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bmiller@medicinehatnews.com<\/a>\nResearchers from Medicine Hat College held a national webinar Thursday to present new research examining how communities can strengthen their role in Canada\u2019s defence sector, expand research and encourage collaboration among stakeholders to create opportunities and push Canadian technology and innovation forward.
\nDozens of industry leaders, government officials, academia and key members of the defence sector heard from local researchers from MHC\u2019s Centre for Innovation (C4i) on insights gained after completing a year-long research project into supporting defence ecosystems in Canada and allied nations.
\nDr. Vika Rai is the research co-ordinator at C4i and led the presentation, sharing information gathered from research conducted locally that was funded through a grant from the Department of National Defence.
\nMore than 50 interviews were conducted throughout research with industry stakeholders in Canada and allied nations, as well as officials from government and other research organizations part of the national defence sector.
\nThe key theme of Rai\u2019s presentation was highlighting the impact and value of regional collaboration between defence, industry, research institutions and support organizations that can create a \u201cdefence innovation hub\u201d to strengthen national defence and attract defence-related business and industry to the region.
\n\u201cSo having secure collaborative spaces that can bring smaller companies, researchers, defence, everyone in the space working together on sensitive technologies is a great way to expedite and speed up our process in this sense,\u201d explains Rai. \u201cUltimately the goal is moving promising Canadian technologies more quickly from development to testing, validation and defence use.\u201d
\nRai used southeast Alberta as an example of a defence innovation hub and cited partnerships between existing entities around Medicine Hat like CFB Suffield and its defence research centre, the Foremost UAS testing range, the regional airport, as well as local manufacturers like Landing Zones, regional research partnerships and collaborations.
\n\u201cRather than creating just a standalone program for the hub, it is important to establish connectors and liaisons,\u201d said Rai. \u201cThis would provide a very clear bridge between the industry and the defence users, connecting companies, programs, partners and helping navigate the requirement and engagement with military end users.\u201d
\nRai says ideal conditions for a regional innovation hub include a sufficient scale for regional capabilities and connectivity, close access to defence installations and testing environment and a regional supply chain with shared capabilities.
\nRai believes the development of more defence innovation hubs could have a positive impact on improving testing access, establish regional connectors, secure spaces and increase diversified funding toward defence spending.
\nHubs would also be effective to navigate procurement processes and national security clearances and improve cybersecurity and technology and readiness requirements.
\nKey barriers that remain in the industry include a complex procurement process, security and compliance requirements and limited specialized talent, as well as difficulty accessing defence end users.
\nA hub could provide concierge support and procurement guidance through collaboration and lead to stronger relationships within the industry and government.
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