Alberta is investing $21 million in a University of Alberta-led program focused on developing and testing technology for national defence, aiming to carve out a larger role for the province in Canada's growing defence sector.
Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish emphasized the importance of dedicating resources to support the Canadian military and national defence objectives. He stated that Canada's reliance on other countries for technology and military power must change, framing the investment as a matter of national sovereignty.
DEFENDS Program Overview
The Dual-Use Ecosystem for Future Engineering, National Defence and Sovereignty (DEFENDS) program connects university researchers, businesses, and the military. It will build facilities for semiconductor processing, advanced manufacturing, and testing. Glubish expressed optimism about securing additional federal funding, noting the province's $21 million multi-year commitment.
Expert Insights
James Hogan, a mechanical engineering professor and director of CARDD-Tech, highlighted that Alberta's post-secondary institutions host two NATO DIANA test centres and have expertise in AI, aerospace, drones, and energy. He emphasized that the program aims for tangible contributions within the next year, starting with uncrewed systems in air and ground domains.
Hogan stated, "This is not an academic exercise; this is something meaningful, and we're looking to make real contributions in the next year."
Economic Impact
The $21 million investment is part of a $127 million initiative over 10 years. The province projects the program will support over 8,000 jobs and generate more than $7 billion in GDP growth. Aminah Robinson Fayek, U of A vice-president of research, noted that the funding will accelerate existing partnerships with industry, military, and government, helping local companies expand into defence and aerospace sectors.
Research facilities involved include CARDD-Tech, the nanoFAB micro and nanofabrication facility, and a NATO DIANA test centre.
