Canada has launched a new defense innovation initiative centered on sovereign C5ISRT capabilities to strengthen Arctic sovereignty and respond to evolving global security threats. Implemented through Calian VENTURES, this strategic move aims to modernize cyber defense, intelligence, and targeting systems to scale national security capacity.
Defense Industry Base and SME Collaboration
The new model, aimed at increasing Canada’s operational readiness and long-term resilience, offers a multi-source funding structure to accelerate technology development processes nationwide. Led by Calian, this initiative will strengthen the defense industrial base through capital investments, joint intellectual property development with domestic SMEs, contributions from regional investment agencies, and federal programs.
“Sea-to-Sea” Technology with a National Laboratory Network
As part of the initiative, a national network of regional development laboratories will be established to accelerate testing and validation processes for defense technologies. Structured to cover all of Canada’s maritime borders, these laboratories will bring together the Canadian Armed Forces, NATO, government, academia, and industry partners to carry innovative solutions from the concept stage directly to operational capability.
C5ISRT: Multi-Domain Combat Architecture
At the center of modern defense strategies, C5ISRT (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting) integrates cyber security and targeting elements as core operational functions, unlike traditional approaches. This architecture provides full sensor-to-effect integration across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains, enabling faster decision-making mechanisms.
Calian CEO Patrick Houston emphasized that Canada’s security environment requires sustainable investment and long-term commitment, highlighting that this initiative is part of the responsibility to protect Canadian sovereignty and build a domestic defense industrial base.
Source: C4Defence / Calian VENTURES
