Toronto, ON – February 26, 2026 – Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is receiving a Government of Canada investment, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support its newly launched CDL Defence program. The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, made the announcement at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. This funding will accelerate dual-use technologies that serve both commercial markets and defence applications.
CDL Defence is a global program designed to support science-based ventures. These ventures are developing technologies that directly address operational needs in defence, national security, and critical infrastructure across domains including autonomy, space systems, advanced materials, energy, and medtech.
CDL Defence provides founders with direct access to experienced mentors who’ve built dual-use companies, operators who understand defence requirements, and procurement expertise to bridge the gap from breakthrough research to scaled deployment. The inaugural program year is currently underway, operating across six CDL sites in Canada and Europe (CDL-Atlantic, CDL-Berlin, CDL-Estonia, CDL-Rockies, CDL-Toronto, and CDL-Vancouver), with in-person sessions taking place alongside major security forums including the Halifax International Security Forum and Munich Security Conference. The CDL Defence program is also supported by partners Osler and BDC, and will welcome new applicants in Fall 2026. Learn more here.
“Canadian innovators are developing technologies that are essential to our national security and our future economic prosperity. Through the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy and RDII investments, the Government of Canada is helping build the technologies and capabilities needed to strengthen our sovereignty and support the growth of Canada’s defence sector,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Today’s investments in Creative Destruction Lab support the development of sovereign technologies to meet Canada’s defence needs.”
“This investment recognizes that commercializing research is critical to Canada’s technology leadership and economic resilience. With the support from FedDev Ontario, CDL Defence provides the structured environment science-based founders need as they navigate from breakthrough research to deployment,” said Sonia Sennik, CEO of Creative Destruction Lab.
About Creative Destruction Lab
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. Its nine-month program allows founders to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their likelihood of success. Founded by Professor Ajay Agrawal in 2012 at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, the program has expanded and now has 16 sites across ten countries: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, Paris, Madison, Seattle, Estonia, Berlin, Melbourne, College Station, Milan, London, San Sebastian, and Doha.
About FedDev Ontario
Since 2009, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our impact stories, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.
Media Contact:
Sofia Ouslis
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
sofia.ouslis@ised-isde.gc.ca
