Niagara offers a strategic location for aerospace, defence, and dual-use industries looking to strengthen their North American footprint.
With direct access to U.S. markets, five border crossings, established manufacturing capabilities, strong trade connectivity, and efficient movement through the Great Lakes and Welland Canal system, Niagara is well positioned to support companies that manufacture, move, and supply defence-related products, technologies, and components.
Overview
Niagara’s defence opportunity is built on the region’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, marine, logistics, transportation, and cross-border trade.
The region offers the infrastructure, workforce, and market access needed to support defence and aerospace suppliers, including companies focused on production, components, logistics, repair, automation, and dual-use technologies.
As defence investment continues to grow across Canada, North America, Europe, to achieve NATO target commitments of 5% GDP spend by 2035, Niagara provides a practical location for companies looking to expand within a connected North American market, with global reach.
A Sector Shaped by Global Demand
Defence investment is accelerating across the globe, creating new opportunities for companies that can support production, reaffirm supply chain resilience, provide for logistics infrastructure, and further advance research and development of new technologies. Canada has committed to increasing and accelerating defence investments, including more than $9 billion in new defence spending for 2025 to 2026, resulting in the achievement of 2% of GDP spend.
Broader NATO commitments are also expected to drive long-term defence spending, with the 5% NATO pledge including 3.5% invested in equipment and 1.5% directed to enabling infrastructure such as ports, airports, and telecommunications.
These commitments are creating opportunities for regions with the industrial capacity, trade connectivity, workforce, and infrastructure required to support defence-related production, movement, and supply chain activity.
Resources
From defence-related research and development support to workforce training, supplier readiness, and industry advocacy, there are many resources available to help aerospace, defence, and dual-use companies grow in Niagara.
REGIONAL
The NRC IRAP Defence Industry Assist stream supports small and medium-sized companies developing defence and dual-use technologies.
The Brock LINC supports innovation, entrepreneurship and research commercialization through mentorship, incubation and access to prototyping technologies. These resources can help advance emerging solutions in defence, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and related fields.
Niagara College Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre
This Centre offers a team of experts who specialize in engineering design, 3D technologies, lean manufacturing processes and additive manufacturing. They work with Ontario businesses to bring ideas to life, from concept through to developing working prototypes, utilizing leading-edge technology, including equipment and software. This further compliments the recent launch of the Defence Systems Engineering Technology Program.
University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF)
UNF offers a Master of Computer Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence and a Master of Data Analytics building advanced skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analysis and digital technologies. The Data Analytics program also offers an Operations Analytics specialization focused on manufacturing, supply chain management, quality and process optimization, making these programs relevant to defence, advanced manufacturing and other technology-driven industries.
Niagara Industrial Association
The NIA is a Niagara-based, industry-focused organization that advocates on behalf of local industry, with over 200 members of which many represent the local supply base, and future capabilities that can support this shift in defence posture.
PROVINCIAL
Ontario Defence Association (ODA)
The Ontario Defence Association is Ontario’s provincial defence and dual-use industry association. ODA supports Ontario companies by strengthening supplier readiness, connecting businesses across the defence ecosystem, providing market and procurement intelligence, and helping firms navigate defence-market requirements and opportunities in Canadian and allied supply chains.
Provincial Defence Industrial Framework
Ontario’s defence industrial framework focuses on strengthening the province’s defence sector by supporting advanced manufacturing, aerospace, critical minerals, research and development, dual-use technologies, and workforce development.
FEDERAL
Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries
The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries supports Canada’s defence, security, and cybersecurity industries through industry advocacy, events, networking, market intelligence, and supplier connections.
Government of Canada Defence Industrial Strategy
Canada’s defence industrial strategy supports the growth of domestic defence capabilities, supply chain resilience, procurement modernization, innovation, and stronger participation from Canadian businesses in defence-related opportunities.
Invest in Niagara
Connected for Growth
Niagara connects aerospace, defence and security businesses to a collaborative manufacturing supply chain, applied technology talent, post-secondary research capacity and efficient access to North American markets.
Situated within Southern Ontario’s advanced manufacturing and innovation corridor, Niagara offers defence and dual-use businesses proximity to major Ontario and U.S. markets, competitive operating conditions and room to grow.
Defence and dual-use supply-chain capability
Niagara manufacturers support complex production requirements through precision machining, fabrication, specialized materials, automation, electronics and engineering services. These capabilities support defence and dual-use opportunities across a range of industries, providing primes, suppliers and investors with opportunities to build local supplier relationships and strengthen Canadian supply chains.
Strategic logistics and market access
Niagara’s multimodal transportation network supports the reliable movement of people, materials and finished products, helping companies build more resilient Canadian and North American and global supply chains.
Five international border crossings, airports, highway infrastructure and the St. Lawerence Seaway (Welland Canal) offer multimodal infrastructure and global connectivity for businesses to customers, suppliers and procurement opportunities.
Applied research and specialized talent
Niagara’s three post-secondary institutions support applied research and talent development relevant to advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, robotics and digitally enabled technologies.
Together with regional industry and workforce partners, these institutions support the development of skills, technologies and partnerships relevant to emerging defence and dual-use opportunities.
Let’s talk about your next investment in Niagara
Niagara Economic Development provides confidential, sector-specific support to businesses exploring investment, expansion and partnership opportunities in Niagara. From site selection and market intelligence to introductions, incentives and municipal coordination, our team helps move investment plans forward.
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