Partnerships and opportunities: industry

Industry forms a key component of the Canadian innovation system, is a major source of innovative ideas and an important partner for Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). Industrial suppliers translate concepts into reality and provide equipment and systems solutions that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND) depend upon.

Contracts

The most common way to formally engage industry partners is through contracts. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) manages research and development contracts for DRDC, posting tenders on Buy and Sell.

Information Exchange

DRDC employees regularly host or participate in outreach activities, conferences, presentations and trade shows. In addition, we encourage technical exchanges between our scientific and technical staff and industry through informal information exchanges.

Intellectual property 

DRDC seeks to leverage the development of its technologies, whether developed in-house or via procurement processes, and enable technology transfer through licensing and other mechanisms. The goal of such technology transfer activity is to enhance Canada’s Security and Defence industry, enabling economic development and ensuring Canadian industrial capabilities to meet supply chain requirements of the CAF.

DRDC technology transfer occurs in various forms including the publication of scientific reports and other publications. Many of our reports are accessible online.

DRDC actively licenses technologies to the private sector for commercialization. Other forms of transfer and technology sharing occur under international agreements, technology sharing and material transfer agreements, collaborative research agreements, and fee-for-service research.

Use of facilities or services

DRDC facilities are available for use on a case-by-case basis, consistent with its existing science and technology requirements and federal government policies. The facilities are available on a cost-recovery basis, meaning the requesting external client must pay for the use of the facilities and the provision of DRDC services.

Interchange Canada

Employee exchanges between DRDC and industry are possible, as a temporary assignment, through a program administered by Interchange Canada. Such exchanges support the transfer of information and expertise, the professional development of participants and help to enhance networking and communications between organizations. Details on this program are available on the Treasury Board Secretariat website: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/interchange-canada.html