Canada is enhancing its defence capabilities by leveraging its abundant resources and innovation in advanced materials to address emerging threats and geopolitical challenges in an increasingly interconnected world
Recent geopolitical crises, international trade tensions and the reconfiguration of global supply chains have profoundly transformed the challenges facing national security and defence. Against this backdrop of increased competition for access to strategic resources, many countries are reassessing their industrial priorities and sovereign capabilities. Canada is no exception. Faced with rapidly evolving threats and the growing importance of strategic autonomy, the Canadian government has placed national defence at the heart of its priorities. The country has therefore committed to gradually increasing its defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, up from just over 2% today. This effort not only seeks to modernise and strengthen the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces but also consolidate the entire industrial and technological ecosystem that supports them.
To achieve this ambitious goal, several measures have been announced or reinforced, including increased investment in defence-related research and development, support for technological innovation, the creation of highly skilled jobs, growth in defence industry revenues, and an increase in Canadian exports within this strategic sector. However, the development of a robust defence industry does not rely solely on financial investment. It also requires secure access to critical resources and advanced materials capable of meeting the demands of tomorrow’s military technologies. With this in mind, this article highlights Canada’s abundance of natural resources and critical and strategic materials (CSMs), as well as the many research, innovation and industrial development opportunities they afford.
Critical resources in the service of defence
Canada, including Québec, enjoys significant advantages in this area. The Canadian territory contains several mineral resources essential for defence applications, notably titanium, niobium and graphite. Titanium and niobium are widely used in the manufacture of high-performance alloys for military structures, aeronautical systems and surveillance or navigation equipment like radar and sonar. Graphite, meanwhile, plays an increasingly important role in advanced energy technologies, electronic systems, and certain targeting and defence equipment requiring high levels of energy efficiency and precision.
Beyond mining, Canada is also a strategic player in the refining of several key materials for the defence sector. The country produces aluminium, among other things, which is essential for the manufacture of lightweight, high-strength alloys used in missiles, aerial platforms, radars and electronic warfare systems. It also refines cobalt, a material essential for the superalloys used in military engines and propulsion systems, as well as high-performance batteries used in drones, autonomous systems and other defence equipment.
Québec: An innovation hub in advanced materials
Canada’s strength does not rest solely on the abundance of its natural resources. One of the country’s key assets also lies in its expertise in advanced materials and the quality of its innovation ecosystem, which is particularly well developed in Québec. Through collaborations between universities, research centres, businesses and funding organisations like PRIMA Québec, the province has established itself as a leader in several strategic defence-related fields.
Lightweight, high-strength materials are among its most promising sectors. Advanced composites and high-performance alloys help reduce the weight of military platforms while improving their mechanical strength, durability and energy efficiency. Québec’s work in this field addresses critical needs involving land vehicles, airborne systems and specialised equipment operating in extreme conditions.
The province is also recognised for its expertise in materials designed for protection and survival. Advanced ceramics, ballistic composites, electromagnetic shielding materials and technical textiles help enhance the protection of personnel and equipment against conventional, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. These developments not only strengthen operational capabilities but also reinforce Canada’s industrial self-sufficiency in strategic sectors.
Key technologies for tomorrow’s defence capabilities
Stealth and camouflage represent another important area of innovation. Research into radar-absorbing materials and multifunctional coatings, along with solutions that reduce electromagnetic, thermal and acoustic signatures, helps improve the survivability of modern military platforms.
Québec also excels in the field of functional and smart materials. Nanostructured materials, self-healing materials, metamaterials and photoelectric materials help improve the performance of sensors, communication systems, radar technologies and energy storage. They also play a vital role in the thermal management of advanced electronic systems, a critical issue for next-generation defence technologies.
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Energy materials, along with those used in electronic systems, have also been attracting greater interest. Research into propulsion materials, advanced semiconductors, smart sensors and detection technologies continues to pave the way for strategic applications in surveillance, secure communications, guidance and autonomous systems. Added to this are advances in high-energy density batteries and additive manufacturing, which help strengthen the resilience and flexibility of supply chains.
An international showcase for Québec expertise
The province’s expertise was recently showcased on the international stage. Between the 1st and 3rd of July 2026, PRIMA Québec took part in the AUXDefense conference in Madeira, Portugal, an event dedicated to innovation, along with defence and security technologies. The organisation used the opportunity to highlight Canada and Québec’s key strengths in advanced materials, innovation and industrial sovereignty.
Among the key points discussed were Canada’s wealth of natural resources and critical minerals, the strength of strategic sectors like aerospace, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and the opportunities afforded through its involvement in major international programs. Furthermore, in July 2024, Canada became an associated Horizon Europe nation and the first non-European country to participate in the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative.
In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, global competition for access to critical resources and the growing importance of defence-related issues, PRIMA Québec also highlighted the role that critical and strategic materials can play in the development of dual-use technologies for both civilian and military applications. The priorities outlined included, among others, strengthening international collaboration in research and innovation while increasing support for Québec’s collaborative innovation ecosystem in defence and security.
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To coordinate and strengthen this ecosystem, Québec primarily relies on Sector-Based Industrial Research Clusters (RSRIs), which bring together organisations that support collaborative research using a uniquely Canadian model. With this in mind, the CRIAQ, PRIMA Québec’s sister organisation, leads nine RSRIs in the field of defence and national security.
This mandate seeks to strengthen and mobilise Québec’s collaborative defence research and development ecosystem. This pooling of industrial sectors, along with the expertise networks of each RSRI, will help develop a common strategy that can mobilise and support the province’s industrial and academic stakeholders.
The approach will facilitate the emergence of collaborative projects, accelerate the adaptation of dual-use technologies and help transform Quebec’s scientific and technological excellence into practical solutions for defence and security.
By strengthening ties between various innovation stakeholders, Quebec will consolidate its position as a strategic partner in Canada’s defence efforts, along with those of its allies. This ability to rapidly mobilise complementary expertise represents a key driver of technological development, one that will underpin tomorrow’s defence capabilities, with advanced materials playing a decisive role.
Conclusion
In a global context where technological sovereignty, secure supply chains and industrial resilience have become strategic priorities, Canada possesses considerable strengths. Its combination of critical mineral resources, industrial processing capabilities and high-performance innovation ecosystems places the country in a strong position to support the development of its defence capabilities. Québec plays a central role in this dynamic thanks to its recognised expertise in advanced materials and its strong research and innovation capabilities.
PRIMA Québec’s involvement at the AUXDefense conference further illustrates the ecosystem’s growing international recognition, along with the world’s increasing interest in Québec-based solutions. By capitalising on its resources, scientific expertise and strategic partnerships, Canada is well positioned to strengthen its strategic autonomy and boost its industrial competitiveness while actively contributing to the defence technologies that will shape the coming decades.
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