What’s making waves across the Atlantic - PDAC edition - 9 Mar
A look back at PDAC, updates on TKMS & CPSP, and the week ahead at EDF and BEDEX
This week, European Defence Fund info days take place in Brussels.
The EDF event mixes briefing calls for proposals and new developments with international networking opportunities to form defence R&D consortia and develop project proposals through thematic pitch sessions.
Brussels European Defense Exhibition and Conference (BEDEX) takes place in the back half of the week - at 200 exhibitors it’s small fry, but a 2x1 for the commercial-minded and uber-motivated.
Back to EDF Info Days. As a Canadian, Europe’s consortia approach is mind boggling.
Imagine being one of the 52 members of the Armoured Infantry Ground Assault (AURIGA) project designing Europe’s next drone-resistant armoured infantry fighting vehicle and the jolly design reviews it must generate.
As well as the funny headlines when the leading player in Europe is left out.
Still, Canadians should still follow the space closely.
EDF funding is primarily reserved for EU entities but Canadian companies can still find ways to participate. For firms already operating in Europe or partnering with EU primes, the ecosystem increasingly represents another pathway to integrate into European defence supply chains and collaborative innovation programmes.
Outside of Brussels there are plenty of goings on around the Atlantic to cover, so let’s get started.
Between three oceans
Finland’s Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen visited Canada to strengthen cooperation within marine industry and skilled labour. Including representatives of ALMACO Group, a Finnish company that delivers turnkey accommodation and catering solutions for ships. Their new headquarters in Quebec supports major work with Davie Shipbuilding, including the Canadian Coast Guard/Garde côtière canadienne’s Polar Max icebreaker. Canadian mining companies are major investors in Finland, and Finnish companies such as Normet Group and Metso are already operating in Canada.
Minister Joly, Minister McGuinty and Secretary of State Fuhr announce over $900M to boost defence innovation in the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The announcement would:
Support Canadian businesses developing dual-use technology through Defence Industry Assist (DI Assist), a new stream under the NRC‘s Industrial Research Assistance Program
Accelerate research and development in biomedical countermeasures
Reinforce Canada‘s edge in quantum technologies for defence application
Special PDAC-edition
The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC) took place last week in Toronto, bringing together tens of thousands of participants from across the global mining and minerals sector. Widely considered the world’s largest mining convention, PDAC serves as a key meeting point for mining companies, investors, governments, and supply-chain partners focused on exploration, critical minerals, and project development.
PDAC drew the largest attendance numbers in its history at 32,155. Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson launched the $1.5B First and Last Mile Fund and previewed a $2B Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund, and announced 30 new partnerships under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, unlocking $12.1B in project capital with 12 allied partners. This brings the alliance’s total mobilized capital to $18.5B since its launch.
This year’s discussions reflected growing geopolitical interest in securing reliable supplies of critical minerals-including graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements-driven by the energy transition, defence needs, and industrial policy in North America and Europe. For Canadian companies, the convention also highlighted opportunities to position themselves as trusted suppliers within emerging transatlantic supply chains, particularly as allies look to diversify away from higher-risk jurisdictions.
Several European delegations attended PDAC to deepen partnerships with Canadian mining companies, particularly in the context of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which seeks to diversify Europe’s access to strategic minerals. Officials and industry representatives from countries including Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, and Norway were present, engaging Canadian provinces and companies on long-term supply agreements for minerals such as graphite, nickel, lithium, and rare earth elements.
Spain apparently stuns the world with its inaugural pavilion at the globe’s premier exhibition, with numerous engineering firms in attendance (IDOM, SEMA, CRS Ingeniería, Gaia Exploración) and a host of resource-focused companies: LainTech, HALOTECH, MeteoSim, Emerita Resources España, Pan Global Resources Inc. ,SRK Consulting, PRIMIGEA
One of the most concrete outcomes at PDAC was a Germany - Quebec critical-minerals declaration (following Canada’s two weeks prior) and four corporate agreements aimed at strengthening supply chains for materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence applications.
Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada signed a memorandum of understanding.
Scandium Canada and Granges Powder Metallurgy agreed on a technology collaboration.
Metalshub and Northern Graphite established a partnership on raw materials trading.
Destiny Copper and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems linked Canadian mineral supply with European naval and defence manufacturing ecosystems.
According to Christian Wagner from Germany’s Consulate General in Montréal, sovereignty and industrial survival depend on diversified supply chains and these deals were proof of it.
