Why it matters
Canada's February 2026 Defence Industrial Strategy commits ~CAD $82 billion to defence over five years under a 'Build–Partner–Buy' framework, triggering a wave of new ITB obligations for every prime contractor winning eligible contracts over $100 million — making this the single most relevant annual gathering for companies navigating those commitments. For SMEs and startups, the conference is a direct pipeline to obligors actively seeking Canadian partners and flow-down recipients to satisfy ITB credits. Attendance provides unmatched access to the government officials and policy architects at ISED and the Defence Investment Agency who administer and are actively reforming the ITB Policy.
About
The IPAC Industrial Participation Conference is Canada's dedicated national forum for Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy, bringing together obligors, prime contractors, Tier 1s, flow-down partners, government officials, and economic development stakeholders. The 2026 edition is themed 'Build–Partner–Buy: What It Means for ITBs and Industrial Participation', directly addressing Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy released in February 2026. Over two days, delegates engage in policy-informed discussions on ITB obligation execution, implementation challenges, and the evolving defence industrial landscape. The event is co-organised under the AIAC umbrella alongside the Canadian Aerospace Summit, held at the same venue on the same dates.
Market intel
Moderate pricinglow confidence
The IPAC Industrial Participation Conference is a specialist policy conference, not a trade show, so exhibitor and floor-space metrics are not applicable. No post-show attendance reports or ticket pricing were publicly available for this or recent prior editions; all commercial details require direct contact with AIAC. The event's significance is driven by its policy content rather than exhibition scale.
AI-researched Tue, 25 August 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.
Topics
ProcurementFundingDual-useAirManufacturing & Supply Chain
Who it's for
PrimesSMEsStartupsInstitutions
