Updated September 2026 · Verified against Department of National Defence guidelines
▲ Growing Milestone-Based Est. 2018
Grant Federal Active

Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)

Department of National Defence
Maximum Funding
Competitive Projects: up to $6.75M in phased development...
Rolling calls. Open now: three Competitive Projects challenges closing Octobe...
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Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) provides up to Competitive Projects: up to $6.75M in phased development funding; Innovation Networks: up to $3M. Provides funding for innovative solutions to defence and security challenges through competitive calls. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~20% (GrantCompass analysis)

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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

59 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 309 awards since 2019. Typical award: $375K. Half of all awards fall between $35K and $1M. The advertised maximum is $6.75M — most awards land closer to $375K. 49% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Professional, scientific, technical. Top provinces: Ontario 46% · Quebec 17% · Alberta 14%. Covers: DND IDEaS all sub-streams (Competitive Projects, Innovation Networks/DISH-phase, Concept Development, Contests). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security award is $375K — the median of 309 awards since 2019, even though the program advertises up to $6.75M. In 2025, 59 businesses were funded.

59funded in 2025
$375Ktypical award
309awards since 2019
49%for-profit

Most awards fall between $35K and $1M, with a typical (median) award of $375K. The program funds up to $6.75M for the largest projects — about 18 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $375K $35K $1M
up to $6.75M

Most awards land between $35K and $1M, with a typical award of $375K — and this program funds up to $6.75M for the largest projects.

Top sectors Professional, scientific, technical(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 46%QC 17%AB 14%
59 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 38 most recent — and how much each received. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security winners →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Provides funding for innovative solutions to defence and security challenges through competitive calls. IDEaS runs through several elements — Competitive Projects, Contests, Sandboxes, Test Drives, Innovation Networks, and the POINT acquisition pilot — and each call names its own submission mechanism.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian entity — company, university, or individual — addressing an active IDEaS challenge posted by the Department of National Defence
  • Canadian content rules are set by each call, typically 50 to 80%; Competitive Projects use a 70% Canadian content certification as a conditional set-aside (if two or more unaffiliated offerors on a challenge certify, only certified proposals can win; otherwise all proposals remain eligible)
  • Not a federal public servant or federal government department (employees may participate in personal capacity in some streams)
  • Not subject to unresolved Canadian sanctions or controlled goods restrictions
  • Innovation addresses a specific defence or security challenge posted in the current IDEaS call
  • Technology is at an early stage (TRL 1-5 typical for contest streams)
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Technology Engineering Manufacturing AI
Business Stage
Startup Growth

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Competitive Projects: up to $6.75M in phased development funding; Innovation Networks: up to $3M
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Deadline
Rolling calls. Open now: three Competitive Projects challenges closing October 20, 2026, two Contests closing October 8 and October 14, 2026, and a Sandbox closing December 1, 2026.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
High
Deadline
Oct 20, 2026
Approval
Competitive
Approval Rate
~20%
Accessibility
2/5

Difficult — significant preparation needed

Competition
4/5

High competition — many applicants

Difficulty
4/5

Complex — detailed documentation needed

Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

IDEaS is challenge-driven -- you cannot submit unsolicited proposals. The key to success is monitoring the IDEaS opportunities index for new challenges that match your existing capabilities, not building something from scratch. The program evaluation found that commercialization is a weak spot, so proposals that articulate a clear path from prototype to operational deployment stand out. With the Defence Industrial Strategy (Feb 2026) and the DISH initiative, quantum technologies and uncrewed systems are the hot areas receiving outsized investment ($50M+ for DISH alone). The IDEaS Marketplace events (annual, Ottawa) are valuable for networking with DND stakeholders and understanding upcoming challenge themes. Component 1a ($250K, 6 months) is the best entry point -- low risk for DND, allows you to prove your concept before seeking larger Component 1b/2 funding.

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Rejection Pitfalls 8

  • Proposal does not directly address the specific posted challenge
  • Technology is at wrong TRL for the component applied to
  • Insufficient Canadian content for the call applied to (each call sets its own level, typically 50 to 80%)
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

Ideal applicant is a Canadian SME or university research group with existing defence/security domain expertise and technology at TRL 1-5. Strong track record in the specific challenge area (cyber, autonomous systems, C4ISR, counter-UAS, quantum, maritime surveillance). Companies with dual-use technology (civilian + military applications) are well-positioned. Must meet the Canadian content level set by the call (typically 50 to 80%). Teams that have attended IDEaS Marketplace or Sandbox events have better situational awareness of DND needs. Academic-industry partnerships are particularly effective for Innovation Networks element.

