Program of Work updates

Funding mechanisms keep pace with the needs of innovators

When IDEaS first launched, the structure of the program was designed with a variety of funding mechanisms. Contests, Sandboxes, Test Drives, Competitive Projects, and Innovation Networks all have unique benefits. As projects move along the innovation continuum and projects take different directions, new funding needs began to emerge.

With a structure under Competitive Projects that breeds competition, the first funding given to innovators is a way to get many good ideas in the door. Deemed “1a” funding, the initial $200,000 is a discovery phase that allows innovators to showcase their solutions and for DND/CAF to assess projects for their potential. Innovators are given six months to push their concepts to new Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

The next phase of funding, “1b”, is the mechanism used to further advance technology through the IDEaS continuum where $1M in funding is given to promising technologies that could meet the needs of DND/CAF. Innovators have a year to push their technology forward.

As projects advanced through the process, it was apparent that while some held promise, additional development funding could advance them to a higher readiness level which could lead to a testing opportunity or help mature the solution towards commercialization. IDEaS can now leverage an additional funding mechanism called “Component 2” to help get projects with operational interest ready for testing by filling the gap between prototype and product. Component 2 will help get more promising solutions to a test-ready state.

What is Component 2?

Following two initial funding stages through the Competitive Projects element (1a and 1b), DND/CAF challenge sponsors and stakeholders have the option to further invest in advancing the development of a solution. The goal is to increase the TRL of projects that continue to respond to the intent of the challenge. This investment is facilitated through a directed R&D contract through IDEaS. The longer-term outcome Component 2 funding can be used to move a solution toward a Test Drive opportunity or to solely support further S&T development.

How it works

Once a project moves into Component 2, innovators get direct access to integrator(s) and the L1 stakeholder(s) who will act as the technical authority during the contract period.

Along with regular updates to DND/CAF, innovators may also perform a solution demonstration during the contract period in a real or simulated environment at the innovator’s expense (also known as a “vector check”). IDEaS may accept deliverables offered beyond the standard milestone reports (.e.g., prototypes).

What are the requirements for a project to move into Component 2?

• Projects which have successfully advanced through IDEaS Competitive Projects components to be considered for Component 2.
• Component 2 funding must be requested by the L1 sponsor(s)/stakeholder(s).
• Only projects at a TRL of 6 or lower will be considered for Component 2.
• Innovators will be able to further refine and realign efforts to effectively address the challenge as their solution advances.

Competitive Projects: Fifth call for proposals launched

Competitive Projects launched six new challenges in 2021-2022.

Test Drives: Two pathways to test solution-ready technology

The Test Drives element is the final stage in the solutions development continuum.

The technologies that are selected for a Test Drive have been developed within the IDEaS continuum, reaching a stage where realistic testing by DND/CAF is considered worthwhile.

However, not all solutions will emerge through the IDEaS continuum; some are available in the market already that may fit the needs of DND/CAF for specific challenges. That’s why, in addition to direct Test Drives, the Test Drive element launched its first open call Test Drive for green heating innovations in 2020.

The distinction between an open call Test Drive and a direct Test Drive is simple. With an open call Test Drive, an open call for proposals will be issued for a specific Test Drive challenge to allow multiple proposals to be submitted. The contracts signed by successful applicants will outline the purchase, lease, rent, loan, or other arrangement with the innovator to acquire their technology in a limited quantity for controlled testing based on a DND/CAF test plan. The contract will also reference any requisite training, repair, maintenance, and other support services.

In some cases, solutions that have successfully concluded their development under another component of the IDEaS program (i.e. Competitive Projects) and reaches the appropriate TRL level may be invited to submit a proposal for evaluation for a direct Test Drive. This approved process allows for successful and innovative solutions to progress through IDEaS, without the challenge being republished and without a repeat of an open call for proposals.

There are no commitments from DND/CAF to enter into full scale procurement of the solution following a Test Drive. However, these projects inform future procurement decisions.

Open call Test Drive: seeking low carbon energy generation for heating existing buildings

To help lower carbon emissions across the DND/CAF real property portfolio, DND/CAF launched the Green Heat: Low carbon energy generation for heating existing buildings challenge. IDEaS is seeking a large-scale, low carbon energy generation/transfer system for heating existing buildings by integrating with their current hydronic heat distribution systems. The Green Heat Test Drive will help the Government of Canada meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 90% below 2005 levels by 2050.

A two-stage procurement process was used to narrow down respondents to those with the best chance of success. Several months of collaboration between DRDC test pilot leaders, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) staff, Defence Construction Canada (DCC) procurement experts, and scientists from Natural Resources Canada culminated in a detailed statement of work and request for advance procurement (RFAP).

Eleven respondents replied to the initial RFAP. The remaining four were then evaluated to select those who would be asked to submit a full technical bid.

Two proponents were chosen to submit a full bid. Of those two, a proposal by Black & McDonald stood out due to an innovative new combined application of technologies that appeared achievable within the budget test pilot constraints. Black & McDonald were then awarded $477,000 to create a plan on how to best implement their technology to an existing building at CFB Kingston, with implementation to follow.

The project entered the design stage in 2022, which is the second of five stages:

• Long description

  Concept development > Design > Construction > Operational > Final reporting

Direct Test Drive: Test driving AI and machine learning to improve geospatial awareness

IDEaS provided an additional $5.8M to Toronto-based company Ecopia to test their mapping solution in a real-world environment. Ecopia was the second project from IDEaS’ first call for proposals to advance to a Test Drive. CAF/DND will “Test Drive” their technology to detect, recognize, identify, and track objects of interest using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This ground-breaking technology outputs information from 2D and 3D maps and extracts it 10 times faster, while maintaining a data quality that is fit-for-purpose. Below is a breakdown of how their technology progressed during each stage of funding.

