Challenges
We're backing risk takers to solve challenges. Are you ready?
The Government of Canada is looking for innovators to solve challenges. As the single largest purchaser of Canadian goods and services, the Government of Canada has a unique opportunity to support the growth of Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs.
We need you, Canadian small businesses and innovators, to develop novel solutions to these challenges. Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, we're partnering with eligible Canadian small businesses and facilitating the early development, testing and validation of prototypes, as well as preparing a pathway to commercialization.
- If your idea is selected, you could receive funding to develop a proof of feasibility.
- If your proof of feasibility is approved, you could receive funding to develop a prototype.
- If the developed innovation solves the Government of Canada's challenge, we could be your first buyer.
- Funding amounts are identified in each individual challenge.
Proposed solutions
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Open challenges
Hyper-Spectral Sensing with Intense Ultrafast Laser Fields
The National Research Council (NRC) is seeking a solution to deliver femtosecond laser pulses tunable from deep-ultraviolet to mid-infrared frequencies to develop sensing technologies based on high-field optical interactions in solid.
Challenge sponsor: National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Funding mechanism: Contract
Opening date: June 11, 2021
Closing date: July 23, 2021, 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Please refer to the tender notice for this challenge on Buy and Sell.
Modernization of handcuffs
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is seeking a solution that will modernize the design of handcuffs to enhance the safety and wellbeing of individuals while in custody.
Funding mechanism: Contract
Opening date: May 11, 2021
Closing date: June 22, 2021, 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Please refer to the tender notice for this challenge on Buy and Sell.
Attention innovators, we will be launching new challenges in the coming weeks. Subscribe to our email updates for the latest challenges and program information.
Closed funding opportunities
| Icon | Challenge | Sponsoring department | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
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COVID-19: Development of a portable detection device for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater | National Research Council (NRC) | 2021-06-10 |
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Inclusive Respirator | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) | 2021-06-09 |
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Detection of granulomas for tuberculosis surveillance | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) | 2021-05-04 |
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Testing Stream — Open calls for innovative prototypes | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | 2021-02-05 |
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Photonic detection beyond single photons | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2021-01-27 |
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Quantum Computing-as-a-Service | Shared Services Canada (SSC) | 2021-01-19 |
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Enhancing automation in controlled environment agriculture farming | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | 2021-01-19 |
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Canadian meat processing technology development challenge | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | 2021-01-13 |
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Ultra-Long-Range Wireless Backhaul | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | 2020-12-16 |
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Digital navigation matching tool for federal programs and services | Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) | 2020-12-04 |
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COVID-19: Compostable disposable surgical masks and compostable disposable respirators used in the Canadian healthcare system | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in collaboration with Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Health Canada (HC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) | 2020-11-17 |
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COVID-19: Recycling technologies for disposable (single-use) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in healthcare sector | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in collaboration with Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) | 2020-11-06 |
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Canadian Coastal Zone Information System | Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | 2020-09-25 |
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Developing innovative phytosanitary treatment options for control of quarantine plant pests | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) | 2020-09-22 |
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Detection of food borne pathogenic bacteria using field deployable instruments | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) | 2020-07-28 |
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COVID-19 Challenge: Magnetic reagents for detection of COVID-19 and other RNA based molecular diagnostic kits | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-06-16 |
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Development of quiet depth finder technology | Transport Canada (TC) | 2020-06-10 |
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Plastics challenge - Filtration of microplastics in ship greywater | Transport Canada (TC) | 2020-06-10 |
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Protecting the Southern Resident Killer Whale: Reducing Underwater Noise from Escort Tugs | Transport Canada (TC) | 2020-06-10 |
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Plastics challenge — Recycled plastic ceiling tiles | Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | 2020-06-09 |
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Turning pixels into data: Imaging for accessibility | Public Service and Procurement Canada | 2020-06-02 |
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COVID-19 Challenge: An intelligent digital clearing house | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | 2020-06-02 |
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Plastics challenge — Textiles and microfibers | Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | 2020-05-29 |
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Plastics challenge — Sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging | Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | 2020-05-29 |
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Plastics challenge — Diverting end of life vehicle plastics from landfills | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-05-28 |
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Outdoor Air Purifier | Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | 2020-05-28 |
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Eco-friendly Waste Converter | Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | 2020-05-28 |
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Plastics challenge — E-waste | Shared Services Canada (SSC) | 2020-05-26 |
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Plastics challenge — In-situ sensing technology for monitoring microplastics in the marine environment | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-05-26 |
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Nanocomposite Fabrics Production System | National Research Council (NRC) | 2020-05-25 |
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Surveying objects across an air-water interface | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-05-25 |
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AI Software for Photonics Semiconductor Fabrication | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-05-22 |
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Alternate Format Business Technology Challenge | Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) | 2020-05-21 |
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Secure and confidential rule matching | Communications Security Establishment (CSE) | 2020-05-21 |
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Energy Producing Window Coverings | Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | 2020-05-19 |
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Call for prototypes to help combat COVID-19 | Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) | 2020-04-22 |
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COVID-19 Challenge - Point of Care and Home Diagnostic Kit for COVID-19 | Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-04-21 |
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COVID-19 challenge – Low-cost sensor system for COVID-19 patient monitoring | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-04-21 |
