CanNor Regional Defence Investment Initiative
The Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) is a $357.7 million program delivered by Canada's Regional Development Agencies to support Canada's defence and security needs while bolstering regional economic development.
CanNor is delivering up to $40.5 million under this initiative in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon over three years, starting in 2025-2026.
The RDII aims to accelerate the integration of businesses and regional ecosystems into domestic and international defence supply chains and increase their industrial and innovation capacity, while also supporting defence-related strategic regional assets in targeted circumstances.
Offered by Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
Amount
No fixed amount
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- In Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon
- Businesses, mainly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that are active or wish to position themselves in the defence industry supply chain, including through dual-use products or services
- Not-for-profit organizations, including industry associations and consortia, business accelerators and incubators, etc. that support SMEs
- Indigenous recipients
- Provincial, territorial and municipal authorities
About the funding
- Contributions to SMEs are normally repayable.
- Contributions to NPOs and eligible Indigenous entities are normally non-repayable.
Businesses funded by this program
2 businesses funded since 2021
Most recent recipients
| Business | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|
| ARROWHEAD ARCTIC CENTER INC | Whitehorse, YT | 2025 |
| SEDNA ROV SERVICES INC. | Iqaluit, NU | 2025 |
Source: Government of Canada, Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Response Fund (SRF) | Grant, Loan | Minimum SRF contribution of $10 million for projects with total costs of at least $20 million | Open |
| CanNor Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
| CanNor Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
| BDC Loan for tech companies | Loan | No fixed amount | Open |
