will verify our infrastructure can support hundreds of thousands of sensor deployments worldwide,” says Casey Binkley, Founder & CEO.

Below: The eight other cohort members, via the CENGN news release

 

Eco System Informatics

Geomate

Mobilytics

RealLife Robotics

Solana Networks

TreeTrack Intelligence

WeTraQ

Geco

WAIT, THERE’S MORE

 

Real Life Robotics is a robotics and automation company focussing on how companies – even cities – manage their robots and connected devices. Its flagship software product, PASSENGER, is a “hardware-agnostic orchestration platform that unifies fleets of robots, IoT systems, and automation technologies” into a single and simple dashboard. “Carrying out a CENGN project will allow our organization to accelerate the integration and testing of our PASSENGER platform within a world-class robotics environment,” says CEO Cameron Waite.

Solana Networks specialises in data network analysis. Specifically, it can provide deep insights into and analytics about high-volume network traffic with multiple proprietary software solutions. “Working with CENGN accelerates Solana Networks’ ability to validate the scalability and performance of TrafficWiz in carrier-grade 5G and wireline networks. TrafficWiz provides encrypted traffic visibility and supports AI-driven threat and anomaly detection at scale, giving stakeholders actionable insight into modern network traffic and infrastructure without requiring decryption,” says Nisan Rowhani, VP of Product Management.

Using AI-guided UAVs and proprietary “Seedpods,” TreeTrack Intelligence has bold plans to plant 100 million trees by 2028. Its solution is up to 10 times more successful than traditional tree-planting techniques, with a fraction of the carbon footprint. “Carrying out a CENGN project will enable TreeTrack to validate and scale an AI-powered UAV monitoring platform that automates seedling survival verification across entire reforestation sites,” says company CEO Amir Soliemani.

WeTraq offers multiple hardware and software solutions – including wearable devices – to monitor worker safety, seniors or those requiring care, and much more (it can even detect and alert users to an open parking space). “Carrying out a CENGN project will enable WeTraq to accelerate deployment of its patient mobility monitoring solution with hospitals, improving patient safety and supporting independence while giving care teams objective, real-time mobility insights,” says Founder/CEO Ishaan Singla.

Quotes above are credited to the CENGN news release.

 

AREA X.O

 

As core tenant of Area X.O since it began, InDro couldn’t be in a better location for this project.

Spanning more than 1,800 acres, the site integrates diverse, real-world environments to support advanced testing and validation. Within the Innovation Farm, dedicated agricultural infrastructure includes small-plot research areas and mid-sized production fields designed to support both biological and technology-driven innovations, including autonomous systems and AI-enabled solutions.

Complementing this, the Smart Mobility Living Lab features four purpose-built test zones that replicate live urban and suburban roadway conditions, complete with traffic signals, railway crossings, and a wide array of sensors, cameras, and IoT devices. All of this is enabled by Area X.O’s advanced communications backbone, providing a secure, connected environment for rigorous development, demonstration, and evaluation of next-generation technologies.

Below: Our recent Sound Byte micro-podcast on Area X.O, followed by an image of InDro Founder/CEO Philip Reece from the CENGN news release

InDro CENGN

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We are obviously thrilled to be in this first cohort, and look forward to the opportunity it affords us to develop a humanoid for agricultural use-cases. We’re also appreciative of the work done by the senior Area X.O team with CENGN and others for this to become a reality.

“We’d like to congratulate all the other cohort members, and thank CENGN and its Living Lab Initiative for recognising the significance of all of these projects,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “CENGN is incentivising the innovations of tomorrow right now – along with assistance from the Federal Government’s Strategic Response Fund. And there’s no better site for our work than the Living Lab provided by Area X.O.”

And yes, we’ll keep you posted on that humanoid when the time is right.

New Defence Industrial Strategy puts emphasis on Canadian tech sector

New Defence Industrial Strategy puts emphasis on Canadian tech sector

Feb 17, 2026 | Defence Industrial Strategy, InDro Cortex, Industry News

By Scott Simmie

 

Canada has released its long-awaited Defence Industrial Strategy. It’s a blueprint for defence and sovereignty in a rapidly-changing world – and has profound implications for Canada’s technology sector.

