Build in Canada Innovation Program priority areas
The Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) targets innovative products and services within several priority areas. Each priority area fits into one of two categories:
If you are an innovator who would like to submit an innovation, review each priority area to see where your innovation might fit. In your proposal, you will provide the priority area where your innovation fits best.
Your proposal can include only one innovation in only one priority area within only one component. For example, your innovation, a piece of military technology with a standard commercial component, cannot be submitted twice nor under both components.
Build in Canada Innovation Program innovations
The BCIP is looking for technology, equipment, software or services that:
- can compete in the industry of the priority area
- can clearly demonstrate substantial benefits over existing goods and services in the industry
- is usable within federal operations
The BCIP cannot be used as a way to get certification or licencing. Before you apply, make sure you have all relevant health and safety and other regulatory certifications in place.
Standard component
There are four priority areas within the standard component. Within each priority area, the BCIP gives examples of the types of goods and services they seek.
Enabling technologies
Enabling technologies is a broad priority area that includes biotechnologies, information and communications technologies, information management and nanotechnologies. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This is not a comprehensive list.
Biotechnologies
- Bacteria capabilities
- Biofuels
- Genetically modified plants
- Improved disease detection
- Repair of damaged organs and tissues
Information and communications technologies manufacturing and services
- Audio and video equipment
- Communications equipment (including wired and wireless)
- Computer and peripheral equipment
- Software and computer services (software publishers, computer systems design and data processing)
- Telecommunications services
Information management
- Database support and data management
- Electronic document management
- Online IM tools
- Records and mail management
- Research and information
- Web IM services
Nanotechnologies
- Agrifood nanotechnology
- Nanoremediation
- Nanotechnology-based consumer products
- Synthetic biology
Environment
Environmental innovations can be related to air, water, land or biodiversity. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This is not a comprehensive list.
Alternative energy
- Biofuels and biomass
- Component technologies (such as inverters, generators and control systems)
- Geothermal
- Hydrogen
- Solar
- Water (low-head, tidal and wave)
- Wind
Energy and material efficiency
- Energy conserving control systems
- Green buildings and materials
- Grid integration systems and technologies
- Heat exchangers and pumps
- High-efficiency and low-energy products
- Innovative energy storage (for low impact serving energy management needs)
- Low impact technologies (such as biodegradables, natural pesticides and cleansers as well as reduced human or environmental toxicity products)
- Insulation
- Monitoring technologies
- Waste reduction systems
- Water conservation
Greenhouse gases
- Avoidance technologies
- Capture technologies
- Monitoring systems
Traditional environmental
- Air pollution control (including component technologies such as blowers and condensers as well as assessment technologies and software)
- Analysis (laboratories and field)
- Eco-friendly design
- Environmental sampling and monitoring
- Hazardous waste management
- Health and safety for environmental work
- Industrial waste management
- Recycling and composting
- Site assessment and remediation (brownfields)
- Spills and environmental emergencies
- Water and wastewater (including component technologies such as pumps and pipes as well as assessment)
Health
Health innovations contribute to maintaining and improving health. Innovations that require regulatory approval must be certified from Health Canada at the time of bid, or have a previously-filed regulatory approval. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This is not a comprehensive list.
- Assisted human reproduction
- Assistive devices
- Consumer and public involvement in health policy
- Consumer safety
- Food supply
- Health research
- Healthy environments
- Medical devices
- Medicines
- Monitoring and tracking adverse health effects
- Product standards
- Public health
- Regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices (for safety, risk, post-market surveillance and adverse health effects)
- Safety, risk, regulatory compliance as well as post-market surveillance of health products and food
- Supporting provision of information on health products and food
Safety and security
Safety and security innovations cover domestic and international security. They address challenges in public safety and others that face Canada today. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This is not a comprehensive list.
- Airborne systems
- Border and transportation security
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Emergency management systems
- Land-based systems
- Military engineering, autonomous intelligent systems and defence against chemical and biological (CB) agents
- Radiofrequency communications, sensing, electronic warfare, network security and information operations technologies and systems, radiation effects, space systems, synthetic environments and modeling simulation
- Sensor technology, algorithms and systems with applications to security, police and military users
- Surveillance and intelligence gathering
Military component
There are six priority areas within the military component. Within each priority area, the BCIP provides detailed priority areas.
- Arctic and maritime security
- Command and support
- Cyber-security
- In-service support
- Protecting the soldier
- Training systems
Arctic and maritime security
Arctic and maritime security innovations cover specialized goods and services for Canada’s vast maritime boundary and arctic landmass. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Aircraft fabrication, structures and components (excluding avionics, navigation and communications)
- Communications and navigation systems and components
- Earth-based systems for the operation of space launch vehicles
- Electro-optical, radar and sonar systems and components
- Fire control, warning and countermeasures systems and components
- Guidance systems, missiles, rockets and drones
- Health care
- Military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services
- Military systems deployed in space
- Naval ship-borne systems and components
- Naval shipbuilding and repair and maintenance
- Simulation systems and components
- Space launch vehicles
- Systems deployed in space and related components
- Training (soldiers and support to operations)
- Troop support
- Other electronics and information technology, including software
Command and support
Today, Canadian military operations rely on combat support through "C4ISR" (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance). Command and support innovations direct defence and security forces toward an objective, and typically they must be interoperable with those of our allies. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Communications and navigation systems and components
- Earth-based systems for the operation of space launch vehicles
- Electro-optical, radar and sonar systems and components
- Fire control, warning and countermeasures systems and components
- Health care
- Military systems deployed in space
- Naval ship-borne systems and components
- Naval shipbuilding and repair and maintenance
- Space launch vehicles
- Systems deployed in space and related components
- Training (soldiers and support to operations)
- Troop support
- Other electronics and information technology, including software
Cyber-security
Cyber-security innovations secure the electronic networks that store, modify and exchange information. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Communications and navigation systems and components
- Electro-optical, radar and sonar systems and components
- Fire control, warning and countermeasures systems and components
- Other electronics and information technology, including software
In-service support
In-service support (ISS) covers activities that support, maintain and modify military equipment performance throughout its life-cycle. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Aircraft fabrication, structures and components (excluding avionics, navigation and communications)
- Combat vehicles and components
- Guidance systems, missiles, rockets and drones
- Military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services
- Naval ship-borne systems and components
- Naval shipbuilding and repair and maintenance
- Simulation systems and components
Protecting the soldier
Protecting the soldier innovations serve members of the Canadian Armed Forces. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Communications and navigation systems and components
- Combat vehicles and components
- Electro-optical, radar and sonar systems and components
- Fire control, warning and countermeasures systems and components
- Firearms and other weapons
- Health care
- Munitions
- Naval shipbuilding and repair and maintenance
- Naval ship-borne systems and components
- Training (soldiers and support to operations)
- Troop support
- Other electronics and information technology, including software
Training systems
Training systems prepare Canada’s land, sea, air and civil security forces for operations in complex situations. Training systems are typically used both in military and commercial applications. To help you determine if your innovation fits within this priority area, consult the following lists of goods and services. This not a comprehensive list.
- Aircraft fabrication, structures and components (excluding avionics, navigation and communications)
- Communications and navigation systems and components
- Electro-optical, radar and sonar systems and components
- Fire control, warning and countermeasures systems and components
- Guidance systems, missiles, rockets and drones
- Health care
- Military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services
- Simulation systems and components
- Training (soldiers and support to operations)
- Troop support
- Other electronics and information technology, including software