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Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are assessed on five criteria: (1) Relevance to the specific defence/security challenge posted, (2) Innovation and technical merit including novelty and TRL advancement, (3) Impact and benefits to DND/CAF operations, (4) Feasibility and implementation plan including timeline and risk mitigation, (5) Team qualifications and partnership strength. Each CFP may weight criteria differently. Canadian content is set per call (typically 50 to 80%); Competitive Projects apply a 70% certification as a conditional set-aside.

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How the Department of National Defence judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Written answers13≈500 words from the funder’s limits
Judged on17 criteriascore sheet published
Can reject you15 rules
To attach2 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents on canada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-10.

6 of the sources

What the Department of National Defence favours

Demonstrate capability and a thorough, concise, clear approach◦

“The Offerors should explicitly demonstrate their capability and describe their approach in a thorough, concise and clear manner for carrying out the work.”

2 more, in their words

The form2 prompts shown

Choose an element1 section
  1. 1Choose the element and the specific challengeselectionno limit
Competitive Projects: eligibility and portal3 sections
  1. 2Who may apply (Competitive Projects, CFP 006)checkboxno limit
  2. 3Register for the Defence Innovation Portal and open the Challengeshort answerno limit
  3. 4Defence Innovation Portal account and applicant profileshort answerno limit
Competitive Projects: proposal14 sections · ≈500 words
  1. SC-1SC-1: Financial Proposal (screening, pass/fail)spreadsheetno limit
  2. MC-1MC-1: Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of Proposed Solutionwritten answerno limit

    Accurately identify the current TRL; Describe the research and development (R&D) activities that have taken place to advance the proposed solution to the stated TRL.

  3. MC-2MC-2: Alignment of Proposed Solution to S&T Challengewritten answerno limit

    Describe the proposed solution and how it addresses and aligns to the identified S&T Challenge by including a description of the scientific and technological basis upon which the solution is proposed, and clearly justify how the solution meets the Essential Outcomes.

  4. PRC-1PRC-1: Scientific and/or Technical (S/T) Merit of Proposed Solution (10 points)written answerno limit
  5. PRC-2PRC-2: Novel and Innovative Solution (20 points)written answerno limit
  6. PRC-3PRC-3: Impact of Proposed Solution (20 points)written answerno limit
  7. PRC-4PRC-4: Feasibility and Approach of Proposed Solution (20 points)written answerno limit
  8. PRC-5PRC-5: Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) of Proposed Solution (5 points)written answer · 3,000 characters
  9. PRC-6PRC-6: Alignment of Desired Outcomes (15 points)written answerno limit
  10. PRC-7PRC-7: Alignment of Proposed Solution Costs (10 points)spreadsheetno limit
  11. 15Solution Progression to Follow on Componentswritten answerno limit
  12. 16References (open-source documents only; no attachments)listno limit
  13. 17Government Furnished Property request and mitigation (Components 2 and 3 only)yes/no + writtenno limit
  14. 18Certifications with the proposalcheckboxesno limit
Contests1 section
  1. 19Contests — the call's own proposal formwritten answerno limit
Sandboxes1 section
  1. 20Sandboxes — apply through the specific Call For Applicationswritten answerno limit
Test Drives1 section
  1. 21Test Drives — PSPC solicitationwritten answerno limit

bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits

18 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against4 questions · 17 criteria

the Department of National Defence publishes its score sheet. in Premium

  1. 1

    Does the solution answer this exact challenge?

    Show them Work through the challenge's Essential Outcomes and Desired Outcomes one by one and give the scientific basis for meeting each.◦

    In the funder’s words · 3
    • MC-2: Alignment of Proposed Solution to S&T Challenge (Mandatory – Pass/Fail)
    • PRC-1: Scientific and/or Technical (S/T) Merit of Proposed Solution — 10 points 10 points
    • PRC-6: Alignment of Desired Outcomes — 15 points 15 points
  2. 2

    What is genuinely new here?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Can you deliver at the TRL and price?

    What to show, and the funder’s 4 criteria behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    Will DND/CAF actually want to field it?

