Has the time come for a Canadian DARPA? [En anglais seulement]
“Canada is at a historic crossroads,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, recently. Never before have we had such a clear opportunity to make a defining choice as a nation: to invest in our technological sovereignty and strengthen national security, while mobilizing our talent, researchers, and scientists to build a more resilient future.
With massive investments in defence and strategic infrastructure — $128 billion over five years, including $83 billion dedicated exclusively to National Defence, much of it earmarked for modernizing our military equipment and infrastructure — Canada now has the financial means to turn innovation capacity into a tangible asset for our security and autonomy. Beyond the numbers, this is a chance to build a long-term strategy for technological leadership, one that integrates academic research, private sector innovation, and defence priorities into a coherent, goal-driven national program.
A Canadian program inspired by DARPA could transform these investments into strategic innovation. In the United States, DARPA revolutionized technological development: top-tier research teams, autonomy in project management, and above all, a guaranteed client — the U.S. military. Every successful innovation is immediately applied, with a direct impact on national security and the country’s technological leadership.
What makes this model so effective and so relevant for Canada is its long-term vision. DARPA projects often span decades — sometimes as much as 30 years — allowing researchers to focus on fundamental R&D with clear objectives, rather than chasing short-term wins. Its structured stages with companies ensure steady progress, while a competitive environment drives creativity and broad applicability. This deliberate approach has repeatedly produced transformative breakthroughs, from the internet to stealth technology. Adopting a similar framework in Canada would not only strengthen defence innovation but also create fertile ground for civilian applications, ensuring every dollar invested benefits both our security and our economy.
Canada has long studied this model, but always without the critical element: a direct link with the military client and guaranteed investments to move research into application. Today, with the defence spending already planned, that condition is finally in place. If we are serious about building a Canadian version of DARPA, the time is now.
These expenditures will also have a major economic impact, stimulating construction and strengthening domestic production through an ambitious defence industrial strategy. By creating a direct bridge between our laboratories, our companies, and our armed forces, we will generate a powerful ripple effect: new patents, stronger Canadian value chains, and benefits across the whole economy. Far more than a lever for aerospace and advanced technologies, such a program would also reinforce Canada’s entire manufacturing sector — the true engine of our regions — by driving local production and large-scale industrial innovation.
A Canadian DARPA would mobilize talent in strategic fields — artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, optronics, quantum technologies, and infrastructure resilience — while keeping these innovations in Canada and reinforcing our autonomy. It would also help retain our best researchers and attract international talent, at a time when global competition for innovation has never been fiercer.
As our allies accelerate their own programs (Europe with the EDA, Australia with AUKUS), Canada cannot afford to fall behind. A program inspired by DARPA would position our country as an indispensable partner within NATO and a credible contributor to North American security.
The opportunity is here: the funding is in place, and the talent is ready. With vision, ambition, and commitment, Canada can seize this moment to shape the next generation of technologies, safeguard our sovereignty, and ensure a prosperous and secure future for all Canadians. Let us show the world what Canada can achieve.
Cette lettre ouverte écrite par le Dr Arvind Gupta, Directeur académique, « Strategic Initiative, Computer Science », Université de Toronto et Éric Bosco, directeur exécutif de l’Institut AdapT a été publiée dans le Hill Times le 24 septembre 2025. Disponible ici.
