Invest Ottawa Celebrates the Launch of Calian VENTURES: Canada’s Premier Defence Innovation Orchestrator

On September 30, 2025, Invest Ottawa announced the launch of Calian Group Ltd.'s new initiative, Calian VENTURES, aimed at bolstering Canadian small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the transformation of research and prototypes into operational defense capabilities. This new program was unveiled on September 23 in Ottawa and seeks to provide a structured pathway to expedite the innovation of Canadian SMEs, giving them access to integration environments and procurement opportunities with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and allied markets while ensuring that they retain their intellectual property.

Chris Pogue, President of Defence and Space at Calian, emphasized the initiative’s goal to harness Calian's engineering expertise and robust relationships with the CAF to convert Canadian innovations into viable defense solutions that bolster Canada’s defense industrial base.

Calian VENTURES aims to accelerate innovation by fostering collaboration among various sectors, including academia, finance, and industry. Its initial focus areas are command-and-control decision support systems, autonomous systems, and space resource orchestration. By targeting these strategic domains, VENTURES aims to enhance Canada’s resilience, promote dual-use applications, and expand export opportunities within the global defense market. This initiative builds upon Canada’s thriving defense economy, which comprises over 585 firms generating $14.3 billion in annual revenue and supporting 81,000 jobs, with indelible contributions from SMEs.

The launch also highlights Ottawa’s vital role as a national hub for defense and security technology. The city hosts more than 330 defense and cybersecurity firms employing 10,000 individuals, as well as Canada’s largest tech park. With 65 federal research labs and numerous defense and security agencies, Ottawa serves as an ideal environment for innovation, enabling Calian and their partners to accelerate mission-critical advancements.

Sonya Shorey, the President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, remarked on Calian's significance to the regional defense ecosystem and noted that initiatives like VENTURES can help SMEs navigate federal procurement and access global markets. She underscored the importance of collaboration among startups, scale-ups, and established firms to harness the full potential of Canada’s defense capabilities and enhance economic growth through innovation.

Calian has a long-standing history, having provided mission-critical solutions for over 40 years. The company is recognized for empowering organizations in critical industries to tackle challenges, manage risks, and drive forward through a blend of expertise, innovative technology, and a global presence.

Invest Ottawa operates as the lead economic development agency for the knowledge-based sectors in the capital region, committed to fostering growth and job creation. It aims to realize Ottawa’s potential as a world-class, inclusive, and innovative city through various support programs for entrepreneurs and businesses. Notably, it has had a significant economic impact, contributing $3.7 billion to GDP and creating over 29,000 jobs since 2017.

In summary, Calian VENTURES stands as a crucial effort to enhance Canada's defense capabilities by bridging the gap between innovation and operational readiness for SMEs, while bolstering Ottawa's presence as a leading center for defense technology.