Fredericton-based augmented reality startup Kognitiv Spark is one of 13 companies selected for this year’s cohort of Amazon’s European Defence Accelerator.

Kognitiv Spark is the only Canadian company to make the cut and one of only three from North America. The four-week European Defence Accelerator is run by Amazon Web Services, the e-commerce giant’s cloud computing arm, in collaboration with Plexal — a government-backed startup support outfit in the United Kingdom.

RemoteSpark 2.0, as Kognitiv dubs its software, uses augmented reality and mixed reality to help remote workers use complicated equipment. If a worker needs instructions or to perform repairs, a supervisor in a main office can guide their activities.

“The startups (chosen for the Defence Accelerator) offer solutions to help the European Defence industry enhance its energy resilience, secure information sharing, sensing and decision making, quantum, and cyber resilience for mission-critical needs for land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains,” said Amazon in a statement. “Applications were invited from startups around the globe who are interested in doing business with defence and national security organizations across Europe.”

As part of the cohort, Kognitiv Spark will receive access to Amazon’s cloud computing services and training, mentorship from defence and national security experts, and guidance in business development, going to market and raising capital.

Founded in 2016 by current CTO Ryan Groom, a cybersecurity specialist, and COO Duncan McSporran, a former British Army officer, Kognitiv in February launched a sweeping revision of RemoteSpark, moving it from the 1.0 to 2.0 designation to reflect what the company described as a more robust ability to digitally model real-world objects.