CIMarE Vancouver Island Branch (co-organised with SNAME Canadian Pacific Section and ABCDMI)
Cost
paid
Scale
intimate
Recurrence
annual
Reg. deadline
8 May 2026
CFP deadline
19 Nov 2025
Format
On-site
Why it matters
Mari-Tech is the single most important annual gathering for Canada's marine engineering and shipbuilding supply chain, making it a critical venue for defence-adjacent maritime suppliers targeting Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard procurement pipelines. The dedicated PSPC procurement outlook session gives SMEs and primes direct visibility into upcoming federal vessel contracts and industrial policy. With 85 confirmed exhibitors and 500–600 targeted attendees drawn from shipyards, regulators, and DND-adjacent operators, it is the highest-density Canadian maritime business-development event of the year.
Mari-Tech 2026 is Canada's premier annual marine engineering conference and exhibition, founded by the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE) in 1976 and held under the theme 'Skilled Seas'. The 2026 edition, hosted by the CIMarE Vancouver Island Branch at the Victoria Conference Centre, brings together marine engineers, shipbuilders, naval architects, educators, regulators, and vessel operators. The programme includes keynote addresses, 24 technical presentations, four panel discussions covering workforce development, Arctic operations, technology adoption, and fleet transition, plus a PSPC-led government procurement outlook session and an Innovation Hub.
Market intel
Moderate pricingmedium confidence
Mari-Tech 2026 attracted 85 confirmed exhibitors spanning marine OEMs, shipyards, digital-engineering software firms, and government agencies, with the exhibit hall reported as nearly sold out by January 2026. The presence of PSPC, Canadian Coast Guard, and major shipyards such as Chantier Davie alongside technology firms like ABB Marine and Danfoss reflects the event's dual commercial-and-government character. A Norwegian Innovation Norge trade mission also participated, indicating modest but growing international exhibitor interest.
This is the only dedicated regional defence conference in Australia that places prime contractors and SMEs in the same room for structured, direct engagement — making it a critical pipeline event for Hunter-region and NSW suppliers seeking to enter or grow within ADF programs. Senior leaders from all three services and Joint Capabilities attend, providing rare first-hand insight into current capability priorities and procurement pathways. For SMEs and startups, the small-group discussion format offers direct access to decision-makers that larger trade shows rarely replicate.
SubSTEC is Australia's only dedicated submarine science and engineering conference, making it the primary access point for suppliers seeking to engage the RAN submarine enterprise, Defence SA, and AUKUS programme decision-makers in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, the SME Spotlight sessions and tiered sponsorship tiers (Bronze upward) offer direct visibility to the naval and government officials who shape sovereign capability investment. With Australia committing to a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar nuclear submarine transition, SubSTEC8 is the earliest opportunity to position technology and services ahead of major procurement cycles.
Podkarpackie is one of Central Europe's most established aerospace manufacturing bases, and this summit is the region's strategic move to pivot from aviation to drone/dual-use technology — directly relevant to defence suppliers and SMEs seeking to enter or expand in the UAS and dual-use market. The co-located Dual Use Challenge pitch finals offer startups direct access to VC funds, investors, and industrial primes on a single day. For defence-adjacent firms, the live airfield showcase at Stalowa Wola–Turbia — including counter-drone systems — provides rare hands-on demonstration access in a NATO-ally operational context.