    What to show, and the funder’s 8 criteria behind it in Premium

10 questions the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.

Where applicants failin the Department of National Defence’s words

“Proposals submitted in alternate format will not be accepted.”
“Registration requests received within 48 hours of the Challenge close date and time may not be actioned.”

5 more, in the funder’s words

Premium · the rest of this brief

See all 15 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.

14 more rules that can reject you · 14 more criteria · 18 more prompts

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Do you pass?18 checks

15 can rule you out; 3 are preferences. Tick the ones you meet.

You

  • Open to any industry or region preferred, not required

    By its nature, IDEaS is an access to innovation program and does not have a preference for any particular industry, region, or domain.

  • Open to these applicant types

    This CFP is open to individuals, academia, not-for-profit organizations, provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations, and all industry.

16 more checks

1 thing this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.

Documents to attach2

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

Component ceilingsCAD 250K–5M depending on component

1a - Conceive ≤ 6 months ≤ CAD 250K; 1b - Design ≤ 12 months ≤ CAD 1.5M; 2 - Build ≤ CAD 5M (performance period determined at contract negotiations); 3 - Test Drive determined at the time of Contract negotiations.

Innovation Networks maximumUp to $3M per proposal

Up to $3M per proposal for up to 48 months

Contest maximumUp to $1M per applicant

up to $1M per applicant

First-half cost cap70% of total cost

The cost proposal for the first half of all milestones combined, must be no greater than 70% of the total cost for the proposed solution.

Milestone paymentsPaid per Schedule of Milestones

Canada will make milestone payments in accordance with the Schedule of Milestones detailed in Annex TBD and the payment provisions of the contract

Funding is not repaidNo repayment required

Funding does not have to be repaid even if the project does not return the intended results.

StackingTotal government assistance capped at 100% of costs

The total Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal) assistance cannot exceed 100% of total project costs.

What it pays for · 1
  • Funds can only be used for incremental resourcing costs associated with delivering a proposed solution - for example, material and supplies, equipment rentals, subcontractors, casual or permanent employees (incremental labour costs for indeterminate employees at the federal level of the Government in Canada cannot be included). Therefore, funds can only be used for expenditures that are not amortized.
What it does not pay for · 2
  • The Offerors should make all reasonable attempts to avoid requesting travel funding within their proposal unless absolutely operationally required.
  • This procurement does not offer exchange rate fluctuation risk mitigation.

From application to money

  1. Register on the portalSet up portal account early
  2. Submit the proposalOctober 20, 2026 at 2 p.m. EDTSubmit proposal by October 20, 2026
  3. Evaluation and pre-qualificationScore at least 70 of 100 points
  4. Contract negotiationtwelve (12) monthsProposal open for acceptance 12 months
  5. Milestone paymentsPayments follow Schedule of Milestones
  6. Surveys and auditsSurveys and audits after work ends
In the funder’s words · 6
Register on the portal
Set up a Defence Innovation Portal account early, because credentials are issued only after registration is reviewed.
Submit the proposal
Draft and submit the Challenge Electronic Proposal Form on the Defence Innovation Portal, one form per challenge.
Evaluation and pre-qualification
Proposals must score at least seventy (70) of one hundred (100) points to proceed to the Strategic Decision Parameters.
Contract negotiation
Once pre-qualified, the proposal stays open for acceptance while Canada considers it for the challenge.
Milestone payments
Payments follow the Schedule of Milestones and the payment provisions of the contract.
Surveys and audits
Contractors respond to IDEaS surveys and Canada may request audits after the work ends.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Innovation for Defence Excellence and Secu...

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Find the current calls Open the IDEaS opportunities index at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/opportunities.html and filter by element (Innovation Networks, Competitive Projects, Sandboxes, Contests, Test Drives, POINT). Each open call states its own submission mechanism and registration requirements.
2 Monitor for Challenge Postings Subscribe to the IDEaS mailing list and check the opportunities index regularly for new Calls for Proposals matching your capabilities. Challenges are posted throughout the year.
3 Prepare Technical Proposal Develop a detailed technical proposal addressing the specific posted challenge, including TRL self-assessment, project timeline with milestones, budget breakdown, and team qualifications.
4 Submit through the mechanism the CFP names Submit all required documents before the CFP deadline, using the mechanism that specific call specifies — recent calls have used a BOREALIS Connect conversation rather than a standing portal. Document the Canadian content level the call requires. Questions: [email protected].
5 Technical Review Committee Assessment DND's Technical Review Committee evaluates proposals against published criteria. May request clarifications or presentations.
6 Contract Award Successful proponents receive a contract (not a contribution agreement). Negotiate terms and begin work upon contract execution.

