Policy Improvements

1. Phase in 60 percent up-front requirement (in effect):
   30 percent of obligations will need to be identified at time of contract signing, 30 percent one year later, and the remaining 40 percent within three years. Implementing this requirement over a longer period will provide firms with time to identify and negotiate the high-value-added business transactions typical of the Aerospace and Defence sector.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
     
     
2. Incentive for the creation of Public-Private Consortia (in effect):
   Encourage Industry-Academia-Public Research Consortia to develop next-generation technologies and services in aerospace, defence and related sectors. This change will significantly incent business-led innovation activities between global multinationals, Canadian industry, academia and/or the public sector S&T community.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
     
     
3. Improved recognition of the value of Canadian firms' participation in Global Value Chains (GVC) (in effect):
   Encourage original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to add Canadian suppliers to their GVC by crediting Canadian work done on eligible international platforms against Direct IRB requirements. This policy change provides a critical lever to achieve the IRB policy industrial development objectives.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
     
     
4. Strategic Plans from Contractors with Major IRB Obligations (in effect):
   Strategic plans from Contractors with major corporate obligations to Canada will be required. The prime will be asked to provide a medium and long-term outlook on its broad corporate plans for Canada. This will encourage more strategic relationships between primes and Canadian companies in terms of investments and subcontracts.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
     
     
5. Banking of Industrial and Regional Benefit Transactions (in effect):
   Contractors will be offered a limited form of banking of IRB transactions both in advance of award, and in the event of over-commitment of IRB transactions. It will allow new business opportunities to be secured when they are most likely to arise.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
   • Guidelines for Banking of IRB Transactions
     
     
6. Enhanced Priority Technology List (EPT) (in effect):
   The new Enhanced Priority Technology List aligns the IRB Policy with the emerging critical technologies of the Canadian military and encourages the development of advanced technologies in the Canadian aerospace and defence sector.
   • New Approach
   • Current Version of EPTL
   • Frequently Asked Questions
     
     
7. NewInvestment Framework (IF)—R&D and Commercialization (in effect):
   The IF will encourage primes to invest in long term, innovation-focused activities in Canadian SMEs. It will encourage long term, strategic relationships, leading to increased R&D activities, market-driven technology development and more robust business development approaches.
   • New Approach
   • Frequently Asked Questions
   • Guide for Applicants

Contact us: If you have questions regarding these enhancements, please contact us:
Email: IRB/RIR@ic.gc.ca