Defence - Accelerating Growth
As geopolitical tensions escalate globally and Canada faces increasingly urgent defence modernization requirements, strategic investment in domestic defence innovation is no longer a discretionary choice—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 2,000 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.
Furthermore, Ottawa's distinct climate, characterized by cold winters, and its existing defence infrastructure make 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 its national sovereignty, and spur substantial economic growth while diversifying Ottawa’s economy beyond its traditional reliance on the public sector. Evidence from leading innovation districts indicates that firms within such clusters experience growth rates that are, on average, twice as high as those operating outside these collaborative ecosystems, directly attributable to their proximity to vital capital, specialized talent pools, and advanced infrastructure (Brookfield Institute, 2019).
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