Innovating to defend our national security and sovereignty

Research in labs funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation produces the advanced technologies that will help us meet our rapidly evolving defence needs.

Canada’s national security depends on the leading-edge technologies that will rearm our military, fortify our defence capacity and strengthen our Arctic sovereignty. From advancing surveillance drones to rebuilding submarines with additive manufacturing to gathering the intel that keeps us one step ahead of cybersecurity threats, Canadian research is helping to protect our land, sea, air and cyber domains in an increasingly divided world. 

Strength in numbers*

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$33M
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CFI investment in capital costs for infrastructure used to advance research in defence-related fields   

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150+ 
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Number of researchers per year who used CFI-funded infrastructure to advance their research in defence-related fields  

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400 
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Number of students and postdocs per year conducting defence-related research using CFI-funded infrastructure  

*Since 2014–15  

3D-printed parts for Canadian submarines

A Dalhousie University researcher is partnering with the Department of National Defence to keep our submarines operational through the additive manufacturing of replacement parts.
We’re not just printing parts. We’re building the scientific and industrial foundation that will allow Canada to support its naval platforms independently and more cost-effectively.
Paul Bishop, materials engineer and researcher, Dalhousie University

Explore how research is addressing Canadian priorities

Return to “Strategic investments, national impact” to discover more ways research projects supported by the CFI are producing world-leading innovations in key industrial sectors that are important to Canada.