By Scott Simmie
A altering geopolitical world has opened the door to new and probably large alternatives for Canadian expertise firms via partnerships with European Union nations and contractors.
Earlier this yr, Canada signed a Safety and Defence Partnership with the EU. And that was the catalyst for a latest Commerce Mission to France, the place InDro was one among a small group of Canadian expertise innovators invited to satisfy with most of the high defence contractors within the EU.
The Defence and Aeronautics Commerce Mission was organised by Montreal’s CENTECH, a non-profit that helps hi-tech firms with excessive progress potential. It did so in partnership with the Nationwide Analysis Council Canada, The Division of Nationwide Defence, and the Délégation générale du Québec à Paris (DGQP).
The journey got here at a time of unprecedented developments. Canada not too long ago introduced a forthcoming Defence Innovation Technique, which is able to rely closely on Canadian firms for dual-purpose expertise improvements that may be utilized to defence and sovereignty use-cases. On October 2, Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced the launch of the brand new Defence Funding Company. And on December 1, the Prime Minister introduced that Canada will take part in a program generally known as SAFE – Safety Motion For Europe. Canada is the one nation outdoors of the EU with preferential entry to this program.
The SAFE program, which unlocks some $244 billion in loans to EU companions (and now Canada) “opens large new alternatives for Canadian producers to construct and export Canadian-made applied sciences and capabilities,” in response to this information launch. It’s being described as a “generational alternative” for Canada’s defence and expertise sectors.
“Our participation in SAFE unlocks unprecedented alternatives for Canadian producers to construct what our Allies want and what our Forces can depend on. This partnership accelerates our personal rearmament whereas showcasing the world-class capabilities of Canadian employees, engineers, and innovators,” says The Hon. David J. McGuinty, Minister of Nationwide Defence.
To be clear, it’s not nearly weaponry – however a variety of dual-purpose applied sciences that can be utilized to boost defence and sovereignty capabilities, together with robotics, AI, autonomous methods and rather more. And that spells unprecedented alternatives for Canadian expertise firms, together with InDro Robotics.
Above: The Commerce Mission on a web site go to at ARQUUS. Under: Defence Minister McGuinty at GCXpo, the place he introduced a $9.2B dedication as a part of Canada’s Defence Innovation Technique
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
With all of those modifications on the horizon, the timing was excellent for the Commerce Mission to France. InDro Robotics was one among 10 Canadian expertise firms on that journey, which included conferences with key EU defence suppliers. These included heavyweights like Thales, Safran, ARQUUS, Exail Applied sciences and Airbus.
The journey began in Toulouse, with displays to Airbus earlier than transferring to Paris for web site visits and conferences with the opposite firms. The Canadian delegates realized extra in regards to the present and forthcoming applied sciences these firms are engaged on, and had been capable of showcase Canadian improvements that may be a match.
“We had the chance to satisfy immediately with giant defence contractors in France to current a number of the cutting-edge applied sciences that we have now,” says InDro Founder/CEO Philip Reece. “We had been capable of showcase applied sciences which can be commercially obtainable and in late-stage R&D – in addition to present a teaser of a number of the extra superior applied sciences we can be releasing in 2026.”
Along with the formal displays, there was a extra relaxed gathering hosted by His Excellency the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco. This supplied further one-on-one alternatives for members of the Commerce Mission to satisfy immediately with potential EU companions.
“He was fairly gracious in internet hosting us at his residence. That reception allowed us, in a extra casual setting, to cement a number of the relationships that we had been constructing with our French counterparts. This, I imagine, might lead to fairly a number of developments,” says Reece.
Under: Reception on the residence of The Honourable Stéphan Dion, Canadian Ambassador to France and Monaco.
INDRO SOLUTIONS
We will’t reveal all the small print, however we had been capable of showcase each present and forthcoming InDro improvements – however there was “shock and awe” at a few of our options. There was widespread curiosity in our forthcoming InDro Cortex, a tiny brain-box that may be built-in with every little thing from UGVs to drones to navy automobiles, enabling autonomy, distant teleoperation, mission planning, seamless sensor integration and extra. There was a lot of curiosity in Cortex.
“Conversations are underway about how Cortex might probably be supplied in exclusivity to a number of the EU defence producers,” says Reece.
However there are different dual-purpose tasks slated for launch in 2026 – together with (with companions) a long-range ISR drone and a UGV with unprecedented capabilities. Particulars on these are underneath wraps in the mean time, however they caught the eye of a number of EU contractors.
On this already-exceptional journey, InDro, together with a Canadian modular LiDAR producer BALKO Tech, had been invited to current on the Defence Innovation Discussion board (Discussion board Innovation Défense, or FID). That is an annual occasion of the French navy which has historically focussed on French suppliers.
“This was an incredible alternative,” says Reece. “This was the primary time overseas firms had been invited to formally current at their symposium. We, together with BALKO Tech, had been the one two Canadian firms to be within the very first cohort of worldwide firms to current on the FID.”
Lastly, the Commerce Mission gave InDro a chance to provoke discussions with different Canadian companions on the journey. These conversations, we imagine, will possible result in future collaborations and partnerships inside Canada.
Under: The Canadian delegation on one its web site visits
INDRO’S TAKE
The worldwide geopolitical scene has been altered dramatically in recent times, with a really unsure future forward. What is evident is that superior applied sciences will play an much more vital position in defence, sovereignty and stability – and that governments more and more recognise this truth. Twin-purpose applied sciences will profit the defence, industrial and tutorial/R&D sectors in each the rapid and long-term horizons.
“We’re grateful to CENTECH and the Authorities of Canada for its assist of this latest Commerce Mission, and are equally grateful that InDro Robotics was chosen to participate,” says firm Founder/CEO Reece.
“Significant conversations are already underway because of this, and we imagine the seeds planted in France will finally profit not solely the Commerce Mission individuals, however finally elevate a lot of the expertise and R&D sector in Canada. We’d additionally like specific our due to The Honourable Stéphane Dion, in addition to Kim-An Nguyen and the crew on the Workplace of the Ambassador.”
There can be rather more to come back on this down the highway. We’ll maintain you posted.
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