As global security pressures mount, Canada is moving decisively to strengthen its defence capabilities—not only through increased spending, but by investing at home. With the country now meeting NATO’s 2% of GDP benchmark and committing to reach 5% by 2035, the focus is shifting toward building a resilient, sovereign defence industrial base across the country.
In Edmonton, that strategy is taking tangible shape.
On March 27, 2026, the Government of Canada announced more than $6.1 million in funding through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), aimed at accelerating Alberta’s role in Canada’s defence ecosystem. Delivered through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the investment targets innovation, supply chain resilience, and workforce development—key pillars in ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces have reliable access to the technologies and capabilities they depend on.
“Strength abroad requires strength at home. By investing in Alberta-made technologies, industrial capacity, and supply chains, we are helping build the capabilities that support the women and men who keep Canadians safe while building good jobs, supporting technological innovation, and strengthening our economy here at home,” explained the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan).
Scaling Capability Across Space, Academia, and Communities
The funding is directed toward three Edmonton-based initiatives, each addressing a different layer of Canada’s defence capability—from space-based intelligence to research commercialization and inclusive economic participation.
At the forefront of advanced sensing, Wyvern is enhancing its satellite-based technologies to improve ship identification and maritime monitoring. With five hyperspectral imaging satellites already in orbit, the company is strengthening its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities—enabling faster, more precise data delivery for defence applications. PrairiesCan is contributing $2,993,348 in repayable funding to support this work.
“This investment from PrairiesCan strengthens our ability to deliver operational space-based intelligence for Canada’s defence community. With 5 hyperspectral imaging satellites already on orbit, Wyvern is advancing ship identification and maritime monitoring capabilities that strengthen Canada’s domestic defence supply chain and give defence users a new layer of insight — built right here in Edmonton,” said Christopher Robson, CEO & Co-Founder, Wyvern.
At the University of Alberta, the investment is helping to establish the Dual-use Ecosystem for Future Engineering, National Defence and Sovereignty (DEFENDS)—a secure commercialization and integration centre designed to bridge research and real-world application. The $3 million initiative will provide Prairie-based businesses with the infrastructure to design, test, and qualify technologies for both defence and dual-use markets, reinforcing military readiness while positioning Canadian innovation globally.
“DEFENDS reflects the University of Alberta’s commitment to translating research into real-world impact for Canada’s security and economic future. This investment will help build a stronger, more resilient defence ecosystem in the Prairies, and position Canadian innovation on the global stage,” stated Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-chancellor, University of Alberta.
Meanwhile, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) is advancing a different—but equally critical—dimension of the defence supply chain: inclusion. Through a $149,850 investment, Cando will deliver a pilot Indigenous Defence Supply Chain Program aimed at equipping Indigenous communities and businesses with the skills and training needed to participate in defence procurement.
“In co-operation with and investment from PrairiesCan, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) is developing and delivering the Indigenous Defence Supply Chain Pilot Program to empower Indigenous communities, businesses, and support organizations with skills and training needed to participate in Canada’s national Defence and Security supply chain. Defence procurement provides a tremendous opportunity for Indigenous communities and businesses to diversity revenue streams and expand their markets – but only if they are prepared to seize this opportunity. Cando’s Pilot Program will prepare and support Indigenous suppliers to fully participate in this opportunity in order to create more stable local economies through job preservation, job growth and income stability,” expressed Raymond Wanuch, Executive Director, Cando.
From Investment to Industrial Strategy
Together, these initiatives reflect a broader shift in how Canada is approaching defence: not just as procurement, but as an integrated industrial strategy. The RDII funding aligns directly with the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which emphasizes domestic production, supply chain resilience, and reduced reliance on foreign technologies.
In Alberta—and across the Prairies—this approach is translating into concrete outcomes: expanded production capacity, stronger regional innovation ecosystems, and new pathways for participation in a growing defence and security supply chain.
As Canada continues to scale its defence investments, the message is clear: building capability abroad begins with building strength at home.