Germany participated at PDAC with an unprecedented business delegation representing everything from engineering to recycling, headed by Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), highlighting action-oriented collaboration on critical minerals and resilient supply chains.
Staying in German-Canadian relations, here’s a quick update on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
TKMS and CPSP
TKMS and CAE have signed a teaming agreement to support the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). This partnership brings together Germany’s TKMS submarine expertise and Canada’s CAE world-class training & simulation capabilities to help build and sustain Canada’s next-generation submarine force.
The collaboration underscores growing industrial cooperation and a commitment to Canada’s sovereign maritime defence and skills development.
TKMS signed cooperation agreements with leading Indigenous organizations from across Canada, establishing a Pan-Canadian framework to advance Indigenous participation in support of Canada’s future submarine capability under the CPSP.
The Indigenous partners of the first agreement are Songhees Development Corporation, Des Nedhe Group Defence, and Glooscap Ventures. A second agreement was signed with the Inuit Development Corporation Association to advance Arctic-based Nation Building initiatives.
The Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) organized a private executive meeting, in collaboration with Desjardins, welcoming the Honourable John Hannaford, the Prime Minister of Canada’s Personal Representative to the European Union, as well as Joost Korte, the European Union’s Special Envoy to Canada. The discussions provided a clearer understanding of the prospects for transatlantic cooperation, the potential for Canada’s participation in the SAFE program, as well as other concrete opportunities to strengthen economic, political, and strategic ties between our jurisdictions.
On the agenda the week prior, CEO Éric Martel pitched Bombardier’s role in international commerce and the impact of national champions in this new complex geopolitical world. And Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr spoke at a breakfast event hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) sharing his insights and vision for Canada‘s Defence Industrial Strategy.
In-between continents
Julie Crôteau touted an exciting and intense month for relations between Canada and Greenland in her role as Acting Head of Consulate - Nuuk, Greenland.
Feb 6: Official opening of the new Canadian consulate in Greenland and a visit to Nuuk by the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, as well as approximately 70 Inuit from Canada, including the President of the ITK, Natan Obed, the President of Makivvik, Pita Aatami, and the President of the Inuvialuit Government, Johannes Lampe. At the same time, there was the visit of the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Jean Goodwill, which conducted exercises with a Danish patrol boat, and a large contingent of Canadian journalists.
Feb 14: Signing of the Canada-Denmark-Greenland Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Mar 2-4: Several developments at the PDAC conference in Toronto, including:
- The signing of the Canada-Greenland Joint Declaration of Intent on cooperation in critical minerals and energy
- Canada announced $7M in funding for Greenland Resources
- Approximately 100 delegates from Greenland participated in this year’s PDAC, the largest delegation ever sent by Greenland.
On the continent
Mount-Pearl’s Kraken Robotics (TSX-V: PNG) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Covelya Group, a leading international provider of mission-critical underwater technology solutions. Covelya is headquartered in the United Kingdom with nearly 750 employees, operating 12 facilities across North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Your next bound:
Considering expanding to Europe but unsure where to start? Join a focused 60-minute webinar hosted by the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Holland International Distribution Council (HIDC). This session will provide practical guidance to help Canadian SMEs successfully enter and grow in Europe.
EU-Canada CETA SME Roundtable webinar 26 Mar - bringing together different perspectives and areas of expertise needed when trading with Canada.
Canadian defence events:
CDA’s annual Ottawa took place last 5-6 Mar, 2026, you can rewatch The Road to 5%.
Registration ends soon for CADSI’s CAF Outlooks 7-9 April in Ottawa. This event is a must-attend if you’re looking to get involved in Canada’s defence sector.
Registration opens soon for CANSEC - May 27-28, Ottawa.
Check out the full list of Canadian defence events here: H1 2026 Canadian Defence Events - CanadaxEurope, there are 10 more before the summer break!
European defence events:
The European Defence Fund Info Days take place 10-11 Mar in Brussels.
Brussels European Defense Exhibition and Conference (BEDEX) takes place in the back half of this week, also in Brussels.
London’s SpaceComm conference takes place 4-5 Mar.
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).
Hannover Messe takes place 20-24 April. The World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Manufacturing Industry is increasingly embracing the defence sector.
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.
DALO Days - our favourite European tradeshow - takes place 19-20 August in Denmark. The website isn’t up yet.
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.
PS. 1,127 have now joined www.canadaxeurope.com, committing to improving trans-Atlantic relations.
Thank you for an excellent update of “trans oceanic” events.