March 13, 2019
As a benefit to members, friends, and WestDef delegates, WCDIA distributes by-weekly updates with opportunities and events within the aerospace, defence & security industry. WCDIA and its Board are not responsible for the accuracy of the contents. Please DO NOT contact WCDIA or the sender of the email for inquiries about third party information or events.
WCDIA News
2 Day Workshop
"Getting in the Game" - ITB's for SME's
How to do business in the defence industry

Price:  $899 (+GST) for WCDIA Members / $999 (+GST) for Non-Members
Includes the 2-day workshop (3 complete sessions), coffee breaks and lunch provided for up to 2 attendees (must be from the same company).
Dates:  March 20-21, 2019
Times:  8:30 - 4:30 each day
Location:  Alberta Innovates, 250 Karl Clark Road, Edmonton, AB. T6N 1E4
The capital portion of Canada's Defence budget is slated to grow from $4B/yr to $10B/yr over the next decade. Government policy requires that 15% of this value be directed to Small to Medium Enterprises. This means Defence contractors will be looking for up to $1.5B/yr of input from small companies.

Is your company prepared for this opportunity?

Seminar #1  will provide a basic understanding of the federal policy that ensures Canadian small business and public institutions benefit from military procurement. 
Seminar #2  will assist SMEs and public institutions develop their Value Proposition to harness ITB opportunities. 
Seminar #3  will provide SMEs and public institutions registered in the series with direct "hands-on" experience with a select group of prime defence contractors applying the lessons learned for "getting in the game".
Testimonials:

"We were able to use the skills learned during the Getting in the Game workshop to our immediate advantage. We hit it off with a major defence prime right away and were meeting in their Calgary offices less than a week later to discuss our ideas. It was well worth our investment."

"The workshop defined the process and expectations between the SMEs, the Prime Contractors and the Canadian Forces. The workshop has proved to be very effective."
Only 4 seats left.
Don't miss this opportunity.
RSVP today!
Featured News
Advanced Engineering 2019

Location: NEC, Birmingham
Dates: October 30 & 31, 2019

Advanced Engineering 2019 , it's the ideal platform to introduce your product to both familiar and unfamiliar markets as the show covers multiple sectors including;  aero  ,  automotive/mobility composites , performance metals  ,  nuclear contract manufacturing , and  medical devices  

BDC and the CMHA support the mental well-being of entrepreneurs
Participants Needed - Entrepreneurs’ Mental Well-Being

In an effort to get a better understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is conducting the  first nationwide research  on entrepreneurs’ mental well-being, supported by BDC. This study aims to identify their challenges, facilitators and barriers to well-being and to understand commonalities among business owners.

CMHA is now in the process of surveying entrepreneurs. As a valued partner of BDC, we would really appreciate your help in promoting this online survey among your own network of entrepreneurs to increase the number of respondents. You can simply forward this message to your contacts and ask them to click on the link below to complete this  15-minute confidential  survey.

To participate:  www.cmha.ca/entrepreneurs
February 2019 Funding Bulletin and January Overview of Federal and Provincial Funding Programs

Strategic Timelines releases a bulletin and overview to assist companies become quickly oriented to the  125 Provincial and Federal innovation funding programs.

Find the latest releases below:
Call for proposals - Canada - Germany joint industrial R&D projects

A call for proposals is now open to Canadian SMEs who wish to perform joint R&D projects with enterprises in Germany.
Eligible projects will receive financial support for joint projects through NRC IRAP in Canada and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) ZIM program in Germany.

Open to:  Small and medium-sized enterprises
Sectors of focus:  All industry sectors that are civilian in nature.
Canadian expression of interest deadline (mandatory):  April 26, 2019
Full application deadline:  June 28, 2019

For more info, please refer to the detailed  call for proposals  or contact  Andrew Bauder   Andrew.Bauder@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Why should Canadian SMEs apply?
  • This is the 5th Call for proposals for joint R&D projects through the BMWi's ZIM program (Central Innovation Program for SMEs).
  • Germany is one of the NRC’s priority economies of focus for strengthening innovation and R&D collaboration.
  • Germany is the world’s 4th largest economy and the largest economy in Europe.
  • Germany is the largest domestic market in Europe and is the hub of the broader European market.
  • More than 99% of Germany’s 3.6 million companies are SMEs.
  • German-produced goods, particularly from the chemical, automotive and machinery industries, are in high demand worldwide.
  • The public and private sector in Germany invest heavily in R&D activity, including in key technologies such as information and communication technologies, microsystems, manufacturing, materials, optics, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
The Government of Alberta invites you to join the Alberta Pavilion at AUVSI’s Xponential in Chicago, Illinois from April 30 th  – May 2 nd , 2019

The Government of Alberta, in cooperation with Global Affairs Canada, is supporting Alberta companies interested in participating in the Alberta Pavilion at AUVSI’S Xponential in Chicago, Illinois from April 30th – May 2nd, 2019. AUVSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization exclusively devoted to advancing the global unmanned systems and robotics community.
 
