Joint initiative aligns Calian VENTURES' Space pillar and aims to strengthen Canada's capacity by validating and scaling sovereign space, defence and dual-use technologies.
OTTAWA, ON, October 19, 2026 - Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY), a mission critical solutions company focused on defence, space, healthcare and other strategic critical infrastructure sectors, and Space Innovation Canada (SIC), today announced a strategic collaboration to advance a proposed Prairie-based suborbital platform for the late-stage validation of space, defence and dual-use technologies in high-altitude, high-velocity and microgravity environments.
The collaboration aims to address a critical gap in Canada's innovation ecosystem: access to relevant, repeatable testing environments where emerging technologies can be validated and demonstrated before progressing toward operational deployment and commercial markets. Led by SIC, the proposed vendor-neutral platform would bring together industry, government, Indigenous communities and researchers to support the testing and validation of space, defence and dual-use technologies.
Individual flight-testing projects in Canada can require significant coordination to secure the right vehicles, expertise and funding. SIC's vendor-neutral model is intended to streamline this process through recurring campaigns using high-altitude balloons, sounding rockets and other flight systems. These campaigns can support the validation of technologies across sensing, communications, navigation, materials and scientific research.
For Calian, the collaboration aligns with Calian VENTURES, the company's initiative to connect Canadian innovators and technology companies with the expertise, strategic partnerships and market access needed to test, validate and scale sovereign capabilities. Space is a key pillar of Calian VENTURES, reflecting Calian's commitment to strengthening Canada's domestic space ecosystem and accelerating the commercialization of Canadian technologies.
As Industry Lead, Calian will apply more than 40 years of mission-critical experience to provide the strategic, technical and commercial leadership needed to advance the initiative. Calian will help define mission requirements, align the right capabilities and partners together to accelerate Canadian technologies from validation to commercialization.
"Canada has the research strength and technology talent to develop space, defence and dual-use capabilities with global potential, but innovation alone is not enough," said Chris Pogue, President, Defence and Space, Calian. "We need to create pathways to test, validate and ultimately bring Canadian technologies into operational use. Through Calian VENTURES we're focused on connecting Canadian innovators with the expertise, partnerships and market opportunities needed to turn promising technologies into proven capabilities. The collaboration with Space Innovation Canada is a natural extension of that ambition."
"Canada's investment in research and innovation should create lasting value here at home," said Regan Hinchcliffe, President and Managing Director, Space Innovation Canada. "Working with Calian, we aim to help Canadian technologies reach the market, strengthen domestic capability and share knowledge that supports the next generation of innovators. Calian's technical expertise and delivery experience will be important to advancing this initiative."
About Space Innovation Canada
Space Innovation Canada (SIC) is a federally incorporated Canadian nonprofit dedicated to helping SMEs and applied researchers validate and scale critical technologies from Canadian soil. SIC is working to strengthen Canada's technology-validation ecosystem through industry partnerships, coordinated programming and access to specialized testing. Its proposed vendor-neutral Prairie-based suborbital validation platform would support space, defence and dual-use applications through high-altitude, high-velocity and microgravity testing. Working with experienced operators, SIC plans to use high-altitude balloons, sounding rockets and other flight systems to generate evidence that supports investment, procurement and commercialization. The initiative is also intended to strengthen Canadian capability, develop the workforce and share knowledge for public benefit.
Learn more at spaceinnovation.ca