In a nutshell, the DIS will focus on “rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF),” says a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office. It includes a huge emphasis on developing new dual-purpose technologies, along with massive capital investment over the next decade.

“In total, the Defence Industrial Strategy is an investment of over half a trillion dollars in Canadian security, economic prosperity, and our sovereignty,” says the release.

Historically, Canada’s procurement process has been somewhat slow and burdened with red tape. It has also relied heavily on US suppliers. The Strategy will focus on developing made-in-Canada solutions, streamlining procurement, expanding partnerships with other allies, and be overseen by the Defence Investment Agency (DIA).

“The Defence Industrial Strategy strengthens Canada’s capacity to deliver critical capabilities to the Canadian Armed Forces with greater speed, certainty, and strategic coherence. It supports the Defence Investment Agency’s mandate by enabling more agile procurement and more secure, resilient supply chains,” said Doug Guzman, CEO of the DIA.

Above: Prime Minister Mark Carney announces Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy in Montreal on February 17, 2026. The DIS will emphasise the development of Canadian technology in areas like robotics, AI, cybersecurity and more. Below: The InDro Cortex, a dual-purpose, AI-enhanced brain for UGVs and UAVs.

Cortex Lite

CANADIAN SOLUTIONS

 

Over the next decade, the DIS will commit $180B in defence procurement and $290B in defence-related capital investment. Canada has traditionally spent some 75 per cent of its procurement budget with US-based suppliers, but the new DIS will see a far greater emphasis on domestic solutions and innovations, as well as partnership with other allies.

“By building, innovating, and manufacturing in Canada, we are ensuring our industries benefit directly from defence investments while supporting the modernisation of the Canadian Armed Forces. Our government is meeting the moment for Canadians by driving growth, creating jobs across the country, and ensuring Canadians benefit from a stronger, more resilient defence economy,” said The Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

The DIS has five pillars. They are:

  • Position Canada as a defence production leader
  • Reduce barriers between government and industry
  • Scale Canada’s defence/dual-use innovation – and export it to allies
  • Protect Canadian jobs, supply chains, and industries
  • Spearhead a coordinated national effort to strengthen Canada’s defence sector

You can find the news release and read in greater detail here.

 

INDUSTRY REACTION

 

Canada’s technology sector has been waiting for this announcement, since it was first flagged by Defence Minister David McGuinty at last September’s GCXpo event. While there are many Canadian firms solely dedicated to defence, there are many others (like InDro Robotics), which develop dual-purpose innovations – meaning they have applications both for civilian, industrial and defence applications. For those companies, the reduction of red tape and an increased flow of funding means significant opportunities.

Canada’s Dominion Dynamics, which is building a “a dual-use, persistent, Arctic sensing network designed to serve both military and civilian purposes,” issued a news release welcoming the announcement.

“In areas such as digital systems, autonomous platforms, sensors, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and secure sustainment, Canada has real strengths,” it states. “Choosing to build here first will strengthen strategic autonomy, create high-value jobs, and ensure that we retain control of critical IP and long-term capability. The Partner component is equally pragmatic. Canada cannot and should not attempt to do everything alone. Structured partnerships with trusted allies—where technology and intellectual property are genuinely co-developed—will make us stronger and more resilient.”

Below: Global News coverage of the DIS announcement

INDRO’S TAKE

 

InDro is no stranger to developing dual-purpose technologies that can be put to use for both commercial and defensive purposes. One of many ongoing projects is a partnership with Montreal-based CHAAC Technologies for the AI detection and elimination of a particularly pernicious air-dropped land mine. Our InDro Cortex is a next-gen brain box capable of transforming any ground or aerial platform – even military vehicles – into remotely tele-operated or autonomous devices, complete with AI and advanced Machine Vision capabilities.

“The new Defence Industrial Strategy is a bold and important step forward for Canada in an ever-shifting geopolitical world,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “And while this is welcome news for the technology sector in Canada, it is also – and more importantly – a strategic and smart move for Canada’s future defence and sovereignty capabilities.”

