IDEaS Test Drives
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
DND/CAF acquires and tests solutions at TRL 7+ in real military environments via procurement contracts. Selected companies receive payment and structured CAF feedback. Eligible for companies, non-profits, universities, and individuals — international organizations may also apply.
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to small and large companies, academia, non-profit organizations, and individuals
- International organizations and companies may also apply
- Innovation must have completed TRL 1–6 at time of submission (CAF conducts TRL 7+ real-world testing)
- Federal government employees, departments/agencies, and federal Crown Corporations are NOT eligible
- No matching requirement — DND/CAF purchases the solution directly
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Varies by project — contract value set per Call for Proposals on canadabuys.canada.ca
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Rolling — Test Drive Calls for Proposals posted periodically on canadabuys.canada.ca
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win IDEaS Test Drives
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-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 TipTest Drives are procurement contracts, not grants — DND/CAF literally buys your product for real-world testing.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- Technology below TRL 6 at time of submission — solution must be proven before Test Drive can proceed
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 3
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for IDEaS Test Drives? 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
None RiskHow IDEaS Test Drives Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IDEaS Test Drives