What’s making waves this week across the Atlantic
Doubleheader: Your guide to DSEI & MSPO show notes
Next week Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) takes place in London. It is Europe’s largest defence trade show. Canada’s pavilion has sell-out attendance and we’ve put together everything you need to know.
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With more than 200 Canadian organizations (companies, non-profits, governmental agencies) attending such as Quebec’s manufacturing association, early stage funders, and industry giants (2x) it is an impressive turnout. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and the High Commission in London worked hard to pull together the Canadian pavilion.
The provinces of Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta have formal delegations.
-What happened to you @Manitoba and @BC?
Mini-events organized by several provinces take place alongside the main event. One day Atlantic Canada’s ACADA will sneak me into the kitchen turned boat-party on the Thames.
UK firms have a special relationship with Canada. And - even if we disagree on the definition of brown sauce - judging by the Canadian attendance, the feeling is reciprocal.
DSEI is also one of the rare occasions where there is a whole-of-government approach to international trade:
Don’t forget about key events like Canada-UK Defence Gateway seminar & Canada reception (8 Sept), ribbon-cutting (9 Sept), CADSI & the Canada pavilion’s Maple Hour (10 Sept), and the Canada-UK Seminar with MAKE-UK Defence (12 Sept).
DSEI also has a series of SMB-focused events.
Finally, in other DSEI news, Canadian companies like Allen-Vanguard pre-announced the unveiling of its counter-drone and Soucy Defense sent invitations for its composite rubber track (CRT) forum.
This week Poland’s MSPO reclaimed its position as Europe’s second-largest defence conference (recapturing it from Spain’s FEINDEF) with 811 companies from 35 countries, and delegations from 45 states.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Yasir Naqvi announced Canada will have lead nation status at the 2026 edition, including a strong presence from the Polish- Canadian chamber of commerce.
Canada-based L3 Harris (Wescam) held the grand opening of its Polish facility. Canada’s CAE signed a cooperation agreement with the Polish Airforce Academy, and Galvion got a shout-out. More than 45 companies are on site (at least one more than last year's record of 44) such as Apexo, Calian, Evertz, Nanuk and Top Aces.
Meanwhile, outside of MSPO and DSEI news, Germany planned to participate in Canadian naval maneuvers.
For those who can't make it to DSEI that week, register for Export Development Canada’s Export to Europe: Find markets beyond the US seminar on September 11th.
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