Dual-use technologies are tools and materials designed for everyday use that can also be used to keep Canada safe. As geopolitical tensions intensify, the term is appearing more frequently in news and policy discussions. In Canada, that focus has sharpened with the federal government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to reinforce national security while accelerating domestic innovation and manufacturing.
From automated systems and smart sensors to advanced materials and artificial intelligence, dual-use technologies improve how we work, travel and communicate while supporting Canada’s security and resilience.
At Western, researchers are developing technologies suited to Canada’s vast geography, extreme weather and hard-to-reach regions. Teams are creating digital models to test systems before they are built. They are combining information from different sensors to provide clearer, faster insights. They are designing tools to operate in places that cannot be reached easily or safely.
Because of these strengths, Western is a core academic partner in TKMS’s Canadian Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Ecosystem (learn more here). Working with other Canadian universities, industry partners and international collaborators, Western is turning advanced research into practical technologies to support both civilian and security needs.
A camera system originally developed by researchers at Western’s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration to track meteors (featured here) is just one example. The system now monitors satellites and other objects moving over Canada, recording more than 17,000 objects in its first year of continuous operation. In partnership with Defence Research and Development Canada, the system was expanded to four sites across the country, including in the High Arctic, to give a clearer picture of activity in Canadian airspace.
As conversations about sovereignty, infrastructure and security grow more urgent, dual-use technologies show how closely university research connects to public priorities. They also reflect the role universities play in tackling complex challenges thoughtfully and building solutions that serve Canadians now and in the future. ● Penny Pexman
