Northern Ontario Defence Opportunities | The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound

Program Description

The Northern Ontario Defence Opportunities (NODO) Program supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ontario by building their capacity to serve Canada’s defence industry. The program supports SMEs to diversify operations, increase competitiveness, and enter the defence sector through targeted financial assistance.

Through this program, businesses may:

Secure a non-repayable financial contribution covering up to 75% of eligible project costs (up to $50,000) per business.
Offset major costs associated with obtaining essential industry certifications and gating requirements.
De-risk capital or technical transitions required to enter high-value defence procurement pipelines.
Help better position the business for future contracts with Tier 1 & 2 suppliers, prime contractors, and the broader defence economic ecosystem.

Business Eligibility:

To be considered for selection by the Steering Committee, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

Business Size: Must be a Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) with 499 employees or less.
Business Structure: Must be for-profit incorporated SME.
Location: Must actively operate within Northern Ontario (with a strategic focus on firms ready to scale into national or international supply chains).
Business Stage: Must be established and beyond the "exploratory" phase, possessing a clear value proposition for the defence sector.
Demonstrated Readiness: Must provide clear evidence of proactive industry engagement, such as past or current discussions with primes or Tier 1 & 2 suppliers; attendance at official defence procurement briefings or trade shows; documented steps toward achieving supplier qualification or regulatory compliance; and/or proof of concept through prototype development & testing.

Note: Not for profits, charities, educational institutions and public sector organizations are not eligible.

Eligible Sector Focus:

The business must operate in or directly support defence-related or dual-use sectors, including:

Specialized and Advanced Manufacturing (including Aerospace and Space-Tech).
Digital Systems (including AI, Secure Cloud and Quantum Computing).
Sensors, Cybersecurity, and Data-Driven systems.
In-service support and supply-chain enabling services.

Potential Eligible Activities:

Certifications
Market Exposure
Supplier Qualification
Market Diversification
Equipment & Technology Upgrades

Step 1: Download & Review the Full Information Package

Download Information Package Here

Step 2: Submit an Application

Click the button below to visit an external link and submit your application to the NODO program after you have reviewed the full information package.

Submit Application Here