A new strategy to anchor the Ottawa-Gatineau Region as Canada’s Defence Innovation Hub

The Ottawa-Gatineau Region is taking bold steps to position itself as Canada’s Defence Innovation Hub, mobilizing government, industry and academia to strengthen national security and grow the local economy.

At an event today at City Hall, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, hosted defence experts and leaders from industry, academia, government and the investment community to unveil a comprehensive strategy aimed at affirming the National Capital Region as Canada’s centre for defence innovation.

The strategy, created in collaboration between the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, leverages the region’s unparalleled defence assets, talent, and technology expertise to support Canada's sovereignty and the federal government’s $150 billion defence spending commitment by 2035. The strategy aims to build on the area’s existing strengths and support new homegrown defence and security capabilities, expand global market opportunities, attract investment, and create local jobs.

Ottawa-Gatineau is uniquely positioned as a region that straddles the border between Canada’s two largest provinces. As a bilingual community, the region is ideally positioned to serve international markets, including the 327 million global members of La Francophonie. And as Canada’s capital region, the area is home to 330 defence companies, 10,000 highly skilled employees, four North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Test Centres including Area X.O and NRC, the Department of National Defence and related agencies, as well as more than 130 embassies and foreign missions.

The strategy identifies ten bold goals and supporting actions designed to unlock Ottawa–Gatineau’s full potential as Canada’s National Defence Innovation Hub. Building on hundreds of consultations across the defence ecosystem, they aim to drive new investment, innovation, and impact, from pursuing and securing more regional defence deals to creating more sovereign companies, IP, infrastructure, and capabilities. They also focus on accelerating innovation, commercialization, global trade and export, investment, and inclusive talent pipelines. Together, these actions will mobilize the full strength of the Capital Region’s defence, technology, and research assets, advancing AI, quantum, cybersecurity, semiconductors, photonics, and dual-use innovation that serve national and allied priorities. It is a practical, actionable plan to turn collaboration into results, building resilience, creating jobs, and driving economic and security impact for our region, country and Forces.

At today’s event, speakers highlighted that the strategy comes at a pivotal time due to heightened geopolitical tensions and Canada’s commitment to spend $150 billion more on defence by 2035 to maintain its standing in the NATO.

The strategy positions Ottawa-Gatineau as a hub for innovation, investment and jobs, reinforcing its role as a critical player in Canada’s defence and security landscape. A task force will implement the strategy, continue work with stakeholders, and drive growth in the local defence sector. Led by Invest Ottawa, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, City of Gatineau, Ottawa Board of Trade, and other key industry partners, the task force will unite leaders across the defence, aerospace and security sectors.

For more information on Ottawa’s Defence Innovation Hub strategy, visit dihub.ca.

Quotes

“This is a critical and timely opportunity to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty, grow our economy, and create good jobs here in Ottawa. Our region is home to an unmatched concentration of defence and security expertise, talent, and innovation. Ottawa plays a vital role in our country’s strength and resilience. A strong, thriving national capital is a national asset, and it deserves national investment. We’re ready to rise to this opportunity and work with all our partners, including the federal government, to make this vision a reality.”

Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa

“Gatineau is proud to play an active role with the City of Ottawa in establishing Canada’s Capital Region as the National Defence Innovation Hub. Through our talent, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships, we are building a resilient and collaborative ecosystem and by leveraging our local strengths and regional partnerships, we are helping Canada enhance its ability to anticipate, innovate, and protect.”

Isabelle Veilleux, Director of Economic Development, City of Gatineau

“In this time of global uncertainty, we have a responsibility to act, and an unprecedented opportunity to achieve unprecedented impact. This is a once-in-a-generation moment to harness our region’s world-class strengths in technology, research, and industry to serve our country, our Forces, and our Allies. By working together as one community, we can build the sovereign capabilities, jobs, and innovation that will strengthen Canada’s economy, security, and global leadership for decades to come.”

Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa, Bayview Yards and Area X.O

“This strategy further supports the creation of a compound semiconductor fabrication facility in Ottawa that would transform our economy, strengthen our sovereignty, and expand Canada’s role in global defence and technology supply chains. With major defence contracts and partnerships already in place, Ranovus is proud to contribute to this collective effort. We are committed to leveraging our world-leading photonics and semiconductor innovation to help Canada’s Capital Region and our country compete, collaborate, and lead on the global stage.”

 Hamid Arabzadeh, Co-Founder and CEO, Ranovus Inc

“The actions outlined in this strategy represent a critical step toward helping homegrown defence startups like TACTIQL scale, succeed, and deliver new capabilities that enhance mission readiness, accelerate innovation, and create lasting economic value. By accelerating collaboration, investment, and procurement pathways, we can turn innovation into real operational advantage. This is how Canada builds and sustains sovereign strength in an increasingly complex world.”

Mike Nelson, Founder and CEO, TACTIQL

Key facts

The Ottawa region already counts the following assets, among others:

• The highest concentration of tech talent in North America at 12 per cent, ahead of Silicon Valley
• More than 1,800 high-tech companies, employing 96,500 skilled workers
• More than 330 defence, aerospace and security companies, employing more than 10,000 skilled workers
• Area X.O, a Research and Development complex with the only drone and advanced robotics testing and training centre of its kind in Canada
• Headquarters for Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Communications Security Establishment and Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• More than 65 federal research laboratories and four NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) test centres, including Area X.O, and three labs of the National Research Council Canada
• A multicultural diplomatic and innovation gateway to our NATO, NORAD and Five Eyes allies, with 130 embassies and more than two dozen NATO attachés