Arjun Grewal

HEADS UP! UPDATE: IDEaS innovator information Open IDEaS calls – COMING SOON IDEaS is planning to launch several new challenges this fall. Please see a brief description of future challenge domains below. Stay connected for release dates and watch for our email updates coming directly to your inbox! Future IDEaS challenge domains Here is what the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are looking for in the next batches of challenges: -Improvements in providing health care in the field. -Quantum technologies. -Improving mobile communications in the field.  -Development of Forecasting models that will more accurately predict future conflicts based on past trends. More R&D opportunities for Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS). Autonomous systems for both military and humanitarian purposes.  

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US and Canadian defence procurement needs more diversity in the contractor base. Desperately. "Consolidation affects competition for defense contracts, especially for large contracts; half of defense dollar obligations are awarded via sole-source procurement, though 90 percent of individual contract actions are competed, meaning that the majority of competition occurs for smaller contracts. Decreased competition for critical defense systems leads to higher costs and less innovation; fewer competitors means fewer creative ideas for addressing operational requirements. Reversing this trend will not be easy."

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I am doing an awesome table top exercise to keep Canada Safe. I am helping out on three modules :) Learn more about the event: https://ow.ly/GeY250Sb311 #defendthenorth #Armis #Cybersecurity

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It was a big week in Washington, D.C., as NATO allies gathered and marked 75 years of mutual defence. CADSI was on the ground to listen and advocate on behalf of Canada's DIB. The summit also brought a series of announcements and developments with a direct impact on Canada's defence industry. We've outlined them in the latest edition of our monthly Industry Dispatch, available to all members via the myCADSI portal. If you're not already receiving it in your inbox, consider activating the newsletter on the right-hand side of the myCADSI home page under "your subscriptions." https://lnkd.in/g_inpdNe #NATOSummit #DefenceIndustry

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On Friday Minister Bill Blair, Department of National Defence, gave a powerful keynote at the Economic Club of Canada on Canada’s new Defence Policy update. There was heavy emphasis on the Arctic (as the name suggests) and the importance of Canada’s North for Canadian, North American, and our NATO allied countries’ security and defence. The Minister talked about the significance of the policy for providing a clear message to Canadians at home and to our allies around the world what Canada stands for and intends to do (the policy is not a 'laundry list'). Included was the importance of related industrial and foreign policy – all of which must align with the rapidly shifting global geopolitical landscape and the need for Canada to be able to act with equal speed to keep pace with the changes taking place. Yet, at the heart of the Arctic discussion was what lies at the heart of Arctic 360’s primary area of focus: the importance for Canada to build multi-purpose and multiuse infrastructure in the Canadian North. It is the key to Canada’s national Arctic security and the security of Northerners themselves. To that end, we are happy to post – hot off the press! – the Session video from our Arctic360, 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: MULTI-USER AND MULTI-PURPOSE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCUTRE. The Session was led by a first-class group of Northerners, Northern experts and industry including DND, mining, CanNor, shipping, and infrastructure. It was also moderated by one of Canada’s primary thought leaders on the Arctic. Thank you all for the intellectual and engaging discussion! Moderator: Erin O'Toole Panellists: Madeleine Redfern ; Sean Boyd, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited; David Thompson Jimi Onalik; Brandon MacDonald; Paul Barrett Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency/ Agence canadienne de développement économique du Nord Duncan Tooley Yvonne Rumbolt-Jones Davie Pennecon

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Today on AQ2F, Tyler Sweatt is joined by Glenn Cowan, CEO and founder of ONE9, Canada’s leading dual-use technology innovation ecosystem for critical infrastructure and national security. They shed light on the challenges and opportunities within the Canadian defense sector, particularly in developing and investing in technologies that address specific national security needs. WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE SECOND FRONT: • Transitioning from military to venture capital • Strategic importance of Canadian investment in defense • Unique positioning of Canada in the global defense landscape • Modernizing Canada’s defense capabilities and infrastructure Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/gkhBiVrV

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Another indicator of an inwardly-focused #Canada at the expense of maximizing the nation's economic and technological capacities This is more than economic prosperity and international prestige - this is a #NationalSecurity issue First, technology is the currency of contemporary national security. Canada is severely lagging behind its allies despite being amongst the world's best researchers - a phenomenon recognized as Canada's Innovation Paradox Second, Canada has drifted in providing meaningful and visible contributions to its well-crafted reliance on multilateralism. Since the 1970s, Canada has placed a premium on social innovation - without doubt, an important aspect for liberal democracies; but not at the expense of meaningful and visible contributions to the partners and allies that Canada relies on for it's national security Third, Canada eschewed its highly regarded military research capabilities when it divested the Defence Research Board in the 1970s leading to a decline - if not obsolescence - of what were cutting edge and meaningful contributions to national and allied defence and military matters (as just one of many examples, it's hard to believe today that Canada was the 3rd nation to launch a satellite) While the solutions to addressing this absence from global innovation are vast, from a national security perspective, the Canadian government: - would do well in significantly improving collaboration with academia - must invigorate private sector collaboration - renew defence and military research through a reborn Defence Research Board The funds are seemingly available for the third, the political will is needed for the others #defenceresearch #innovation #technology

