IDEaS Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH)
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Who actually receives this funding
105 recipients on record since 2019. Typical award: $497.3K. Half of all awards fall between $25K and $1.5M. The advertised maximum is $50M — most awards land closer to $497.3K. 52% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top provinces: Ontario 42% · Quebec 17% · Alberta 15%. Covers: DND IDEaS Innovation Networks sub-stream (encompasses DISH and predecessor Innovation Networks challenges; 126 total rows, median ~$1.5M). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.
The typical IDEaS Defence Innovation Secure Hubs award is $497.3K — the median of 105 awards since 2019, even though the program advertises up to $50M.
Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Up to $50 million over 2 years to establish secure, mission-oriented research hubs for defence-critical technologies. Two streams: quantum technologies and uncrewed systems. Facilities are not required to be accredited to Level II (Secret) at the time of application — proposals must instead demonstrate a credible plan to achieve accreditation. Requires a consortium of at least 2 eligible Canadian organizations, and no more than 50% of eligible costs may be incurred outside Canada.
Eligibility Requirements
- Consortium of 2+ eligible Canadian organizations
- For-profit companies, non-profits, universities and other post-secondary institutions, and Canadian provincial, territorial and municipal government organizations
- Facility does not need to be accredited to Level II (Secret) at the time of application — the proposal must demonstrate a credible plan to achieve accreditation
- Must operate in quantum technologies OR uncrewed systems stream
- Federal departments, agencies and crown corporations NOT eligible for funding
- No more than 50% of eligible costs may be incurred outside Canada
- Proposals must not assume or include the use of federally owned infrastructure or facilities, including infrastructure owned or operated by DND or the Canadian Armed Forces
- Capital expenditures may not exceed 50% of total eligible costs; administrative and overhead costs may not exceed 15%
- Total Canadian government assistance (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of total proposal costs
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $50,000,000 over 2 years
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Between intakes — first DISH CFP closed April 2, 2026; no second CFP announced as of July 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win DISH
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipStudy the Maritime DISH in Halifax ($29.4M) as a template. Key: existing facility upgradeable to Secret clearance, genuine multidisciplinary diversity, and a clear defence capability gap. Admin costs capped at 15%.
Success Profile
Major university, defence prime, or national laboratory with existing facility capable of Secret clearance upgrade. Pre-existing DND relationships essential.
Evaluation Criteria
Merit-based review by DND/BOREALIS evaluators. Evaluators consider ONLY information in the proposal — they will not infer information or use personal knowledge. Key assessment areas: clear governance and partner alignment, secure facility readiness and compliance path to Level II (Secret) clearance, innovation-to-defence application pathway, technical expertise depth in quantum or uncrewed systems, demonstrable impact on Canada's defence sovereignty objectives, and multidisciplinary consortium composition.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 8
- Prototyping expenses including solution development, systems validation and integration, and testing and evaluation
- Data acquisition and analysis including datasets, testing environments, modelling tools, and analytical software
- Travel costs for research collaboration, DND/CAF stakeholder meetings, field testing, and technical reviews
- Technical and professional services directly tied to DISH objectives
- Materials and supplies for research and development activities
- Facility security clearance upgrade costs
- Research software, scientific journals, and information database access
- Equipment for hub operations within approved scope
Ineligible Expenses 8
- Salaries and benefits for researchers receiving direct and continuous salary through universities
- Purchase or lease of private/personal vehicles, vehicle maintenance, or rental charges
- Administrative and overhead costs exceeding 15% of total approved eligible costs
- Capital expenditures exceeding 50% of total eligible costs
- Costs incurred outside Canada beyond 50% of total eligible costs
- Use of federally owned infrastructure or facilities, including infrastructure owned or operated by DND or the Canadian Armed Forces
- General operating expenses not directly tied to DISH research objectives
- Construction of new facilities (hub must use existing or upgradeable facility)
Intake Periods
The first DISH Call for Proposals opened February 18, 2026 and closed April 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET — this call is now closed. No second CFP has been announced as of July 31, 2026. Future calls depend on program evaluation and remaining BOREALIS budget ($68.2M over 3 years from 2025–26). Monitor https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/opportunities.html or contact borealisjointprogramoffice-bureaudeprogrammeintegreborealis@forces.gc.ca for updates.
Deadline Notes
CFP opened February 18, 2026 and closed April 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. Funding envelope up to $50M across quantum and uncrewed systems streams. No second CFP has been announced as of July 31, 2026. Monitor the IDEaS opportunities index at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/opportunities.html or contact the BOREALIS Joint Program Office at borealisjointprogramoffice-bureaudeprogrammeintegreborealis@forces.gc.ca for updates.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Federal government departments and agencies
- Federal crown corporations
- Single organizations applying without consortium partners
- Organizations with no credible plan to accredit a facility to Level II (Secret)
- Foreign-incorporated entities without Canadian incorporation
Applying for DISH? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow DISH Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEaS Defence Innovation Secure Hubs ... | Up to $50,000,000 over 2 years | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes — first... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about DISH