Waterloo Region Dual Use Tech: Making Canada’s Defence Innovation Visible
Canada’s defence and security capabilities don’t emerge overnight — they are built quietly, company by company, across regional innovation ecosystems. The Waterloo Region Dual Use Tech (wDUT) initiative is designed to make those capabilities visible, credible, and accessible to government stakeholders.
With the launch of DualUseTech.ca, the Waterloo Region has taken a meaningful step toward showcasing the real, in-market defence and dual-use technologies already being developed by local companies.
Why Dual Use Tech Matters Now
Defence, security, and economic resilience are increasingly intertwined. Governments are seeking:
- Domestic technological capability
- Trusted innovation partners
- Sovereignty in critical areas such as AI, digital systems, and advanced engineering
The challenge isn’t a lack of innovation — it’s discoverability.
Dual-use technologies often sit at the intersection of commercial and defence applications. Without a clear way to map and present these capabilities, promising companies remain invisible to the very audiences looking for them.
wDUT directly addresses this gap.
A Platform Built for Government Audiences
The goal of DualUseTech.ca is to highlight the defence-relevant capabilities of Waterloo Region innovation companies — in a format designed for government decision-makers.
Early traction already suggests strong interest, with hundreds of unique visitors shortly after launch, many from public-sector audiences actively exploring Canadian defence innovation.
The site provides:
- A growing member directory of dual-use technology companies
- A structured capabilities mapping approach
- Clear signals of regional depth across AI, advanced systems, and emerging technologies
This is not a marketing exercise — it’s infrastructure for engagement.
Mobilizing the Regional Ecosystem
The initiative goes beyond a website. Companies are encouraged to join the Dual Use Tech member network and Contribute a capabilities capture to ensure accurate representation
These efforts are especially timely as senior federal leadership prepares to engage with the region, including visits focused on understanding in-market defence capabilities and Canada’s path toward technological sovereignty.
From Visibility to Opportunity
Initiatives like wDUT play a critical role in translating regional innovation into national capability. By creating a clear, credible interface between innovators and government stakeholders, Waterloo Region is positioning itself as a serious contributor to Canada’s defence and security ecosystem.
For companies working at the intersection of commercial and defence applications, participation is not just visibility — it’s readiness.
Learn more or explore the initiative:
