Competitive Projects

Take your technology to new heights. Advance it along the innovation pipeline.

Up to $6.75 million in phased development funding to propel technology forward. Innovative solutions from Technology Readiness Level  (TRL) 1 to 9 can be funded through a Competitive Projects challenge. Solutions can enter the continuum at any funding component based on their TRL.

What do we offer?

Component 1a (Up to 6 months, up to $250,000)

Component 1a provides innovators the opportunity to "conceive" their solution, explain how their solution will address the specific challenge, and validate that "conception" is possible, over a maximum period of six months. If an innovator's solution is at TRL 1 to 3, - their proposal will be considered for Component 1a funding. Component 1a helps to establish the innovativeness and impact of a solution and its ability to address a specific defence and security challenge. Innovators have up to six months to refine and advance their product and have the opportunity to communicate their successes through their milestone reports. As added incentive, projects that show promise may be considered for additional phases of funding.

Component 1b (Up to 12 months, up to $1.5 million)

Component 1b will allow innovators to begin to “design” their concepts. If an innovator’s solution is at TRL 4 or 5, their proposal will be considered for Component 1b. Innovators will have up to a full year to advance their solution and address the specific challenge. If the solution has advanced significantly, innovators may be invited to showcase their solutions to the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Component 2 (Up to $5 million)

Component 2 furthers science and technology (S&T) efforts to help the progression of an innovator’s solution up to a potential of TRL 9. If an innovator’s solution is at TRL 6 to 9, their proposal will be considered for Component 2. During this Component, innovators will be ready to “build” a prototype of their concept and test it in controlled environments. Innovators may also be asked to provide a demonstration of the solution to the DND/CAF.

What happens next?

Game-changing solutions will be awarded funding. These solutions will be assessed throughout their funding period, as well as at the end of each component. Depending on their component, some solutions will be considered for further component funding or funding through other program elements within the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Innovation (IDEaS) program. This could include participation in a research network (Innovation networks element), demonstration (Sandboxes element), or solution testing (Test Drives element). All solutions would be assessed separately and would be considered for these funding elements based on the criteria established by the individual element and challenge. In addition, IDEaS may showcase solutions that show merit to the larger defence and security community to continue their progression outside of the IDEaS program through our Marketplace event.

Who can apply?

Whether you are an individual, academia, not-for-profit organization, provincial, territorial or municipal government organization, or industry, you are welcome to apply. Federal and provincial crown corporations are not eligible for funding.

Innovators need to consult the call for proposals document for more specific information.