Required Documents 8

✓ Online application submitted through the mechanism named in the applicable Call for Proposals (account registration usually required)
✓ Detailed technical proposal addressing specific challenge
✓ Technology Readiness Level (TRL) self-assessment
✓ Project timeline with milestones
✓ Budget breakdown with cost justification
✓ Demonstration of the Canadian content level the call requires (Competitive Projects: a 70% Canadian content certification)
✓ Team qualifications and organizational capacity statement
✓ For universities: institutional research management system approval

Eligible Expenses 8

  • Salaries and wages for project personnel (researchers, engineers, technicians)
  • Subcontracts to Canadian suppliers and partners
  • Materials, consumables, and prototype components
  • Equipment rental or purchase directly required for the project
  • Travel costs related to project execution and DND engagement
  • Testing and certification costs
  • Intellectual property and patent costs related to the project
  • Overhead and indirect costs (typically capped at 15-20% depending on CFP)

Ineligible Expenses 5

  • Capital expenditures for permanent infrastructure or facilities
  • Marketing, business development, or commercialization costs unrelated to the challenge
  • Costs incurred before contract execution
  • Entertainment and hospitality expenses
  • Goods and services sourced outside Canada beyond the Canadian content level set by the call

Intake Periods

Rolling challenge-based model. New calls are posted throughout the year for specific defence and security challenges, with no single annual deadline. Open as of September 11, 2026: three Competitive Projects challenges (September 10 to October 20, 2026), two Contests (closing October 8 and October 14, 2026) and a Sandbox (August 11 to December 1, 2026). The DISH CFP ran February 18 to April 2, 2026 and is closed. Monitor the IDEaS opportunities index continuously.

Deadline Notes

IDEaS runs challenge-based calls throughout the year, and each call names its own submission mechanism (the 2026 DISH call ran through a BOREALIS Connect conversation, not a standing portal). As of September 11, 2026 the IDEaS opportunities index lists six open opportunities: three Competitive Projects challenges (Modular Wind Power for Northern Operations; Sustainable Northern operations: water and waste; RF data fusion for command and control), open from September 10 and closing October 20, 2026; two Contests (Enhancing medical capability in austere environments, closing October 8, 2026, and Minefield breaching - Detect & destroy, closing October 14, 2026); and the Counter uncrewed aerial systems (urban) sandbox 2027, closing December 1, 2026. The earlier hypersonic innovation network and Drone surge calls are closed, and the DISH CFP closed April 2, 2026. Monitor https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/opportunities.html.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Federal government departments, agencies and federal Crown corporations (Contests and Test Drives also exclude federal employees)
  • Organizations that cannot meet the Canadian content level set by the call they apply to
  • Organizations subject to Canadian sanctions or controlled goods restrictions without appropriate clearance
  • Provincial Crown corporations (Competitive Projects)
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

NRC IRAP SR&ED Tax Credit Innovative Solutions Canada Regional Development Agencies NSERC Discovery Grants CFI
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Innovation for Defence Excellence and Secu...

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for IDEaS?
It depends on the call. Competitive Projects, Sandboxes and Test Drives accept individuals, so a sole proprietor can apply without incorporating. Some Contests require a legal entity incorporated in Canada, so check the applicant guide for the call you want.
What's the realistic award size for first-time applicants?
$250K for Component 1a (most common entry point). Component 1b is $500K-$1.5M. Competitive Projects can run up to $6.75M in phased development funding across components, and Innovation Networks up to $3M. Contest prizes are exceptional ($50K-$105M).
How long does IDEaS approval take after applying?
Typically 3-6 months from submission to decision. New challenges are posted continuously — monitor the IDEaS opportunities index for opportunities.
Why do most applications fail?
Missing direct alignment with the specific challenge, insufficient Canadian content for the call, or technology at wrong TRL (not 1-5 for contest streams).
Can I stack IDEaS with other grants?
Yes — IDEaS is compatible with NRC IRAP, SR&ED, ISC, and regional development agencies. Avoid double-funding identical costs.

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