BDC Expands Partnerships to Support Canadian Defence Companies

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has announced an expansion of its partner network aimed at assisting Canadian defence and dual-use technology companies. These new and renewed collaborations are designed to help businesses test their technologies, navigate procurement processes, reach customers, and scale nationally and internationally.

Unveiled at DEFSEC Atlantic, the initiatives connect entrepreneurs with specialized expertise, testing facilities, investors, and industry networks across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario. These partnerships complement BDC's $6 billion Defence Platform, which provides financing, capital, and advisory services to accelerate the commercialization of innovations.

"Canada has no shortage of defence innovation. The challenge is helping great technologies and products reach customers and scale," said Peter Dawe, Senior Vice President, Defence Strategy, BDC. "Through these partnerships, we are helping entrepreneurs move faster, compete globally, and strengthen Canada’s defence industrial capacity."

BDC is also supporting Vimy Forge's national defence technology accelerator program, which assists startups and SMEs with specialized mentorship and connections to defence stakeholders. Additionally, the bank is renewing and expanding collaborations with organizations such as Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Invest Ottawa, and the Ontario Defence Association (ODA) to support defence companies at various growth stages.