Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) — Multi-Region
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Who actually receives this funding
27 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 80 awards since 2025. Typical award: $1M. Half of all awards fall between $464.4K and $4.3M. 69% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Search, detection and navigation instruments, Aerospace product manufacturing, Textile mills. Top provinces: Quebec 41% · Ontario 19% · Nova Scotia 14%. Covers: Regional Defence Investment Initiative contributions from CED-Quebec, ACOA, FedDev Ontario, FedNor and CanNor (PacifiCan and PrairiesCan have published none); a new 2025 program. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q4 2026.
The typical Regional Defence Investment Initiative award is $1M — the median of 80 awards since 2025. In 2025, 27 businesses were funded; 69% were for-profit companies.
Named recipients
Recent recipients include 10849553 Canada Association - Cybereco (Montréal, QC, 2026), CE3 Electronics Inc. (Dieppe, NB, 2026) and Nüvü caméras inc. (Montréal, QC, 2026).
- 202610849553 Canada Association - Cybereco
- 2026CE3 Electronics Inc.
- 2026Nüvü caméras inc.
- 2026AKA Energy Systems
- 2026OSM Atlantique inc.
- 2026Montréal International
- 2026Advanced Microtesting inc.
- 2026Metaltech Panel Division Ltd.
- 2026APEX Industries Inc.
- 2026M1 Composites Technology Inc.
Show 28 more recipients
- 2026Kognitiv Spark Inc.
- 2026SysNergie Inc.
- 2026Anyon Systems inc.
- 2026Virtual Marine
- 2026Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.
- 2026West Kitikmeot Resources Corp.
- 2026PAL Aerospace Ltd.
- 2026Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound Inc.
- 2026Coastline Cordage Group Ltd.
- 2026MDS Coating Technologies Corporation
- 2026Global Spatial Technology Solutions Inc.
- 2026Mil-Aero Electronics Atlantic Inc.
- 2026Solace Power Inc.
- 2026Rutter Inc.
- 2026STELIA Aerospace North America Inc./STELIA Aéronautique Amérique du Nord Inc.
- 2026Quantum Valley Ideas Lab
- 2026D-Ta Systems Inc.
- 2025Service Mold + Aerospace Inc.
- 2025ITTC
- 2025Mathers Logistics Ltd.
- 2025L & M Highland Outfitters Limited
- 2025Sensor Technology Ltd.
- 2025Creative Destruction Lab
- 2025University of New Brunswick - Office of Research Services
- 2025Countermeasures Security Solutions Inc.
- 2025Ontario Tech University
- 2025Nihtat Gwich’in Council
- 2025Arrowhead Arctic Center Inc
Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure
This program most often pays for equipment
41% of 41 awards to businesses since April 2023 went to buying equipment or machinery, and 22% to building or expanding a facility.
Where the money went share of 41 awards
Buying equipment or machinery41% 17
Projects of this kind typically received $1.3M since April 2023.
- Building or expanding a facility22% 9
- Marketing and sales15% 6
Developing a new physical product12% 5
Real projects funded, in the government’s own words
- Research, develop, and commercialize an innovative dual use life safety rope
- Undertake product and business development activities to support an enhanced radar system
- Develop a new missionized aircraft solution to offer enhanced surveillance capabilities
- Other project types 10%adopting existing technology, hiring staff, entering new markets or exporting and more
Rare here: building software or a digital product (2%) and entering new markets or exporting (2%). Only 12% of these projects created something new; most bought or expanded something that already exists.
Real projects funded in the government’s own words
Buying equipment or machinery
- Acquisition of equipment: The project aims to increase the productivity of a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of valves.
- Acquisition of equipment: The project aims to increase the productivity and production capacity of a company specializing in developing energy storage solutions.
Building or expanding a facility
- Expansion of facilities: The project aims to increase the production capacity of a company specializing in industrial machining.
- To expand its manufacturing capabilities and position for sustained growth in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Where in a company’s journey it pays
Most staged projects here were at the grow what works stage (66%).
- 0%Explore an idea
- 12%Build something new
- 0%Test and prove it
- 2%Launch it
- 66%Grow what works
The other 20% were not staged projects (hiring, advice, events) or did not say.
More about these projects
New, or more of what already works?
The remaining 12% were a mix of both, or the description did not say.
- 63%Leaves a physical asset behind
- 0%Aimed at markets outside Canada
- 0%Claims an environmental benefit
How we know: we read the government’s published description of each award; an AI classifier sorted them, and we hand-checked a sample (92% correct). Individual awards can be misfiled, so read the shares as approximate. 5 more awards had descriptions too vague to sort and are left out. Federal disclosure lists awards above $25,000 only. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A $357.7M national program delivered through Canada's seven regional development agencies to advance SME entry into the defence and dual-use supply chain through technology adoption, facility modernization, supply chain certification, and market development. Repayable for commercial applicants; non-repayable for non-profits. Note: this is the national multi-RDA umbrella entry; the CanNor-administered Northern Canada stream is listed separately — apply through only the single RDA that serves your region to avoid duplicate applications.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit SME incorporated and operating in Canada, registered for at least 3 years
- Minimum 5 full-time equivalent employees in the region
- Active or seeking entry into the defence/dual-use supply chain
- Project demonstrates how it contributes to Canada's defence industrial base supporting military purposes
- Eligible activities must occur between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2028
- Non-profit organizations that support SMEs in the defence sector may apply for non-repayable funding
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 75% of eligible costs for SMEs (repayable); up to 90% for non-profits (non-repayable)
- Type
- Forgivable Loan
- Level
- Federal
- Financing share
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- March 31, 2028 (program end for eligible activities). Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) intake currently paused. Most other regions (Quebec, Atlantic, Prairies, FedNor, PacifiCan BC, CanNor) are accepting applications. Check your regional RDA for current intake status.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Difficult — significant preparation needed
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Complex — detailed documentation needed
How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipEach RDA has its own intake window and application form — contact your regional RDA first before preparing documents.
Rejection Pitfalls 5
- Insufficient or vague demonstration of defence nexus — project must clearly link to DND, NATO, or allied forces needs
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to secure RDII
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 5
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow RDII Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Defence Investment Initiativ... | Up to 75% of eligible costs for SMEs | Hard | Reimbursement | March 31, 2028 (program... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about RDII