Canada's defence and security sector is well represented in the Canada Investment Summit prospectus, with 18 current CADSI members featured across projects representing nearly US$44 billion in disclosed investment opportunities. These projects span advanced manufacturing, aerospace, space, critical minerals, quantum technologies, transportation and other strategic sectors that are helping shape Canada's economic future.

Q&A with Christyn Cianfarani

1. CADSI members are featured in 18 projects in the Canada Investment Summit prospectus, representing nearly US$44 billion in disclosed investment opportunities. What does this level of representation tell us about the role Canada's defence and security sector is playing in Canada's economic future?

It tells me the sector is hot right now and I think that we’re all feeling it. The Prime Minister has sent strong signals out to the investment community that defence and security is a market that is on the upswing and it is increasingly being recognized as a driver of economic growth, innovation and industrial capacity.

What stands out is that many of these opportunities are rooted in capabilities with direct relevance to Canada’s defence and security ecosystem. The projects span advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, quantum technologies, space, transportation and other strategic sectors that are essential to Canada’s long-term competitiveness.

For CADSI, it reinforces a message that we have been advocating for some time: defence and security is not separate from Canada’s economic agenda. It is integral to it. The fact that CADSI members are featured in a national investment prospectus highlights both the capital investment opportunities available to companies looking to grow and the importance of building the capabilities Canada and its allies will need in the years ahead.

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2. Many of the featured CADSI members are concentrated in advanced manufacturing, including aerospace, photonics, space, energetics and other advanced technologies. Did you hear anything at the reception that reinforced the importance of these capabilities to Canada's growth agenda?

One of the strongest impressions from the evening was the recognition that Canada's future economic growth will be driven by innovation, advanced technologies and the ability to build and scale strategic capabilities at home while remaining attractive to commercial market investment within Canada and from abroad. This is why there is so much interest in “dual-use”.

While the reception was not focused specifically on defence, there was a clear appreciation for the importance of building industrial capacity in Canada while fostering Canadian innovation. That creates significant opportunities for many CADSI members, whose technologies and expertise can bridge both conventional defence and commercial markets.

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3. Several newer CADSI members, including FPDynamics, Maritime Launch, CellCore Technologies, and TransPod, are already featured in the prospectus. What does this say about the ambition and growth potential of Canadian companies operating in strategic sectors?

The inclusion of newer CADSI members highlights the increasingly fertile environment for companies developing transformative technologies and infrastructure.

Their presence in the prospectus demonstrates that Canadian companies are successfully moving from start-up to scale, advancing projects of national significance and attracting attention from investors and strategic partners. It is a reminder that Canada's future prosperity will be driven not only by established industry leaders, but also by a new generation of companies developing the capabilities that will shape our economy in the decades ahead.

It’s an encouraging signal that Canada remains a place where ambitious ideas can grow into world-class enterprises and that perhaps not all roads lead to acquisition outside of Canada, namely in the US. It reinforces the fact that Canada has the talent, expertise and industrial capacity to compete globally, and that investors, governments and industry increasingly recognize the value of sectors that contribute to both economic prosperity and national resilience.

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4. Many of the projects featured in the prospectus are seeking strategic partners, investment and access to capital. Based on your conversations, do you see increasing interest from investors and financial institutions in backing Canadian industrial and technology projects?

If I could colloquially characterize the interest financial institutions, lenders and financiers are taking in the sector, I would call it “next level.”

What surprised me most at the reception was the change in attitude from the conventional banking sector. Not only have we seen a rise in CADSI membership amongst the big banks and lending institutions, but we have also seen recent announcements unveiling billions in financing which includes defence alongside other technology verticals.

At the reception there was great appetite from financiers and investors to deeply understand the growth potential in defence and security and, more importantly, the intersection between defence and security and dual-use technology markets. There was also a desire to understand the challenges of investing into a highly politicized and managed global market versus a more open commercial market where some of these technologies can achieve additional growth. A good example of an area of curiosity would be space.

The prospectus itself is evidence of that shift. If something like this had been produced a few years ago, I am certain that we would not have seen a single defence firm within it, or at least companies would not have been characterized that way within it and the defence sides of their businesses would have been suppressed. Now it is an advantage – being a Canadian company with projects that can help drive economic growth while strengthening key national capabilities.

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5. Why is it important for CADSI and its members to be present in broader economic and investment discussions, particularly as defence and security become increasingly tied to innovation, industrial capacity and economic growth?

It's important because the defence and security sector does not operate in isolation. The technologies, infrastructure and industrial capabilities that support national security are increasingly the same ones driving economic growth, innovation and competitiveness across the broader economy.

Events like this bring together government leaders, investors, major employers and industry executives who are shaping Canada's economic future. By ensuring CADSI is part of those conversations, we can help raise awareness of the critical role our members play in advancing Canadian innovation.

It is also an opportunity to position the defence and security sector as a strategic economic asset. As Canada looks to strengthen industrial capacity, CADSI members have expertise and technologies that are directly relevant to those priorities. Being present in these discussions helps ensure our industry is recognized not only for its contribution to security, but also for its contribution to Canada's long-term economic prosperity.

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6. What is the one key takeaway from the evening that you would like CADSI members to know as they pursue growth, investment and new business opportunities in Canada and abroad?

This is our moment to shine.

Canadian companies should be confident in their ability to compete and grow in an increasingly complex global environment.

The reception brought together leaders from government, industry, finance and investment, all of whom have a role to play in shaping Canada's economic future. Being part of those conversations reinforced that there is growing recognition of the importance of building Canadian capabilities and strengthening industrial capacity across strategic sectors.

For CADSI members, the message is clear: there are opportunities to grow, attract partners and expand into new markets. Canada's defence and security sector has the expertise, technology and entrepreneurial spirit to contribute not only to national security, but also to the country's long-term economic success. The key is to remain engaged, continue demonstrating our value and ensure Canada’s defence and security sector has a strong voice in shaping the investment and growth decisions that will define our future prosperity.

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CADSI Members Driving Canada's Next Generation of Investment Opportunities

Among the current CADSI members represented in the prospectus are:

- AKA Energy Systems

- APMA

- Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC)

- CellCore Technologies

- EllisDon

- Focus Graphite

- FPDynamics

- GSCI Advanced Photonics

- Maritime Launch Services

- National Research Council Canada

- Nouveau Monde Graphite

- PV Labs

- Saskatchewan Research Council

- Sterling Energetics

- Telesat

- TransPod

- Wyvern

- Xanadu Quantum Technologies

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Looking Ahead

As governments, investors and industry leaders look to strengthen Canada's industrial base, opportunities continue to emerge for companies developing the technologies and capabilities that will shape the country's future.

The discussion comes at a particularly timely moment. Earlier today, the Government of Canada announced a new Productivity Mega Deduction (PMD), which would allow businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of most capital investments in the year they are made. The measure is intended to encourage investment, strengthen productivity, and enhance Canada's competitiveness, reinforcing the importance of creating an environment that supports growth and industrial capacity across sectors, including many areas where CADSI members are active.

For more information, contact:

Alyson Chambers, Director of Communications, alyson.chambers@defenceandsecurity.ca

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