We anticipate there will be much more to tell you as the strategy is implemented. Stay tuned.

Beyond the Sci-Fi: Philip Reece Discusses Autonomous Defence on CTV News

Feb 2, 2026 | AI, Autonomy, Drones for good, In the media, In The Press, InDro Cortex, InDro News, Industry News

The term “killer robots” sounds like a Hollywood script, but as InDro Robotics Founder Philip Reece explained on a recent segment of CTV Your Morning, the technology is already a reality on the global stage.

Watch the Interview Below: (Note: Please scrub to the 1:15:00 mark to view Philip’s segment):

Key Highlights from the Interview:

  • Navigating the Battlefield: Philip discussed how modern drones are evolving to carry out missions even after their signal with a pilot is severed, acting more like guided missiles in their final moments.
  • The Shift to “Cobots”: It’s not just about weapons. Philip highlighted the “positives” of autonomy, such as “cobots” that work alongside soldiers to clear rooms or detect mines, keeping humans out of harm’s way.
  • Canadian Innovation: From robot dogs equipped with specialized sensor backpacks to fully autonomous medical evacuation vehicles, Canada is stepping up its defence innovation.

The Tech Behind the Talk While the interview focused on the battlefield, the underlying technology—edge computing and autonomous decision-making—is the core of what we do at InDro.

InDro Cortex, is the hardware realization of these concepts. It provides the massive compute power required for the drone swarms and autonomous navigation Philip described, but in a footprint small enough to fit on the back of a robot dog or inside a compact UGV.

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy: InDro’s View

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy: InDro’s View

Dec 8, 2025 | Defence, Defence Industrial Strategy, InDro News, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

In a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, Canada has announced a forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). The initiative was first revealed by Federal Defence Minister David McGuinty in September of 2025. Its goal is to boost Canada’s defence and sovereignty capabilities – while simultaneously providing a runway and budget for made-in-Canada dual-purpose technology solutions. The country will be devoting five per cent of its GDP by 2035 as part of its NATO commitment, and the DIS will determine how to most effectively spend that money.

“This is a $9.2 billion investment which will strengthen our forces…enhance our infrastructure and boost our operational readiness….Every defence dollar spent is intended to reinforce Canada’s sovereignty, advance our national security, and fuel home-grown innovation,” said The Minister during a keynote speech at GCXpo, an exhibition featuring Canada’s technology leaders, with a focus on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and startups.

The Minister made it crystal-clear these companies will be front and centre in the forthcoming DIS, with significant spending allocated to developing dual-purpose technologies that will assist in Canada’s overall defence and sovereignty strategies. Those includes ground robotics, autonomous systems, drones, AI, cyber-security – and much more. The details of the DIS are being worked on now, but Minister McGuinty made one thing perfectly clear:

“This is what I do know, and for sure: I know that at the heart of the strategy is you. The innovators, the investors, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, and the startups. You’re going to help us develop the dual-use technologies that are going to shape the future of defence and security,” he said.

All of this, of course, marks an inflection point in Canadian policy. And it spells unprecedented opportunities for Canadian technology and R&D firms to assist in developing technologies that will help safeguard Canada’s future.

Above: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: Photo by Lars Hagberg. Below: The Honourable David McGuinty, Federal Minister of Defence, announces plans for the new Defence Industrial Strategy during a speech at Area X.O during the GCXpo event

David McGuinty

INDRO’S STRATEGY SUBMISSION

 

As a leading R&D company, InDro Robotics – and countless other Canadian technology firms – have a stake in how Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy takes shape. We are intimately familiar with existing government incentives and procurement processes. We know what works – and are eager to see the Federal Government implement an accessible, thoughtful and accountable strategy. As a result, we thought it prudent to prepare a submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, which is conducting a study on how best to draft and implement the DIS.

Our submission recognises, as the Honourable David McGuinty pointed out, that Canadian SMEs must be at the core of this strategy. It we want truly sovereign defence capabilities we must look to domestic solutions, Canadian intellectual property, and strengthened Canadian supply chains.

