Icebreaker's Matthew Lombardi says many of the technologies Canada is developing have dual defense applications.
This week on the BetaKit Podcast we're talking about defense technology.
This is a completely new topic for the group, since last year there was no defense technology sector.
“This is really an opportunity for us to build sovereign capability and leapfrog to get our armed forces where they need to be by taking advantage of Canada's advanced technology.”
In this geopolitical situation, defense suddenly becomes unbearable. very hot: The federal government has committed to spending 5 percent of GDP defense by 2035, changed procurement laws to support the sector and encouraging banks and pension funds invest.
The feds even called out this week's guest, Defense Bulletin's Matthew Lombardi. Icebreakerto help map the sector with the help of the Council of Canadian Innovators.
Lombardi discovered a group of nearly 500 Canadian companies creating mission-critical technologies—technologies such as quantum, logistics and telecommunicationsor aerospacefor example, which have a “dual purpose” in the defense sector. It also found procurement issues common to Canadian technology companies across all industries, as well as some funding and regulatory obstacles especially for defense.
We cover all of this and more in this episode, but I want to get back to the newness of the topic for a moment.
The need in the Canadian defense technology sector is new to all involved, including BetaKit. And for some (including me!) this can be an uncomfortable topic.
But as our Prime Minister I recently noticedThere has been a rupture in the world order, the consequences of which are very profound. This conversation is part of that.
So what does Canadian defense technology look like?
Let's dig in.
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Image courtesy of Prime Minister Mark Carney via YouTube. Recorded and edited on Toronto Podcasts.
