The Government of Canada this month commented that the defence industry must be prioritized “in a dangerous and divided world.”
This week, Canada earmarked funding for an organization based out of Alberta that is seeking to innovate the defence industry.
The federal government unveiled $2 million in funding for ConvergX Global Solutions.
ConvergX connects industry leaders, governments, and innovation ecosystems to accelerate the commercialization of technologies.
“Through this investment in ConvergX, our new government is strengthening Canada’s security and positioning Alberta as a leader in aerospace and defence innovation,” stated Eleanor Olszewski, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
“By harnessing Alberta’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and technology, we’re creating good jobs, driving economic growth, and ensuring a reinvigorated defence industrial base provides our Armed Forces with the tools they need to keep Canadians safe,” Olszewski continued.
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund also invested ConvergX alongside Boeing.
“With OCIF’s investment in the Xpand Commercialization Hub, we’re helping those innovators bridge the gap between late-stage development and real-world deployment—accelerating growth, creating jobs, and positioning Calgary as a vital contributor to Canada’s defence and technology future,” noted Brad Parry, CEO of Calgary Economic Development and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.
Alberta’s aviation and aerospace industry “has been a key focus for our government to create jobs and diversify our economy,” according to Joseph Schow, who functions as Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration.
“Calgary continues to exceed expectations in building industries through strategic collaboration,” commented Corey Hogan, a Member of Parliament for the Calgary Confederation.
“The funding announced today will support a strong Canadian economy by enabling ConvergX to help small- and medium-sized businesses prove their technologies and capture global market share in the aviation and defence industries,” he said.
Specifically, the mix of private and public capital is earmarked for the launch of the ConvergX Xpand Commercialization Zone.
Xpand will provide technology testing, validation, and export readiness training to help Alberta businesses commercialize defence-related innovations.
“Through the ConvergX Xpand Commercialization Zone, we’re accelerating proven technologies from Alberta and Canada into global defence and across multiple industries,” stated Kimberley Van Vliet, founder and chief executive officer of ConvergX.
While designed for defence, the governments anticipate that many of the developed technologies will be dual-use, with applications across sectors like energy, agriculture, and artificial intelligence, according to a statement.
“Xpand is more than a commercialization program,” explains Van Vliet. “Xpand turns proven, market-ready technology into deployed capability by aligning real operational needs–from the Canadian Armed Forces and DND to industry–with a clear path to validation, adaptation, market entry, and scale across energy, aerospace, defence, security, space, mining, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, medicine, construction, military, and others.”
Federal funding is forecast to provide programming and training for more than 45 businesses and support 100 jobs.
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