IDEaS Marketplace brings the defence innovation community together

November 10, 2023 - Defence Stories

IDEaS Marketplace provides innovators with an opportunity to network, create partnerships, and display their unique solutions.

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) 's Marketplace is not your average technology showcase, it's so much more! Innovators whose solutions were funded by the program have the opportunity to interact directly with military personnel, select members of the defence industry, and other government departments to further advance their technologies. Innovators are given the opportunity to host a booth on the exhibition floor, pitch their technology directly to potential investors and explore additional partnership opportunities.

The most recent Marketplace event was held on June 2, 2023 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Innovative technologies developed through the 2^nd and 3^rd Call for Proposals (CFP) and COVID-19 CFP were highlighted. The work of academia-led research clusters who received funding through the IDEaS Innovation Networks element and focused on autonomous systems and advanced materials were also showcased.

The keynote address by RAdm Jeffery "Buck" Zwick, Chief of Combat Systems Integration, Vice Chief of Defence Staff, RAdm Zwick, spoke to the importance of being able to perform, execute and deploy using emerging technologies. He also highlighted the value in finding and shaping concepts and technology that fit the Canadian Armed Forces' needs.

"For us, a key component of operational success is through achieving decision advantage over our adversaries by having the best information possible, at the right time and the right place, to enable commanders at all levels to make the best informed decision possible. Our office will help position the Canadian Armed Forces to best meet this future capability requirement. And programs like IDEaS are a critical piece to meet these future capabilities.

RAdm Jeffery Zwick, Chief of Combat Systems Integration, Vice Chief of Defence Staff

Dr. Jaspinder Komal, Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Research and Development Canada also spoke about the prominence and growth of Marketplace as an event, as well as the successes of the IDEaS program as an innovation accelerator. Specifically, he highlighted that 20 prospective innovators are ready to "Test Drive" their technology for the Defence Team as a result of years of effort, funding, and expertise provided through the IDEaS program.

Marketplace continues to be successful in providing innovators with client interaction to enable meaningful connections across both government and private industry. Next year’s Marketplace will look to foster new connections, collaboration and partnerships!

Marketplace 2024 is scheduled on Friday, May 31^st, in Ottawa, Ontario. Participation in this event is FREE and by invitation only. Recipients of IDEaS funding from selected Calls for proposals will be invited to present and be offered a booth presence.

For more information, and a short video of the event, visit the IDEaS Marketplace page.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Marketplace team: IDEASMarketplace-IDEESMarche@forces.gc.ca.