LONGUEUIL, QUE. — The Canadian Space Agency has awarded $11.1 million to 16 technology projects led by 15 Canadian companies, supporting work ranging from satellite imaging and communications to autonomous systems and lunar power.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the funding Wednesday through the Space Technology Development Program, which supports early-stage research and development intended to move technologies closer to commercial use.

Fifteen companies share 16 awards

The agency’s project list shows non-repayable contributions in three funding streams. Nine advanced-technology projects receive as much as $1 million each, five small-business projects receive as much as $350,000, and two next-wave projects receive about $500,000.

Ottawa says 13 of the 15 recipients are small or medium-sized businesses. Obruta Space Solutions of Ottawa received two awards, making it the only company represented twice among the 16 projects.

The contributions support research and prototypes; they are not purchases of completed operational systems. The agency says the projects are expected to run for as long as three years, with potential economic benefits emerging over later years.

Projects span Earth observation, communications and the Moon

ABB Inc. received $999,657 for a very-high-resolution optical payload intended to reduce Canadian reliance on foreign satellite imagery. MDA Systems received $1 million for a component used in next-generation synthetic-aperture radar, which can observe Earth in darkness and through cloud cover.

Kepler Communications received $1 million for faster data links between satellites and Earth. NordSpace received $1 million to advance a Canadian electric-propulsion system for small satellites, while Obruta received $1 million for autonomous flight software and another $500,000 for an event-based imaging system intended to help satellites navigate in extreme lighting.

Volta Space Technologies received $861,858 for a laser-based system designed to transmit power and data during lunar missions. Canadensys Aerospace received $499,997 to develop a tritium-powered heating unit intended to help spacecraft electronics survive the roughly 14-day lunar night.

Several projects focus on Canadian sovereignty

The agency linked the awards to emergency response, infrastructure and environmental monitoring, Arctic sea-ice and maritime awareness, secure communications and northern connectivity.

Those are proposed capabilities, not completed services. Each project still has to complete its research, development and testing work before any operational or commercial deployment.

The Space Technology Development Program has invested more than $130 million in 266 technologies since 2012, according to the agency. Its latest sector report says Canadian space activity supports more than 28,000 jobs and generates about $5 billion in annual revenue.

Sources

Lead image: view of Canada from the International Space Station on August 11, 2026, by NASA’s Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, via Wikimedia Commons; public domain in the United States. Illustrative image; it does not depict a funded project.