1a funding ($200K):

During the first stage of funding, Ecopia’s proposed solution aimed to create large-scale static maps in near real time. Their solution is based on a combination of a proprietary machine learning algorithm and a distributed expert annotation. The two components evolved in an iterative manner to deliver vector maps by training, prediction, post-editing, and retraining the algorithm. The proposed solution extended the number of features to be detected and classified from 2 features (buildings and roads) to 11 including both natural features (water bodies, swimming pools, bare land, grass, and forests) and physical features (pavement, parking lots, driveways, sport fields). The solution was tested on various terrains, geographies, and imagery types with impressive and accurate results.

1b funding ($1M):

Additional funding was given to develop timely detection and classification of objects and persons of interest. This is a critical functionality to ensure speed, accuracy, confidence, assurance, and precision of impact as part of an operation’s decision-action cycle. Ecopia’s solution addressed this critical gap by affording DND/CAF with the ability to detect, recognize, and identify persons or objects of interest in a physical environment. During 1b funding, Ecopia worked to finalize and test its solution to detect and identify objects of interest such as airplanes, cars, and trucks in aerial images.

Test Drive:

The final stage of funding will evaluate the suitability and utility of Ecopia’s machine learning mapping technology by senior imagery and geospatial analysts. The innovation will be installed at DND/CAF facilities to train AI base models on DND imagery sources and investigate the potential for integration with other systems. The Test Drive will be conducted until October 2023, at a total cost of $7.8M.

Sandboxes: Calls for promising technologies in corrosion detection and uncrewed aerial systems

Two sandboxes launched calls to help explore solutions currently in development for challenges faced by DND/CAF.

Originally postponed due to COVID-19, the call for applications for the Corrosion Detection In Ships (CDIS) Sandbox re-launched in November 2021. The program received 19 applications and a total of 12 companies were selected and invited to attend CDIS in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from April 25 to May 20, 2022.

On January 27, 2022, IDEaS also launched a call for a new showcase of promising uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The second such sandbox to focus on UAS threats, Rise, detect, defeat: Counter uncrewed aerial systems, to take place from September 12 to October 7, 2022, in Suffield, Alberta.

COVID-19 challenges: IDEaS funds 15 projects to aid in pandemic response

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IDEaS program launched four challenges as part of the pan-governmental response to COVID-19. Ranging in topic from moral trauma to sanitization to using big data to track the virus, IDEaS selected 48 projects to receive $200K in funding. As the threat of the pandemic remains ever present, the IDEaS program continues to support state-of-the-art solutions in the fight against COVID-19 and future pandemic responses. Of these original 48 projects, 12 projects have now received an additional $1M in funding to pursue their research. There were also three directed contributions to companies with promising technologies:

Custom Biologics

• SARS-CoV-2 Point of Care Test Development - This project is to develop and qualify a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
• Total funding: $1,776,553

Diagnostics Biochem

• SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kits - Development of immunoassay kits that can measure all three classes of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies simultaneously or individually.
• Total funding: $1,014,000

Oncovir Canada Inc.

• Clinical Study of Safety and Immunogenicity of Nasal Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) for Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Healthy Adults - The goal of this project is to advance the clinical development of Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®), a broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate, as an innovative solution to strengthen medical preparedness against viral threats. 
• Total funding: $2,099,792

Innovation Networks

5G research underway

In November 2021, IDEaS invited Canadian innovators to submit a letter of intent for the development of research clusters (called micro-nets) under the newest Innovation Networks challenge: Faster, stronger, more secure: Advancing 5G capabilities and concepts for defence and security. Eight proposals were selected for contribution funding of up to $1.5M for up to 3 years.

Autonomous Systems and Advanced Materials progress

IDEaS’ first two Innovation Networks challenges, Autonomous systems for defence and security: Trust and barriers to adoption and Advanced materials for defence & security: Seeking innovation in detection avoidance and physical protection, held their first annual Innovation Symposium in April 2021. Each micro-net updated on progress on the research they are undertaking, sharing knowledge and building their networks. The 2021 Innovation Networks Annual Symposium was a free virtual event. All members of the defence and security community, including stakeholders in defence innovation, were encouraged to attend.

The annual events are a unique opportunity for micro-nets to present their research to the defence community, the academic community, and other like-minded stakeholders. The goal of the events is to encourage collaboration between participants, share knowledge, create relationships, and to promote the development of larger Innovation Networks in these fields.

Contests

Canada collaborates internationally in NATO Innovation Hub pitch event on cognitive warfare

IDEaS and the CANSOFCOM, on behalf of Canada, was given the honour of hosting the fall 2021 NATO Innovation Challenge. The theme of this pitch-style event was “Understanding and protecting the cognitive domain”.

The event was hosted virtually by Canada on behalf of NATO. Innovators presented their solutions to NATO member countries and other interested stakeholders. Cash prizes, as well as international exposure, were awarded to the top three solutions. There was also a special recognition for the top “Made in Canada” solution. Beam Me Up, a Montreal augmented intelligence firm, took home the prize for the top Canadian entry.

Pop up city: final round

The Pop up city: Integrating energy, water, and waste management systems for deployed camps Contest continues to push for new technologies to reduce DND/CAF’s global environmental footprint.

The Contest consists of four competitive rounds designed to encourage the development of integrated and scalable energy, water, and waste management systems for relocatable temporary camps. Each previous round brought innovators closer to the goal of a more efficient design, with the final round showcasing the three best solutions. In 2021-2022, innovators continued to build their solutions with IDEaS contributions.

The finale of the Contest will be completed in the summer of 2023.