A robust Defence Industrial Strategy, we argue, must allow Canadian SMEs to grow and scale. It should ultimately increase reliance on domestic innovation, while decreasing reliance on foreign contractors. We also suggest the DIS be structured in a manner where there’s a high degree of accountability, with measurable results and reviews to ensure objectives are being achieved and flexible enough that changes can be made over time to maximise its benefits.

“Without a strategy that provides predictable procurement pathways, supports SME scale-up, and invests in dual-use innovation, the government risks falling short of its objectives,” we write in our introduction.

“Canada’s allies already pair defence spending increases with targeted industrial strategies that bring emerging technologies rapidly into service and help domestic firms compete globally,” we continue. “The DIS is an opportunity to do the same: to build sovereign capability, strengthen supply chain resilience, retain intellectual property in Canada, and enable high-growth Canadian firms to scale into world leaders.”

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

In total, we make four recommendations.

The first is to prioritise SMEs as core contributors to the Strategy.

“The DIS should explicitly identify SMEs as central to Canada’s sovereign defence and security capacity, with procurement, innovation programs, and industrial-development tools calibrated to grow and sustain a resilient SME ecosystem,” we write. 

Our second suggestion is that clear pathways be established to allow SMEs to scale up. We call, specifically, for “structured pathways” for high-growth SMEs to grow, with the ultimate goal that these SMEs will, over time, become primes within their technology verticals.

Our third recommendation is that the eventual Defence Industrial Strategy set aside “targeted, accessible, and adequately resourced funding mechanisms that enable SMEs to invest in R&D, certification, security clearances, manufacturing capacity, and export readiness.”

And finally, we respectfully emphasise the importance of evaluation and accountability after the DIS is deployed to ensure maximum effectiveness and impact.

“The DIS should be subject to a mandatory biennial review, measuring progress against key performance indicators such as defence sector growth, SME participation rates, supply chain resilience, technology adoption, and contributions to Canada’s GDP. A joint report tabled in Parliament by the Ministers of Industry and National Defence would reinforce accountability and ensure the Strategy remains responsive, measurable, and execution focused.”

The quotes above are taken from our recommendations summary; we go into far greater detail on each of the four points. We see the eventual DIS as a critical blueprint not only for allowing dual-purpose innovations to flourish, but also as a key pillar in Canada’s defence and sovereignty in an increasingly uncertain world. We believe made-in-Canada solutions are imperative for this program to reach its long-term objectives.

Below: Our dual-purpose Cortex Lite brain box can be integrated onto any platform, enabling autonomous missions, remote teleoperation, seamless integration of any sensors – and much more. Platform-agnostic devices like these can be used in industrial, research, defence settings and more:

 

 

 

Cortex Lite

INDRO’S TAKE

 

These are, indeed, unprecedented times. Not only is the DIS on its way, but on December 1 Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada has been included as a partner in a European Union program known as SAFE – Security Action For Europe. Canada is the only country outside of the EU with preferential access to this $244B program.

“SAFE is a force multiplier for Canada,” said Minister McGuinty. “Our participation in SAFE unlocks unprecedented opportunities for Canadian manufacturers to build what our Allies need and what our Forces can rely on. This partnership accelerates our own rearmament while showcasing the world-class capabilities of Canadian workers, engineers, and innovators.”

And all of this coincides with a recent high-level Canadian technology Trade Mission to France, where InDro Robotics and nine other companies met with leading EU defence suppliers.

“We are in a very different world, and that world requires a broad range of new and innovative dual-purpose technologies,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “InDro Robotics, and the broader Canadian tech sector, are eager to offer existing and forthcoming innovations we believe will strengthen Canada’s defence and sovereignty, while also strengthening Canada’s economic base.”

We are hopeful the Committee working on the Defence Industrial Strategy takes a close look at our recommendations, which we believe are in the best interests of Canada. And we urge others in the sector to consider putting forward their own submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology in the hope the very industry the DIS will rely on can help shape this critical piece of policy.