The federal government has committed $29.4 million to Canada’s first Maritime Defence Innovation Secure Hub (DISH), which will be developed at COVE in Dartmouth.
The federal government has announced it will spend $29.4 million to establish the hub that will be focused on resilience and collaboration with the Canadian innovation ecosystem and like-minded partners.
“Today’s investment connects the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces with the next generation of Canadian innovators," said Defence Minister David McGuinty in a statement. "We need to set up our industry for success – and we cannot do that if our armed forces and businesses are unable share critical information. As Canada rebuilds, rearms and reinvests in our armed forces, we will build a strong industry to support our workers and communities across the country”
This is the first in a national network of secure, purpose-built spaces, where Canadian researchers and scientists and their partners can co-develop, test, and validate emerging technologies requiring classified handling, said the press release.
The Department of National Defence has signed collaboration agreements with COVE and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The work is being undertaken under BOREALIS – the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science – which is charged with fast-tracking innovation for Canada's defence and security.
It’s intended that a network of hubs will focus on areas of defence research and development essential to a resilient Canadian innovation industry and include quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, autonomous systems, Arctic research, space, and—in Atlantic Canada—ocean technology.
The Maritime DISH will unite defence and security partners, including industry, academia, naval and joint operators, and federal departments and agencies, to develop, test, and transition new maritime technologies.
- Areas of focus will include:
- undersea domain awareness;
- uncrewed and autonomous systems;
- advanced sensing and surveillance technologies;
- And AI-enabled maritime analytics.
Canada is navigating a rapidly changing global environment where shifting power dynamics and advances in technology are affecting the foundations of Canadian security and prosperity, the government said.
