Friends are important, Canada
$4B in funding, Norway, Germany, submarines, sovereign launch, and friendship
Marte Gerhardsen reminded Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, of the importance of friendship in this period of geopolitical instability.
This issue covers $4B in funding, Norway, Germany, submarines, sovereign launch, Canada, and of course, friendship.
Let’s dig in.
Between three oceans
Canada’s Vimy Forge launched applications for their first cohort. If you’re a Canadian SMB building innovative and dual-use tech solutions, this is a real path into defence and a chance to work directly with end-users as well as venture teams and subject matter experts. The program addresses many of the challenges of being successful in defence. VF is a public-private partnership designed to close the gap between Canadian innovation and defence procurement.
Ontario positioned itself behind Toronto for the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) while the ink was drying on the National Capital Region’s (Ottawa-Gatineau) announcement of a bid to host the DSRB. The 5 city competition is covered here.
In case you missed Naval Quebec’s annual event earlier this month, here’s a recap of what more than 800 participants witnessed.
2025 wasn’t just a big year for the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), it was a big year for Canada.
History is calling on BDC again
After the Regional Development Agencies’ Regional Defence Investment Initiative earlier this month, this week it was Canada’s Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announcement includes $4B in capital for Canadian defence businesses
The BDC is a federal Crown corporation owned by the government that provides financing (loans, venture capital, growth capital) and advisory services for Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to help them start, grow, and succeed. It is a unique financial institution, acting as Canada’s only bank dedicated to entrepreneurs and offering tailored support beyond traditional banks.
The Sovereign Launch contest
Canada announced a new Department of National Defence challenge. The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program kicked off Launch the North: Accelerating Canada’s sovereign access to space. The Sovereign launch contest focused on Responsive Light Lift rockets, with the goal of building Canadian capacity and expertise in small-scale launch capabilities.
Success in this challenge will lay the foundation for potential future iterations, including a Medium Lift challenge, allowing participants to expand and scale their solutions over time with a total of $105M on the line.
On the continent
Picking up from the intro, Secretary of State Fuhr headed to Norway in an effort to shore up relations in Arctic and transatlantic security.
Meetings with government officials were followed by a visit to Norway’s Konsberg Defence (who have a growing presence in Canada). The Canadian delegation and senior Norwegian government and industry leaders touted furthering opportunities for collaboration towards our shared security and resilience in the Arctic and High North.
The Secretary’ concluded his visit in Germany, including visits: Haakonsvern Naval Base, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Naval Training Centre Eckernförde, TKMS, Rheinmetall (Nordic and Germany), Nammo and Lufthansa Technik.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, concluded a successful visit to European allies: France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. He reinforced Canada’s commitment to shared economic prosperity, resilient supply chains, and stronger transatlantic collaboration.
Canada-Germany ties have never been stronger. From our new partnership on critical minerals to deeper cooperation in defence and other strategic sectors, we’re advancing shared priorities.
Agendas collided with Quebec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie Chris Skeete Qc in Kiel to visit Germany’s TKMS, flanked by the investment attraction arm of the Quebec government: Invest Quebec.
After Ontario early this fall, it was Quebec’s turn to visit Germany, but with a real announcement in hand.
Germany’s TKMS signed a teaming agreement with Quebec’s Marmen. Marmen is Quebec’s largest bespoke manufacturer with a growing defence portfolio: from landing gear to naval subcomponents and assemblies. The agreement positions both companies as competition enters the last mile for the multi-billion dollar Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
TKMS celebrated the agreement deepening its partnership with Canada by establishing long-term industrial cooperation in support of the future submarine capabilities of the Royal Canadian Navy.
The important step in bilateral cooperation was further underlined by the recent visit of the Canadian Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, accompanied by representatives of the Canadian defence industry, to TKMS in Kiel. The visit demonstrates the joint commitment of Germany and Canada to strengthening transatlantic industrial partnerships and developing the capabilities of allied navies.
Not to be left out of all the dealmaking, Quebec’s Chantier Davie popped up in a visit to German Naval Yards (Kiel, Germany).
Other European friends
Every December, the Canadian flag is hoisted aboard HMS Belfast in London to pay tribute to the 80 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy who served on the ship during the Battle of the North Cape in the Second World War. HMS Belfast was also part of the Allied fleet on D-Day that helped support the Canadian Army landing in Normandy.
Ralph Goodale said a fun-loving goodbye to the United Kingdom as his tenure as Ambassador wrapped up.
Registration is officially open for Canadian semiconductor companies to join a trade mission to France. The mission will help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find potential partners in France with the goal to create co-innovation projects in the semiconductor sector.
And Canada’s Embassy in France hosted a defence luncheon.
Finally, the European Defence Fund (EDF) launched its call for projects, including €1B in 2026 to support industrial competitiveness and collaborative #EUDefence research and development (R&D) projects across Europe, funding 31 topics (50+ projects).
European nations approved Canada’s entrance into SAFE, confirming Canada’s status as the first non-European country to participate in the €150B fund.
Canada-Europe business deals
ChapsVision, a European company specialized in data processing and artificial intelligence (AI) software, will establish its North American base of operations in Montreal, leading to up to 100 jobs.
The criticals
Anglo American and Teck Resources agreed to a landmark merger of equals to form a new global mining powerhouse called Anglo Teck - will be one of the world’s top five copper producers and a strategic champion in critical minerals for the energy transition.
Shareholders overwhelmingly backed the deal in December, and the Government of Canada granted regulatory approval under the Investment Canada Act, with commitments including base headquarters in Vancouver, significant Canadian investment commitments (C$4.5B over five years, C$10B over 15), protections for jobs and Indigenous engagement.
The combined company will be listed on multiple major exchanges and represents a major consolidation in the mining sector amid surging global demand for copper.
Your next bound:
Canadian defence events:
Register for Vanguard’s annual C4ISR conference Jan 27, in Ottawa.
If you prefer Ships, Vanguard’s annual Shiptech forum takes place the following month, 24 Feb, in Ottawa.
A save the date was issued for CDA’s annual Ottawa conference in 5-6 Mar, 2026.
CADSI confirmed the dates for the CAF Outlooks 7-9 April in Ottawa.
Time to put CANSEC on your calendar - May 27-28, Ottawa.
European defence events:
International Armoured Vehicles Conference takes place in London (United Kingdom) on Jan 21-23.
Navy Tech and Seabed Defence Navy Tech Overview - Navy Leaders 3-5 Feb in Sweden.
A save-the-date was issued for the European Defence Fund Info Days 10-11 Mar in Brussel.
ITEC 2026, Europe’s largest defence training technology exhibition and technical conference Mar 25-27.
Undersea defence technology (UDT) takes place Apr 14-16 in London (United Kingdom).
Europe’s largest land domain conference, Eurosatory, is planned in Paris, 15-19 June.
The largest airshow takes place in England, Farnborough International Airshow | Farnborough International Airshow 20-24 July, 2026.
Canada is the lead nation at Poland’s MSPO - 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO ‹ Targi Kielce S.A. 8-11 Sept 2026. MSPO is Canada’s second largest defence presence internationally and a gateway to Ukraine.
Critical Minerals:
If critical minerals are your thing, add Vancouver Resource Investment Conference to your agenda, Jan 25-26.
PDAC is planned in Toronto Mar 1-4.
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