Department of National Defence: Minefield Breaching – Detect & Destroy
Sponsor’s Website
Visit the Government of Canada website for more information on the Minefield Breaching – Detect & Destroy program.
Internal Contacts
Industry and Partnership Services (IPS): ips@cunet.carleton.ca
Potential applicants are also encouraged to discuss this funding opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.
Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for proposals opens | August 14, 2026 |
| Submission of application | October 14, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. (EDT) |
Overview
Building on the success of the safer passage during minefield breaching operations in Ukraine challenge and demonstration event, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are seeking to develop and test minefield breaching technologies for:
- Detection and reconnaissance: technology that can rapidly detect, identify, classify and characterize mines, obstacles and optimal breach opportunities to support operational planning and decision-making.
- Breaching solutions: technology that can rapidly and efficiently create safe lanes through minefields and obstacle systems to enable the movement of personnel and vehicles.
The Challenge is focused on solutions applicable to active combat environments while under fire from the enemy, although dual-use applications in post-conflict or permissive environments will be considered an asset.
What Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Provides
- A contribution of $1 million for concept development. Up to 10 projects may be selected.
- An opportunity to demonstrate solutions to a CAF audience.
What Innovators Bring
- Technologies that detect mines and assess breaching opportunities.
- Technologies that create lanes through minefields to enable the movement of personnel and vehicles.
- This challenge welcomes dual-use technologies for operations such as post-conflict mine clearing.
Eligibility
Applicants must be a legal entity duly incorporated under Canadian federal or provincial law and validly existing in Canada:
- Canadian universities and educational institutions chartered in Canada.
- Incorporated Canadian not-for-profit organizations or associations.
- Incorporated Canadian for-profit companies, organizations or associations.
- Canadian provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations.
Submitting Your Application
- Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch. Consult the user’s manual for guidance.
- Submit an external application through the online CPC Connect platform, provided by the Canada Post Corporation (CPC). CPC Connect is a digital delivery platform that facilitates sending and receiving confidential messages and documents. Proposals will not be accepted by email.