MINERVA Initiative innovation challenges

Innovation challenges are a core component of the MINERVA Initiative. They give industry, researchers and innovators the opportunity to develop, test and mature uncrewed-system technologies that meet Canadian Army operational requirements. Through direct collaboration with operational users, participating organizations shape emerging technologies around real-world needs — while gaining access to realistic testing environments, user feedback and follow-on opportunities across Canada's defence innovation ecosystem.

Current and Upcoming Challenges

MINERVA delivers its challenges through two established Government of Canada programs that support innovation at different stages. Select a challenge for full requirements and details.

Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)

Open for proposals

• Arctic Uncrewed Air System
• Uncrewed Ground System for Surveillance and Reconnaissance
• Intelligence Air Surveillance and Reconnaissance 
• Uncrewed Air System for Cargo-Munition Drop 
• Uncrewed Ground System for Tactical Cargo Movement 

Upcoming

• Uncrewed Aircraft System Deconfliction — solutions that enable safe planning, coordination and management of increasingly complex uncrewed aircraft operations.

Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)

In progress

• Drone Surge: Scaling tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems manufacturing for modern defence
• True North Precision: Low-cost drones with laser ranging

Upcoming

• Breacher — ground systems to support breaching tasks.

New to working with the federal government?

A defence background is not required to take part in the challenges. Organizations new to federal programs can draw on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Defence Concierge Service — a single point of contact that helps businesses navigate federal programs, services and opportunities, and directs them to the right pathway.

Benefits for industry

Participating organizations may have the opportunity to:

• Test technologies in representative operational environments
• Receive direct feedback from Army users
• Reduce technical and operational risk through early validation
• Refine technologies through iterative development
• Explore follow-on defence innovation opportunities
• Build partnerships across Canada's defence innovation ecosystem

Benefits for the Canadian Army

Participation supports the Army's ability to:

• Access emerging technologies
• Accelerate capability development
• Evaluate operational effectiveness
• Inform future procurement decisions
• Strengthen domestic industrial capacity
• Advance long-term modernization objectives

How to participate in the MINERVA Initiative

Organizations interested in participating should review active challenge opportunities through ISC and IDEaS and contact the MINERVA team for further information.

Email: MINERVA.Initiative@forces.gc.ca