Arrival and Registration

Opening Remarks

• Welcoming address: Jaspinder Komal, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
• Opening remarks: Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister,
Department of National Defence

Setting the Stage: Defence Innovation Secure Hubs

• Vincent Myers, Maritime DISH Lead, BOREALIS

Research Security

• Adam Green, Director, Research Security, Public Safety Canada

DISH Call for Proposal and IDEaS Terms & Conditions

• Ahmad Khorchid, Director, R&D Innovation Operations,
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program

Panel Q&A

• Moderator: Kate Kaminska, Director General, BOREALIS

Health Break

Technical Briefing: Quantum

Panelists:
• Michel Dufour, Innovation and Commercial Services Manager, Directorate Space Requirements, Director General Space, Combat & Support, Royal Canadian Air Force
• Marc Chateauneuf, Senior Scientific Advisor, Valcartier Research Centre, DRDC
• Boniface Yogendran, Defence Scientist,

Panel Q&A Discussion

• Moderator: Jeffrey Salvail, Quantum DISH Lead, BOREALIS

Technical Briefing: Drone/Counter-Drone Capabilities

Panelists:
• Maj Matthew Harris, Engagement Lead, MINERVA Initiative, Canadian Army
• Maj Samuel Brisebois, Director of Special Requirements 4 (C-)UAS,
Canadian Special Operation Forces Command
• LCol Nicolas Verreault, Head of Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office,
Chief of Combat Systems Integration, Canadian Joint Force Command

Panel Q&A

• Moderator: Mark Robbins, Drone DISH Lead, BOREALIS

Closing Remarks

Breakout 1 — Identifying Binding Constraints at Medium-Lift Scale

Moderated discussions on pre-identified themes:
1. Propulsion & engine systems
2. Structures, materials & mass fraction
3. Avionics, GNC & autonomy
4. Manufacturing, test & qualification at scale

Extended Synthesis Coffee Break

Health break. Participants pick up coffee/tea and head back to plenary room.
Moderators, note takers, breakout session leaders and scientific advisors synthesize key takeaways from their discussions to share with plenary.

Plenary — Barrier Read-Out & Prioritization

Presentations from each breakout session on their key takeaways

Fan out for sessions

Participants head to breakout rooms.

Breakout 2 — From Technical Constraints to Program Design Principles

Moderated discussions on pre-identified themes:
1. Constraints & exclusions
2. Ecosystem roles & authority (integrators, suppliers, academia, government)
3. Time & phasing realism
4. Sustainability & government coordination

Second Synthesis Coffee Break (15 minutes)

Health break. Participants pick up coffee/tea and head back to plenary room.
Moderators, note takers, breakout session leaders and scientific advisors synthesize key takeaways from their discussions to share with plenary.

Plenary — From Barriers to Program Design Principles

Presentations from each breakout session on their key takeaways:

Close & Next Steps

Opening Remarks

Welcome and housekeeping

Scene-Setting: Where Medium-Lift Needs to

1-2 industry speakers, 10-15 minutes each:
• Why medium lift is important for CAF and Canada? (MDA/3CSD)
• The economics of space launch and what the sweet spot for Canada is? (Polaris)

Fan out

Participants head to breakout rooms.