AIAC is exploring new ways of sharing time-sensitive opportunities with our members and industry stakeholders. Be sure to check out some of the ongoing funding, procurement and collaboration opportunities below!

Funding Available for Select Industry Events

Did you know, through our partnership with the CanExport Program, AIAC members can access funding to attend select international events, including:

Farnborough International Airshow
July 20-24, 2026

Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Procurement and market-access platforms

Government of Canada Opportunities

[NEW] IDEaS Challenge: Sentinel Shield – Wide-Area Detection for Counter-UAS
The Department of National Defence is seeking innovative solutions to enable wide-area detection and early warning against uncrewed aerial systems, supporting enhanced situational awareness and threat response.
  • Focus: Detection, tracking and early warning of UAS threats across large operational areas
  • Program: IDEaS (Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security)
  • Deadline: June 24, 2026, at 14:00 EDT.
[NEW] IDEaS Competitive Project: Multi-modal AI for Advanced Situational Decisions
The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces are seeking AI-driven solutions that can fuse multi-domain data streams to provide real-time, explainable and policy-aware situational awareness for operational decision-making.
  • Funding: Up to $6.75 million in phased development funding
  • Focus: AI-enabled data fusion, ISR, command and control, sensor integration and decision-support systems
  • Deadline: June 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT
[NEW] IDEaS Innovation Network: Cognition and Trust in Human-Autonomy Teams
The Department of National Defence is establishing an innovation network to advance real-time dynamic calibration of cognition and trust between humans and autonomous systems in complex operational environments.
  • Focus: Human-machine teaming, autonomy, decision support and trust calibration
  • Program: IDEaS Innovation Networks
  • Deadline Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:00 pm ET.  Applicants must send enquiries related to this CFP to IDEaS at:
    IDEaS-IN.IDEeS-RI@forces.gc.ca no later than five (5) calendar days before the CFP closing date.
CanExport SMEs is now accepting applications
The Government of Canada’s CanExport SMEs program offers financial assistance to help small and medium-sized enterprises explore and grow into international markets.
Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) – Call for Proposals
The Government of Canada has launched the 2026–2027 call for proposals under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, supporting projects that strengthen search and rescue capacity across the country.
  • Eligible recipients: Not-for-profit and volunteer organizations, governments, Canadian universities and educational institutions, Indigenous organizations, and for-profit Canadian organizations where projects do not generate profit.
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT
Trade Corridors and Arctic Infrastructure Funding
The Government of Canada has launched calls for proposals under the $5 billion Trade Diversification Corridors Fund and the $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund.
  • Trade Diversification Corridors Fund: Supports projects that strengthen transportation infrastructure, reduce supply chain congestion and improve access to global markets beyond the United States.
  • Arctic Infrastructure Fund: Supports transportation projects in northern and Arctic regions, including dual-use infrastructure that enhances both defence readiness and community connectivity.
International Co-Innovation and Market Access Opportunities (NRC IRAP International)
NRC IRAP International offers Canadian SMEs access to international collaboration and market expansion opportunities.

Procurement and market-access platforms:

NATO Funding, Procurement Opportunities & Market Access Opportunities

NATO Edge 2026
Registration is open for NATO Edge 2026, taking place November 17-19, 2026 in İzmir, Türkiye. The event brings together senior NATO leaders, national representatives and industry executives for keynotes, strategic panels, business briefings, breakout sessions and networking across a 200-exhibitor innovation floor.
  • Dates: November 17-19, 2026
  • Early Bird Deadline: June 12, 2026
[NEW] NIAG High-Level Advice (HLA): Ukrainian/Allied Defence Industry Integration
NATO’s Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments Division has invited NIAG to draft a High-Level Advice paper on reducing barriers to cooperation and trade between Allied industry and Ukraine’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
  • Focus: Practical advice to support integration of Ukrainian suppliers and providers into Allied defence industrial supply chains
  • Volunteer Deadline: April 29, 2026
  • Contact: Canadian NIAG Head of Delegation, Nicolas Todd
This activity is voluntary and may be of particular interest to SMEs with Ukraine experience or expertise in export controls, IP, integrity and anti-corruption frameworks.
NATO Notification of Procurement Opportunity (NPO): Ukraine-NATO Innovation, Technology & Engineering (UNITE BRAVE NATO) Programme – Innovation Contracts
NCIA is seeking to award a number of innovation contracts to NATO companies to strengthen integration with the Ukraine BRAVE1 intergovernmental defence innovation platform.
  • Anticipated Solicitation Closing Date: April 30, 2026
  • Anticipated Contract Award Date: May 29, 2026
[NEW] Deadline Extended: NATO RFI – Support Services for Ukraine (NSATU)
The deadline has been extended to May 8, 2026 for a NATO Request for Information on the provision of Level 1 and Level 2 support services for NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).
  • Deadline: May 8, 2026
  • Scope: Operational, maintenance and service desk support for Communications and Information Systems across multiple NSATU locations in Europe
  • Point of Contact: Estefania Nunez
This is not a request for bids, but provides an opportunity for industry to engage early, better understand NATO requirements and inform future procurement. The anticipated contract is expected to begin in 2027.
NATO NIAG 2026 Study Program
The 2026 NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG) study program has been approved by the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD). These studies provide industry with an opportunity to help inform future NATO capability development across key defence and security domains.

Highlighted studies include:
NIAG Exploratory Group meetings are being held in person at NATO HQ in Brussels. Participation and access requirements vary by study and may include security clearance requirements. For participation details, contact the Canadian NIAG Head of Delegation, Nicolas Todd, at Nicolas@defenceandsecurity.ca.
NATO Notification of Procurement Opportunity (NPO): Initial Solutions for Enablement Support Services (ESS) Logistics Suite
NCIA is seeking industry solutions to deliver an integrated logistics, engineering and medical sustainment support capability to strengthen NATO operations and missions.
  • Anticipated Solicitation Closing Date: May 13, 2026
  • Anticipated Contract Award Date: June 26, 2026
[NEW] Latvia NATO Innovation Range for Uncrewed Systems – Testing and Evaluation Opportunity
The Autonomous Systems Competence Centre of Latvia is inviting Allied defence industry to participate in a NATO Innovation Range Counter-UAS testing and evaluation campaign at the Selonia Military Testing Range.
  • Event Dates: May 18-22, 2026
  • Registration Deadline: April 24, 2026
  • Solutions Sought: Drone detection systems, kinetic C-UAS (interceptors), and non-kinetic C-UAS (jammers)
Participants are invited to submit registration materials and product technical descriptions by email. More information is available in the calling notice.
NATO Notification of Procurement Opportunity (NPO): Provide Deployable Points of Presence to Liaison Elements to Special Operations Forces – WP1 (SOPLE & SOLE)
The NCIA is seeking an industry partner for the design, procurement of hardware and software, licences, assembly, integration and configuration of the system, installation, testing and verification to final system acceptance, ILS support and warranty.
  • Anticipated Bid Closing Date: May 22, 2026
  • Eligibility: Companies headquartered in a NATO member nation
NATO Notification of Procurement Opportunity (NPO): Provide Deployable Points of Presence to Liaison Elements to Special Operations Forces – WP2 (SOLO)
NCIA is seeking industry solutions to deliver highly transportable Deployable Points of Presence (DPoP) to support Special Operations Liaison Officers, including end-to-end system design, delivery, integration, testing and lifecycle support.
  • Anticipated Bid Closing Date: May 22, 2026
  • Eligibility: Companies headquartered in a NATO member nation
[NEW] ACT Request for Information (RFI): Allied Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) Enhanced Tactical Connectivity (eTacC)
Allied Command Transformation has issued an RFI in support of the Allied Future Surveillance and Control Enhanced Tactical Connectivity capability analysis of alternatives.
  • Reference: RFI ACT SACT 04 2026
  • Objective: Identify communications and connectivity gaps and support rapid closure of tactical interoperability shortfalls
  • Eligibility: NATO nations and companies or academic institutions incorporated within NATO nations
  • Submission Deadline: May 29, 2026 at 09:00 EST
NATO Notification of Procurement Opportunity (NPO): Data Centre Modules – IDIQ Framework
NCIA is seeking industry solutions for containerized, transportable and modular data centre capabilities to support NATO computing needs, including high-density and artificial intelligence workloads.
  • Estimated Ceiling Value: EUR 200,000,000
  • Anticipated Solicitation Release Date: Q1 2026
[NEW] Procurement Opportunity: NATO Simulation and Exercise Support (JFTC)
NATO’s Joint Force Training Centre is preparing to issue a procurement opportunity for Computer Assisted Exercise Technical Force support, including operation of JTLS and JCATS systems in support of NATO training and exercise activities.
  • Expression of Interest Deadline: July 13, 2026
  • Security: Eligible bidders must hold a NATO Facility Security Clearance, and proposed personnel must hold NATO SECRET clearance
[NEW] Notice of Procurement Opportunity (NOPO): Air Domain Subject Matter Experts for IAC2 Support
The Joint Force Training Centre intends to award an IDIQ contract for the provision of specialized Air Domain Subject Matter Experts to support Integrated Air Command and Control exercise activities in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
  • Requirement: Air domain SME support for NATO exercise and training events
  • Security: All bidders, partners and subcontractors must hold NATO Facility Security Clearance, and proposed personnel must hold NATO SECRET clearance
  • Canadian Response Deadline: May 4, 2026 to request inclusion through the Canadian Delegation to NATO
Interested companies should provide the required company information to BNATO.Industry@international.gc.ca.
[NEW] NATO Procurement Opportunity: Multi-Domain and Functional SME Support for JFTC Exercises
NATO’s Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) is preparing to issue an Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for contractor Subject Matter Expert support across multi-domain and functional focus areas in support of computer-assisted and command post exercises.
  • Reference: RFP-ACT-JFTC 07-26
  • Anticipated Solicitation Release Date: May 8, 2026
  • Anticipated Solicitation Closing Date: June 15, 2026
  • Expertise Sought: Military engineering, medical, CBRN, maritime, cyber, space, SOF and strategic communications
  • Security: Bidders, partners and subcontractors must hold NATO Facility Security Clearance; proposed personnel must hold NATO SECRET clearance
Canadian companies interested in receiving the solicitation documentation should contact BNATO.Industry@international.gc.ca by May 4, 2026 so the Canadian Delegation to NATO can complete and submit the required Declaration of Eligibility.

