Sponsor
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
Program
Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH)
For More Information
See the Defence Innovation Secure Hubs website.
Description
Canada’s defence and national security organizations are operating in an environment characterized by rapid technological change, increasing system complexity, and heightened security requirements. Frontier technologies such as uncrewed systems (UxS) and quantum technologies are expected to have a significant impact on future defence and security operations.
While testing and experimentation environments exist, few are suitable for work involving sensitive military applications. Despite rapid innovation in the commercial and research sectors, the absence of trusted conditions for development, integration, and demonstration limits the translation of promising UxS and quantum technologies into operationally relevant capabilities.
Without mechanisms that enable controlled experimentation and trusted collaboration at the required classification level, Canada risks delayed adoption and reduced operational advantage as these technologies mature globally.
This Call for Proposals seeks to address this gap by enabling the conditions required to support the development, integration, and demonstration of UxS and quantum technologies for defence and national security purposes through the establishment of Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISHs).
DISHs are intended to provide secure, mission-oriented environments that support sustained collaboration across government, industry, academia, and the not-for-profit sector, and enable research, development, and experimentation activities aligned with defence and security needs.
The detailed challenge statement, including stream-specific objectives, background and context, and expected outcomes for both the UxS and Quantum streams, are provided in Annex A of the BOREALIS Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH) Applicant Guide.
Eligibility
This CFP is open to proposals submitted by eligible Canadian organizations, in partnership with other eligible organizations, to establish and operate a DISH.
Eligible Lead Applicant organizations or institutions are:
- Canadian incorporated for-profit organizations
- Canadian incorporated not-for-profit organizations
- Canadian universities or other post-secondary institutions chartered in Canada
The Lead Applicant will act as the Recipient for the purposes of the contribution agreement and will assume overall responsibility for the proposed DISH.
Eligible Partner organizations or institutions are:
- Canadian universities and other post-secondary institutions chartered in Canada;
- Canadian incorporated for-profit organizations
- Canadian incorporated not-for-profit organizations
- Canadian provincial, territorial and municipal government organizations.
All organizations/institutions must possess the legal status necessary to enter into a contribution agreement.
Federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations are not eligible for funding. Furthermore, proposals must not assume or include the use of federally owned infrastructure or facilities, including infrastructure owned or operated by the Department of National Defence or the Canadian Armed Forces, as part of the proposed DISH.
- Team composition: Proposals must include multidisciplinary teams of partners from at least two separate eligible organizations and/or institutions necessary to deliver the objectives of the proposed DISH
Funding Availability
- Funding mechanism: Non-repayable contribution
-
Indicative annual funding profile per DISH (non-binding):
- Year 1 (FY 2026–27): Typically, in the range of approximately $5–10 million, depending on the scope and scale of proposed establishment and early delivery activities.
- Year 2 (FY 2027–28): Typically, in the range of approximately $10–15 million, depending on the scope and scale of scaled operations and programmatic activity.
- One eligible Canadian organization must be identified as the Lead Applicant and will act as the Initial Recipient for the purposes of the contribution agreement
Indirect Costs
Administrative/overhead costs not exceeding 15% of total eligible costs
Project Duration
Duration of contribution: Up to the end of March 2028
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Completed Proposal Form and signed OR-5 form due to research.services@uoguelph.ca | |
External Deadline | Applicants are required to register and submit their proposal(s) using the CPC Connect provided by Canada Post Corporation (CPC). |
How to Apply
Applicants must use the Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH) Proposal form. Applicants are and will remain solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their submission. Applicants should read the applicant guide and the challenge statement in its entirety prior to submitting their proposal.
Defence Innovation Secure Hubs (DISH) Proposal form [PDF - 65KB]
The proposal must be submitted by an eligible Lead Applicant by the stated deadline. No proposal submissions will be accepted after the deadline. Proposals not using the DISH proposal form will not be accepted for consideration. Applicants are required to register and submit their proposal(s) using the CPC Connect provided by Canada Post Corporation (CPC). CPC Connect is a digital delivery platform that facilitates sending and receiving confidential messages and documents. Proposals submitted by email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to create an account with CPC Connect and complete all required steps to submit the proposal. Applicants must request their Connect conversation at least five (5) days prior to the CFP closing.