Accelerating Growth
As geopolitical tensions escalate globally and Canada faces increasingly urgent defence modernization requirements, strategic investment in domestic defence innovation is no longer discretionary; it has become a fundamental imperative for national sovereignty and security. Ottawa is uniquely positioned to serve as the central pillar of Canada’s national defence innovation strategy. With a significant concentration of over 300 aerospace, defence, and security (ADS) companies, a highly skilled technology workforce with deep expertise in relevant fields, and direct, unparalleled access to federal government decision-makers, Ottawa naturally functions as the primary hub for national security research and development (R&D) and its subsequent commercialization. Recent wins underscore this momentum, including Telesat’s Defence Investment Agency award, Dominion Dynamics’ $21 million funding round for Arctic surveillance, and multiple local firms selected for NATO DIANA programming.
Furthermore, Ottawa’s distinct climate, characterized by cold winters, along with its established defence infrastructure, makes it a strategically advantageous location for conducting Arctic-focused research, testing, and ensuring operational readiness. Given the increasing global focus on Arctic sovereignty and security, Ottawa offers the essential conditions for developing, trialing, and deploying cutting-edge technologies specifically tailored for cold-weather operations and asserting Canada’s northern presence.
By formally designating Ottawa as a National Defence Innovation Cluster, Canada can generate high-quality, well-paying jobs, significantly reinforce national sovereignty, and spur substantial economic growth while diversifying Ottawa’s economy beyond its traditional reliance on the public sector.
In February 2026, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette formally announced the launch of Canada’s Capital Region Defence Innovation Task Force. Co-chaired by both mayors, with General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier serving as Honorary Chair, the Task Force brings together 33 leaders from industry, government, investment, diplomatic, academic, and veteran communities across Ottawa and Gatineau.
The Task Force has a clear mandate: operationalize the region’s defence innovation strategy and help unlock up to $3 billion in new economic activity and investment for Ottawa-Gatineau. It will pursue high-impact opportunities, including the proposed global Defence Security and Resilience Bank headquarters, Defence Innovation Secure Hubs, and new centres of excellence in areas such as cyber security, space, and advanced defence technologies.
The Ottawa Board of Trade is proud to be a core partner in this work. OBOT President and CEO, Sueling Ching, serves as a member of the task force’s executive committee, alongside Mayor Sutcliffe, Mayor Marquis-Bissonnette, General Hillier, Sonya Shorey of Invest Ottawa, and Isabelle Veilleux of the City of Gatineau. Together, this leadership team helps guide implementation of the strategy, champion local companies, and ensure that business community perspectives remain central to decision-making.
OBOT in Action – Events
February 13, 2026: Mayor’s Breakfast with General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier
January 20, 2026: Ottawa’s Economic Outlook 2026
OBOT in Action – Media
February 13, 2026: CTV News – Ottawa-Gatineau Launch Task Force to Create Defence Innovation Hub, Bid for Proposed Bank
February 13, 2026: Ottawa Business Journal – New Task Force Eyes ‘Huge Opportunity’ to Make Ottawa-Gatineau a Defence-Tech Hub
January 22, 2026: CBC – Ottawa Defence Firms Back Bid to Host Multinational Security Bank
June 24, 2025: The Hill Times – Capitalizing on the Capital: Ottawa Has Defence Hub Potential
July 21, 2025: The Globe and Mail – The City of Ottawa Risks Being Hollowed Out by the Federal Government