The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program of the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is hosting its fourth annual IDEaS Marketplace, which will be held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 9:00 to 16:00.

Last year’s IDEaS Marketplace was a great success with over 445 stakeholders and more than 600 attendees present. The event showcased accomplishments from the Competitive Projects’ CFP4 challenges, Pop up city and Robot Round-up Contests, Innovation Networks’ CFPMN3 Advancing 5G capabilities, and Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) 2019 and 2022, and Corrosion Detection in Ships (CDIS) Sandboxes with more than 48 solutions showcased and 52 innovation booths.

This by invitation only event aims to create new opportunities for innovators funded through the IDEaS program to present their solutions to the DND/CAF, and other potential end users within the public and private sector. Invited guests will include:

• Existing IDEaS stakeholders within the DND/CAF;
• Representatives of large defence and security firms; and
• Federal and provincial government partners supporting innovation.

To be featured at the 2025 IDEaS Marketplace, innovators must have participated and/or completed projects under the:

• Competitive Projects’ CFP5 challenges;
• Robot Round-up Contest;
• Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Sandbox 2024 and Concept Development;
• Safer passage during minefield breaching operations in Ukraine challenge; and,
• Test Drives.

Marketplace 2025 will also showcase select Canadian innovators participating in the 2025 cohort of NATO’s Defence Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

Innovators will have the chance to showcase their solutions in a five-minute presentation. These engaging talks will address a number of challenges faced by DND/CAF. Some of the topics include:

• Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems
• Low carbon energy generation
• Mine Breaching innovations
• Broadband communications
• Next gen point-to-point field solutions
• Sub-Zero infrastructure, security and sensors
• Full spectrum communications in the Arctic
• Management and analysis of social media information
• Predicting and optimizing personnel performance
• Protection against erosion on rotary blades
• Detection and classification of objects of interest
• Tracking and sensing in the marine environment
• Space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
• NATO DIANA Qualifiers – Sensing and surveillance
• NATO DIANA Qualifiers – Data and information security
• NATO DIANA Qualifiers – Health and human performance

This is a great opportunity to connect with innovators, create new partnerships, and witness impactful solutions. Participation in this event is FREE and by invitation only as attendance is limited. 

If you have any questions regarding the event, or would like to refer a contact to request an invitation, please reach out to the IDEaS Marketplace team at IdeasMarketplace-IdeesMarche@forces.gc.ca.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• The 2025 IDEaS Marketplace agenda, speakers, and resources will be posted when they are available.

  The Westin Hotel is located at:
  11 Colonel by Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9H4

2024 IDEaS Marketplace post-event full video