What is Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)?
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) is delivered by Department of National Defence (DND) as a grant + contract. Funding is typically up to $6,750,000 across phased streams. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to $6,750,000 across phased streams |
|---|---|
| Cost share | Generally 100% federal contribution (varies by element) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant + Contract |
| Delivered by | Department of National Defence (DND) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - call-based |
| Last verified | 2026-06-01 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Defence, security, dual-use technology, aerospace, AI, cyber, autonomous systems, advanced materials, sensors, communications, simulation, quantum, biotech with defence applications
- Employee count: max No max (some elements scoped to SMEs; others open to large industry)
- Eligible activities: Solving defined defence and security challenges; phased technology development through Competitive Projects; Innovation Networks for collaborative research; Contests; Sandboxes (real-world testing with DND); Test Drives (DND evaluation of innovation)
Watch out for
Solution not addressing a posted defence or security challenge; foreign-only entity with no Canadian footprint; project unrelated to defence or security applications
Deadlines & how to apply
$1.6B / 20-year program under the Strong, Secure, Engaged defence policy. Five funding mechanisms: Competitive Projects (up to $6.75M phased), Innovation Networks (up to $3M), Contests, Sandboxes, Test Drives. Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH) initiative up to $50M envelope. Continuous open calls on specific posted challenges; check the IDEaS portal for active calls before applying.
How NorthGrants helps with Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)
Most business owners read about Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.