PacifiCan backs B.C. tech for defence and exports

A regional economic agency announced a coordinated package that channels $46.6 million into eight projects across British Columbia, combining research infrastructure upgrades with industry-focused commercialization and supplier-preparedness initiatives.

The funding split concentrates large sums on university labs and secure testbeds while awarding smaller, targeted grants to intermediaries that will deliver procurement mentoring, supplier matchmaking and Indigenous‑business inclusion programs.

Technical priorities include quantum communications, secure high‑performance computing for AI workloads, handheld biosurveillance hardware, advanced materials and systems designed for harsh marine environments; several projects will create controlled networks and facilities where sensitive hardware and software can be validated under near‑operational conditions.

Officials framed the investments as both near‑term commercialization accelerants and longer‑term capacity building: universities receive capital upgrades while accelerators and industry groups get resources to shorten the path from prototype to defence procurement.

The announcement is part of the national Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) and aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy. PacifiCan notes an open RDII intake with submissions due by April 15, 2026, creating a concrete timeline for SMEs seeking follow‑on support.

Delivery mechanics matter: lessons from other provincial RDII tranches show that capital injections alone do not guarantee orders. For example, a recent Quebec RDII disbursement directed roughly $33 million to 28 projects and was accompanied by estimates of about 250 jobs created or sustained — but industry groups there warned that procurement predictability, faster security clearances and streamlined accreditation are essential to convert capacity upgrades into sustained contracts.

Industry stakeholders across regions have repeatedly urged Ottawa to pair grants with operational reforms — simpler procurement windows, clearer local‑content expectations and accelerated vetting — to avoid underutilization of newly upgraded facilities and to make firms investment‑ready for multi‑year defence supply opportunities.

PacifiCan’s package intentionally mixes near‑term commercialization support with infrastructure that benefits longer‑term research and export goals, a design intended to let universities, SMEs and intermediaries coordinate investments and share costly test facilities.

Expected outcomes highlighted by officials include improved supply‑chain readiness, increased export capacity for defence‑capable goods, and stronger regional ability to field secure communications and sensing technologies — though scaling beyond pilot contracts will depend on follow‑on procurement commitments and access to production capital.

• Documented grants include multi‑million investments in university labs and quantum testbeds alongside awards for procurement training and marine‑sector commercialization.
• Complementary program design elements — mentoring, prime‑contractor introductions and supplier‑matchmaking — are intended to reduce commercial friction for SMEs seeking defence contracts.