Procurement and market-access platforms:

U.S. Defence Opportunities

Request for Information (RFI): C-sUAS and Related Technologies
A U.S. government Request for Information seeking input on advanced counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS) and related technologies to support evolving operational requirements.
  • Posted: March 17, 2026
  • Focus: Counter-UAS, sensing, autonomy and defence electronics
Relevant to companies with capabilities in counter-UAS, sensing, autonomy and integrated defence systems.
 Request for Information (RFI): C-sUAS Kinetic Hard-Kill Technologies
A U.S. government Request for Information seeking industry input on kinetic hard-kill solutions to support installation defence against airborne threats.
  • Posted: March 17, 2026
  • Focus: Interceptors, effectors and integrated air defence systems
Relevant to companies developing kinetic counter-UAS solutions, intercept systems and air defence capabilities.
[NEW] U.S. Drone Dominance Program – Phase II (Request for Solutions)
The U.S. Navy has launched Phase II of the Drone Dominance Program, a large-scale initiative to accelerate the development and production of next-generation small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).
  • Scope: One-way attack sUAS for long-range strike and tactical operations
  • Scale: Phase II budget of at least $300M, with potential production orders for thousands of systems
  • Structure: Multi-phase program including qualification, testing and follow-on production
Primarily targeted at U.S.-based vendors, but may be relevant to Canadian companies with capabilities in defence UAS, autonomy, payload integration and scalable manufacturing.
DARPA Funding Opportunities – Advanced Defence and Aerospace Technologies
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) continues to fund high-risk, high-reward research across advanced aerospace, defence and emerging technology domains.
Highlighted opportunities include:
  • Heavy Vertical Lift Aviation: Novel drone designs capable of carrying payloads more than four times their weight. Deadline: May 1, 2026
  • Quantum Computing: Approaches to achieve utility-scale quantum computing capability. Deadline: November 14, 2026
DARPA programs are typically open to international participation, including Canadian organizations, subject to program-specific eligibility requirements.