Innovation and $1.3 billion in investments in the Canadian Space sector on the horizon

The Canadian space sector is evolving rapidly, and there are lots of exciting developments happening across the industry and investments being made by the private and public sector.  

Last month, I attended the SpaceBound conference in Ottawa, Canada. For those who don’t know, the two-day conference is hosted by Space Canada and the conference brings together leaders in the space industry and ecosystem. In attendance were key stakeholders from the private and public sectors, and together, there were discussions on innovation and commercialization in the space sector.  
 
The conference shed light on Canada's developing sovereign launch capability, showcasing the country's potential as a key player in the global space market. Another significant takeaway was the emphasis on Canadian government investments in space technology, underscoring the importance of working with policymakers and industry leaders to shape the future of the industry. Other space sector technologies include navigation, satellite communication, Earth observation, space exploration, and space science. 

The Canadian government also stepped up, announcing  up to $1.3 billion in investments in space-related programs as part of the Federal budget released (and passed) the week before the conference which included: 

• $182.6 million to support development of sovereign launch capabilities  

• 5% defence spending pledge by 2035, including $656.9 million, under Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada to develop and commercialize dual-use technologies  

• $528.5 million to further Canada's collaboration with the European Space Industry, first announced by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, at SpaceBound 

Of particular interest to me were the conference sessions on dual-use technology, which in this context refers to using space technology both for defense and commercial purposes.  The discussion centered on overlaps in technology use and collaboration between countries, which underscores the importance for space sector companies to have a global view when protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. 

The State of the Canadian Space Sector Report 2024 (“Report”) was also recently published with insights based on responses from 215 organizations involved in space activities from across Canada.  As highlighted in the Report,  research and development expenditures reached a new high of $650M (+10%) last year led by the private sector. There was also a significant increase in activity related to inventions and patents cited in the Report.  

Notably, between 2022 and 2023, the number of space-related inventions in Canada climbed by +33% while registered patents rose by +114%. Canadian companies are contributing to the global space economy and building domestic capability by innovating, commercializing, and protecting IP.