As Canada invests in Arctic sovereignty, the Canadian Armed Forces need forward camps that can run themselves in extreme cold. Through the IDEaS program, DND is funding up to $6.75 million (across phases) for integrated water and waste technologies that let Relocatable Transportable Camps operate independently and sustainably in Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions — while meeting Canadian environmental and health regulations.
This is a cleantech-meets-defence opportunity. Prior prototypes weren't tested through an Arctic winter, where materials become brittle, fluids freeze, and power efficiency collapses. Here is what CAF is asking for.
What CAF is looking for
Integrated water and waste solutions engineered for the real Arctic — not a lab. The challenge explicitly flags the failure modes of earlier attempts: material brittleness in extreme cold, fluid freezing, and poor power efficiency. Solutions must let a Relocatable Transportable Camp be self-sufficient while complying with Canadian environmental and health rules.
Funding and phases
IDEaS funds through technology-readiness-gated phases: you can enter at the stage that matches your maturity and progress toward an advanced prototype.
Who can apply
IDEaS eligibility is broad: individuals, academic institutions, not-for-profits, provincial/territorial/municipal governments, and industry can all apply. Federal and provincial Crown corporations are excluded. Submissions run through CanadaBuys.
How to apply — and how we help
IDEaS proposals are evaluated against defined criteria and TRL evidence. For a cleantech company, the winning move is to translate your technology's performance into the specific Arctic conditions CAF names — cold-weather materials, freeze protection, power draw. We help applicants scope the right component, evidence the TRL, and stack IDEaS with SR&ED and cleantech programs like the Clean Tech ITC.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I get from IDEaS Competitive Projects?
Up to $6.75M total across TRL-gated phases: Component 1a up to $250K/6 months, Component 1b up to $1.5M/12 months, and Component 2 up to $5M.
When are proposals due for Sustainable Northern Operations?
October 20, 2026 at 2 p.m. EDT. The call for proposals opened September 10, 2026. Confirm on the official DND IDEaS page before submitting.
Who can apply to IDEaS?
Individuals, academia, not-for-profits, sub-national (provincial/territorial/municipal) governments, and industry. Federal and provincial Crown corporations are excluded.
Is this a cleantech or a defence program?
Both — it is a DND IDEaS challenge seeking water and waste (cleantech) technology hardened for Arctic military operations. It pairs well with civilian cleantech incentives like SR&ED and the Clean Tech ITC.
Have Arctic-ready water or waste technology?
We help Canadian cleantech and defence companies scope the right IDEaS component, evidence the TRL against Arctic conditions, and stack it with SR&ED and the Clean Tech ITC.
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