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COVID-19 Challenge: Made in Canada filtration material for the manufacture of N95 respirators and surgical masks | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2020-04-17 |
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User-Centric Verifiable Digital Credentials | Shared Services Canada (SSC) and Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada (TBS) | 2019-11-07 |
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Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine matching | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) | 2019-10-29 |
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Hybrid Ceramic Powder Processing System | National Research Council (NRC) | 2019-10-29 |
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Stable Liposomes as Drug Carriers | National Research Council (NRC) | 2019-10-29 |
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Data Centre Discovery Tool with Options Analysis | Shared Services Canada (SSC) | 2019-10-24 |
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Identification of Microbial Mixtures | Health Canada | 2019-10-18 |
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Point of Care Diagnostics to combat Antimicrobial resistance | Health Canada | 2019-10-18 |
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Machine learning to improve organ donation rates and make better matches | Health Canada | 2019-10-18 |
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Automated redaction of video recordings for the purposes of Access to Information requests | Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | 2019-10-16 |
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Plastics Challenge — Development of Next Generation Bio-Based Foam Insulation | Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) | 2019-08-27 |
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Portable Package Auto Sampler | Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | 2019-07-08 |
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Postal Small Packet and Package Inspection | Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | 2019-07-08 |
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Kinetic Energy Harvesting on Marine Vessels | Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard | 2019-05-14 |
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Coal Mine Tailings Pond | Public Services and Procurement Canada | 2019-02-19 |
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Tracing the Steel Industry Supply Chain | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | 2019-02-15 |
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Advanced Decision Support for First Responder Command and Control | Department of National Defence (DND) Defence Research and Development Canada Centre for Security Science | 2019-02-07 |
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Logistics and Resource Management of Emergency Response Assets | Department of National Defence (DND) - Defence Research and Development Canada Centre for Security Science | 2019-02-07 |
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Up Hands Free Fire Fighting | Department of National Defence (DND) Defence Research and Development Canada Centre for Security Science | 2019-02-07 |
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Marine Biotoxin Detection Devices for Shellfish | Canadian Food Inspection Agency | 2019-01-29 |
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Innovative Device for Plant Pest Surveillance | Canadian Food Inspection Agency | 2019-01-29 |
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Innovative Attractants to Wood Boring Insects | Canadian Food Inspection Agency | 2019-01-29 |
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Audio Quality Enhancements for Remote Interpretation Services | Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | 2019-01-17 |
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Improving Robot-Environment Interaction | National Research Council (NRC) | 2019-01-14 |
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Moulding of High Performance Composites Materials | National Research Council (NRC) | 2019-01-14 |
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Composite Material Manufacturing Simulation Software | National Research Council (NRC) | 2019-01-14 |
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Preventing Contraband Delivery via Air and Ground | Correctional Services Canada | 2019-01-10 |
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Detection System for Wireless Communication | Correctional Services Canada | 2019-01-08 |
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Plastics Challenge — Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture Gear | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) | 2018-12-20 |
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Life Sign Monitoring System (LSMS) | Correctional Services Canada | 2018-12-20 |
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Improving the Internet Connectivity of Users in Remote Locations | Shared Services Canada (SSC) | 2018-12-17 |
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Enhancing Pedestrian and Cyclist Road Safety | Transport Canada (TC) | 2018-12-17 |
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Scaling Down Precision Agriculture | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | 2018-12-17 |
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Efficient Soil Sampling Techniques | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | 2018-12-17 |
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Plastics Challenge — Remove and Manage Ghost Fishing Gear and Marine Debris | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) | 2018-12-13 |
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Plastics Challenge — Improved Compostibility of Bioplastics | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) | 2018-12-13 |
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Plastics Challenge — Construction Waste | Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | 2018-12-12 |
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Plastics Challenge — Separation of Mixed Plastics | Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | 2018-12-12 |
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Plastics Challenge — Recycling of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic | Transport Canada (TC) | 2018-12-12 |
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Plastics Challenge — Food Packaging | Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | 2018-12-12 |
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Earth Observation Images Processing and Management System | Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) | 2018-10-01 |
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Innovative Platform to Facilitate Evidence-Informed Decision-Making | Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) | 2018-10-01 |
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Haptic System | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2018-09-20 |
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Electroencephalography (EEG) and Vital Signs Integrated Existing Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) sets | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2018-09-20 |
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Measurement of Cold Spray | National Research Council of Canada (NRC) | 2018-09-20 |
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Platform Corrosion Detection and Prevention | Department of National Defence (DND) | 2018-08-23 |
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High Energy Lasers | Department of National Defence (DND) | 2018-08-23 |
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Night Vision Ergonomics Enhancement | Department of National Defence (DND) | 2018-08-23 |
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Additive Manufacturing for High Performance Systems | Department of National Defence (DND) | 2018-08-23 |
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Connected Vehicle and Engineered Surfaces Challenge | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | 2018-02-09 |
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3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing: Metal Powder Bed Density Test Equipment | National Research Council of Canada | 2018-03-20 |
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Engineered Surfaces Challenge | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | 2018-04-04 |
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Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics for Advanced Autonomous Space Systems | Canadian Space Agency | 2018-04-11 |
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Advanced Coatings and Materials for Personal Protective Ensembles | Department of National Defence | 2018-04-20 |
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Robust "Beyond Line of Sight" (BLOS) Communications in Satellite-Denied Environments | Department of National Defence | 2018-04-20 |
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