Thousands of leaders in drones, intelligent robotics and unmanned systems will be attending. This show has proven to be an excellent opportunity for companies in Alberta’s unmanned systems sector to showcase their products and capabilities, along with valuable networking opportunities.
 
For more detailed information, please visit:  http://www.xponential.org/xponential2019
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in Calgary invites you to attend:
INDIA Market Briefing on Aerospace and Defence

Date: Monday, March 25, 2019                       
Time: 09:00-Noon (arrival and registration 08:30-09:00)    
Location: Calgary Economic Development, 731-1 St SE, Calgary
Parking: Off 1 st  Street SE and 7 Avenue
 
We invite you to join us to learn more about how your business can prosper in the Indian market . In support of the Government of Canada’s  Trade Diversification Strategy , our Delhi-based Trade Commissioner,  Viney Gupta , will be visiting Calgary to provide  insights on the Indian market potential for Canadian companies, with a focus on aerospace and defence (with additional info on unmanned systems).  There will also be a networking coffee break. It will also be an opportunity to meet the new Calgary-based Aerospace, Defence and Security Trade Commissioner,  James Johnson .
 
In addition to discussing Canada’s priority sectors in India, there will also be an overview of federal support services and available funding programs aimed to help Canadian SMEs diversify into new markets abroad.
India is currently the world’s fastest-growing large economy.  A market size of 1.3 billion consumers makes India a prosperous market for Canadian exports, investment and innovation partnerships. The Indian government is undertaking public sector reforms to improve its business and investment environment. Prospects for Canadian SMEs are promising, but finding success in India still requires planning, patience and a long-term strategy. 
 
Working closely with the Trade Commissioner Service office in Calgary, our team of Trade Commissioners in India can help. Located in eight (8) trade offices across India they are ready to assist Canadian SMEs across a variety of sectors. Working closely with Export Development Canada and provincial government colleagues, their goal is to deepen commercial ties with India and connect more Canadian exporters with new business opportunities.
 
Interested organisations should contact James Johnson by  March 21, 2019 , ensuring to copy Zarif Ahmed :
 
Phone:  (403) 292-5382 or (403) 299-8006
Member Showcase
ROVIS stands for Remotely Operated Vehicle and Instrument System. ROVIS is in the business of building commercially viable applications that utilize unmanned vehicle systems (drones) to solve important problems in the area of security, remote sensing and public safety through the use of Artificial Intelligence.

ROVIS’ cloud and edge technology stack connects unmanned vehicles in the field to headquarters and important decision makers to provide smart and timely services for security and safety officers as well as companies needing access and intelligence on remote assets and interests.

ROVIS is working to deliver simple software solution that will provide live camera feeds to the tablet of officers and dispatchers. 

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Calling all WCDIA members:

Would you like to host the next coffee club networking event at your place of business or education facility? Please send us an email at  admin@wcdia.com  to let us know you are interested.
Available dates*:
  • April 9, 2019
  • May 14, 2019
*These dates are tentative and are subject to change. Hosting companies must be in good standing with WCDIA.
Industry Events at a Glance
Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum
March 19, 2019
Regina, SK

WCDIA "Getting in the Game" Workshop
March 20 - 21, 2019
Edmonton, AB

 International Aerospace Week
April 15 - 18, 2019
Montreal, QB

AUVSI’s Xponential
April 30 - May 2, 2019
Chicago, Illinois
NITEC19
May 20 - 22, 2019
Oslo, Norway

WCDIA AGM
June 25
Calgary, AB

WESTDEF - WCDIA's 10th Annual Aerospace, Defence and Security Conference
June 25 - 27, 2019
Calgary, AB

Advanced Engineering 2019
Oct 30 - 31, 2019
NEC, Birmingham
WCDIA | 403.710.0982   | admin@wcdia.com   | www.wcdia.com
This email was sent by Western Canadian Defence Industries Association (WCDIA). WCDIA promotes Western businesses as viable suppliers for federal defence procurement initiatives. WCDIA aims to provide a means of mutual support to Tier 2 and smaller Western Canadian companies; to help develop their ability to serve the procurement needs of the Canadian defence industry. The WCDIA’s intent is to provide its members with practical training and advice on critical tools and issues.