MINERVA Initiative innovation challenges
The innovation challenges are a core component of the MINERVA Initiative and serve as a mechanism to encourage innovative uncrewed system solutions in support of Canadian Army (CA). Through these challenges, the Initiative offers multiple pathways that enable industry to develop, test and mature technologies within a controlled and representative operational environment.
The challenges are open to Canadian and NATO organizations of all sizes based in Canada. These challenges require proposals for collaborating on the presented issues and problems which address those capability gaps. The end result is to give soldiers the tools to allow them to see farther, move smarter, and operate more safely and effectively in complex environments.
The primary objective is to establish meaningful and enduring partnerships between industry—responsible for developing innovative products or processes— and the CA, as the end-user of these innovative products or processes. This collaboration ensures that proposed solutions are operationally relevant, aligned with Army requirements, and capable of transitioning from concept to scaled capability. Ultimately, this approach enables the submission and maturation of high‑quality, operationally informed proposals.
By granting access to MINERVA innovative pathways, infrastructure, equipment, and subject-matter expertise, the Initiative seeks to lower barriers to experimentation and accelerate the transition from promising ideas to field‑tested solutions. The innovation challenges enable high‑potential projects to be executed in realistic conditions, supporting evidence‑based decision‑making and capability development.
Benefits for companies
Organizations that participate in the challenges may benefit from the opportunity to:
- Test, measure, and assess the performance, effectiveness, and utility of their technologies or processes in realistic operational environments
- Leverage the operational experience, expertise, and feedback of CA soldiers and the MINERVA Initiative team
- Increase visibility of their organization, projects, and outcomes through association with the MINERVA Initiative
- Reduce technical risk through early validation and iterative development
- Explore additional collaboration and follow‑on opportunities across defence innovation pathways
Benefits for the Canadian Army
- Encourage the advancement of Canadian innovative solutions in the field of unmanned systems
- Benefit from a wide range of system addressing the challenges and issues identified by the Initiative
- Field-test high potential projects by moving them from “idea to action and procurement”
- Mitigate technological or financial risks associated with the use of these solutions
Innovation Pathways
The challenges are enabled through collaboration with established defence innovation programs, including:
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Challenges currently in the design phase
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)
Upcoming challenge:
- True North Precision (planned for launch later in the spring)
In progress:
Additional innovation challenges are under development.
How to participate in the MINERVA Initiative
Organizations conducting research or developing uncrewed systems capabilities relevant to the MINERVA Initiative can contact the team for more information.