Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is a special operating Agency of the Department of National Defence. It is committed to:

• facilitating and enhancing the ability of decision-makers to make informed decisions on defence policy, force development and procurement by providing expert S&T knowledge;
• contributing to the success of military operations by pursuing R&D activities that provide improved support, knowledge, protection and response to potential threats;
• enhancing the preparedness of the Canadian Forces by assessing worldwide technology trends, threats and opportunities and by exploiting emerging technologies; and
• contributing to the creation and maintenance of a Canadian defence S&T industrial capability that is internationally competitive, by contracting out to industry, by transferring technology to industry and by entering into partnerships in which cost and risk are shared.

The Defence Industrial Research (DIR) Program promotes eligible research projects from the Canadian defence industrial base. The Program provides funding at the 50% level. The DIR Program is an efficient vehicle for the introduction of innovative ideas and concepts into DND from industry. Since the start of the DIR Program in 1988, 215 projects with a total value in excess of $100M have been negotiated. A recent, independent evaluation of the DIR Program indicated it to be one of the best research support programs of its type in view of client satisfaction and job creation, in addition to providing early access and exposure to the allied military market place at home and abroad.

Industrial representatives are involved in providing strategic direction to the defence R&D program. A key element of the R&D strategy is the building of partnerships with industry at the concept and planning stages. This contributes to a practical understanding of the long term defence research interests, and facilitates the transfer of promising technologies to the private sector for commercialization.

DRDC sponsors Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and NATO Fellows at the Defence Research Establishments and arranges scientific conferences and workshops. Jointly with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), DRDC sponsors annual Post Doctoral Fellowship Awards and New Investigator Awards which are part of the Health Research Partnership Fund.