Canada’s federal government is ready to invest $1.6 billion dollars over the next two decades to develop solutions to its defence issues.
The federal government has listed 16 specific defence and security challenges that it hopes it can address with the initial funds. Such issues include the treatment of mental health issues among servicemen and servicewomen, ways to increase the recruitment of female soldiers, and the monitoring of Canada’s waterways.
“Every one of us has an interest in helping us maintain our military’s standing as a force that is agile, flexible and responsive, a military that can and will keep us safe in an increasingly complex environment,” said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in a symposium earlier this week. “The Canadian Armed Forces must constantly adapt to changing and evolving threats. To do that, we need to enlist the ideas and enthusiasm of Canada’s best and brightest minds.”
Notably, the government is also looking to invest in the research and development of defences against cyberattacks and other emerging threats.
This is not the first time the government has considered addressing its defence concerns; Liberals had announced the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program in last year’s defence policy. However, program partners (which include universities, industry and think tanks) are only now being allowed to apply for the $313 million in funding, which would be distributed over the next three years.
The government is also looking for outside help in specific security spaces, such as surveillance, cyber tools for defence, space, unmanned drones and data analytics.
“Innovation, technology and research are critical to Canada’s security and safety,” Sajjan remarked. “They help us mitigate threats, stay ahead of our enemies and meet evolving security challenges around the world.”
Radio Canada International reported that interested parties have six weeks until May 24, 2018 to submit their proposed solutions.
