Description
Canadian Defence and SMEs: Capturing a Growing Market Without Being a Military Company
Wednesday, February 25 | 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Town of Mount Royal City Hall, Schofield Room
In-person event | Presentation in French | Limited seating
Canada is accelerating the development of its industrial defence strategy. Concretely, this is opening doors for SMEs that have never worked in defence — particularly those developing products, components, software or technologies with dual civil and defence applications.
This conference provides a clear overview of the current landscape and a practical path forward: how to position yourself, where to start, and which pitfalls to avoid.
Who should attend?
Manufacturing SMEs (components, materials, equipment, furniture, electronics, mechatronics, etc.)
Technology and innovation-driven SMEs (software, AI, sensors, cybersecurity, data, telecommunications, etc.)
Companies with civilian offerings evaluating whether defence could become a realistic opportunity
Ecosystem stakeholders (financial institutions, advisors, development organizations, innovation centres)
Why attend?
Because defence is no longer a closed market. It is increasingly open to civilian-driven solutions — but the rules of the game are different.
You will leave with:
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A clear update on the evolution of Canada’s industrial defence strategy
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Insight into emerging opportunities: why they matter and how procurement works
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A framework to quickly assess whether your offering is “defence-compatible”
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A list of common pitfalls that cost SMEs 6 to 18 months (compliance, security, procurement cycles, documentation, positioning)
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Practical benchmarks to structure a realistic, phased entry plan aligned with your capabilities
What you will learn
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Why the defence market is increasingly interested in Civil & Defence solutions
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How an SME can position itself progressively without reinventing itself overnight
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Where to start: first steps, best practices, and commercial posture
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What to avoid: common compliance mistakes, security gaps, product overpromising, and unrealistic timelines
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How to transform a civilian offering into a credible proposal for a demanding ecosystem
Canada is currently developing its first-ever industrial defence strategy. Several investments, programs, and strategic directions are already being implemented, creating new opportunities for Canadian SMEs — particularly those developing products or technologies with dual civil and defence applications.
This conference offers a clear and accessible update on the current context, the rationale behind the strategy, and most importantly, what it concretely means for SMEs that do not come from the military sector.
Through an action-oriented discussion led by an experienced speaker, you will learn how to approach this market methodically: positioning, first steps, operational realism, and key success factors.
Agenda (7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.)
7:30 – 8:00 a.m.: Registration and arrival
8:00 – 8:10 a.m.: Opening remarks and context
8:10 – 9:10 a.m.: Conference / structured discussion: opportunities, SME trajectory, pitfalls to avoid
9:10 – 9:25 a.m.: Audience Q&A
9:25 – 9:30 a.m.: Conclusion and next steps