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Monday Tech Report Review: Deploying AI Systems Securely by GCHQ National Security Agency Australian Signals Directorate Communications Security Establishment Canada | Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications Canada The document presents a comprehensive set of guidelines for the secure deployment and operation of AI systems, highlighting the significance of robust setup, governance, and continuous monitoring to effectively address cyber threats in the AI landscape. 🔹 1. Secure Configuration: Organizations embarking on AI system deployment must prioritize the integration of sound security principles within their IT infrastructure, encompassing governance, architecture, and secure configurations. 🔹 2. Governance Alignment: It is imperative that the individual overseeing AI system cybersecurity aligns closely with the entity responsible for overall organizational cybersecurity, fostering enhanced accountability and coordination in security measures. 🔹 3. Application of Best Practices: The application of established security best practices within IT environments should extend seamlessly to AI systems, ensuring a resilient security framework. 🔹 4. Validation Procedures: Organizations are advised to conduct thorough validation of AI systems to verify compliance with security standards and operational efficacy. 🔹 5. Access Control Measures: Stringent access controls should be implemented to restrict and safeguard access to critical AI system components, particularly model weights, safeguarding the core elements of the system. 🔹 6. Monitoring Model Behavior: Robust logging, monitoring, and user behavior analytics should be employed to effectively detect insider threats and malicious activities within AI systems. 🔹 7. Threat Intelligence Integration: Maintaining awareness of current and emerging threats in the AI domain is essential to fortify systems against potential security vulnerabilities and breaches. 🔹 8. Continuous Risk Mitigation: Organizations should establish ongoing processes for identifying, mitigating, and monitoring risks associated with AI systems to proactively reduce security vulnerabilities. 🔹 9. Stakeholder Collaboration and Compliance: Collaboration with stakeholders, adherence to established cybersecurity frameworks, and adherence to guidelines for secure AI system development are crucial for enhancing security measures. 🔹 10. Confidentiality and Integrity Enhancement: Striving to bolster confidentiality, integrity, and availability of AI systems while mitigating cybersecurity risks through proactive security measures is paramount. #ai #artificialgeneralintelligence #business #work #innovation #technology

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Command and Control 2.0 Sensor saturation, automation, next-gen decision-action cycle (OODA Loop), securing the decision advantage, and AI/ML. Here is a podcast I did on this topic when I was still in uniform and busy drafting the Army's Digital Strategy. From what I saw at #CANSEC2024, we are starting to get there... But so much more needs to be done! We need more experimentation, better procurement processes, and a better digital toolbox. Which leads me to my current role (and why chose it for my "Career 2.0" in the first place). Hyperscale Cloud and the "as-a-Service" model provides that perpetually-updating, always cutting-edge tech foundation, and digital toolbox, for defence industry players to experiment and build great capabilities with. Provide that Command and Control 2.0 capability to our Armed Forces so they can secure that decision-advantage necessary to deter aggression, and if necessary, defeat it! #c4isr #defenceindustry #DIB, #cansec #aws #digital #defencedigital youtube: https://lnkd.in/gWTAXJ-K Spotify: https://lnkd.in/giWcYWCh

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At the Royal Canadian Navy | Marine royale canadienne Outlook, Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) procurement was raised by several speakers as a way of de-risking, accelerating and reducing the cost of acquiring new platforms and equipment, and the recent independent analysis of the Royal Australian Navy surface combatant fleet identified 4 proven platforms that could be acquired more rapidly by taking a MOTS approach. However, defence procurement organizations around the world have found it difficult to implement MOTS approaches, as ‘just a few changes’ quickly snowball and MOTS designs become bespoke. A current example is the US Navy Constellation Class, which was intended to retain 85% commonality with the proven FREMM. According to the article below, the Constellation now shares only 15% of the original design and the delivery of the first vessel has been delayed by three years, which is a 50% increase in the delivery schedule. It is not easy to compromise on requirements, especially when navies have to operate and maintain platforms for decades. However, without those compromises MOTS is not a viable procurement strategy. https://lnkd.in/eGPM-8Ez #MOTS #shipbuilding #CPSP #CMC #requirements

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The 2% of GDP defence spending commitment is a point of contention for #Canada at this week's #NATO Summit, but what would it actually mean for Canada? Earlier this year Paul Maddison, David Fraser, and John Scott Cowan wrote a paper to envision what a Canadian military funded at 2% of GDP may look like, and examine how a more capable #CAF would benefit Canada and its allies. Available here: https://lnkd.in/d-_rKPE5

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Strategic foresight is a systematic process used by organizations and governments to anticipate and prepare for future challenges and opportunities. It involves exploring and analyzing potential future scenarios to inform decision-making and strategy development. The goal is to enhance resilience and adaptability by identifying emerging trends, uncertainties, and possible disruptions. Key Components of Strategic Foresight include Environmental Scanning, Trend Analysis, Scenario Planning, Visioning, Strategic Planning, and Monitoring and Reassessing. Strategic Foresight is a vital discipline for navigating uncertainty and positioning organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces and its Defence and Security partners to thrive in an unpredictable future. It combines rigorous analysis with creative thinking to prepare for a wide range of possible futures. At the Canadian Joint Operations Command, we have used Strategic Foresight in the early days of the Pandemic. This has allowed us to improve decision-making, enhance risk management, anticipate requests for assistance, absorb some of the shocks, build our resilience and anticipate next waves. I look forward to the AoD's Strategic Foresight handbook. BZ to the aodnetwork

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Do you believe #artificialintelligence #weaponization sets a new precedent for future developments in our warfare technologies? "What impact do you think Canada's advancements in artificial intelligence and weaponization will have on the future landscape of warfare technologies? How can we ensure that these developments are ethically and responsibly integrated into our defense strategies?" Even in its infancy, AI is already being weaponized and integrated into inexpensive commercial technologies. For example, thousands of AI-enabled “swarm drones” are being considered for use in the Ukraine conflict to overwhelm key strategic Russian targets

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Canada's recent defence policy update, "Our North, Strong and Free," marks a significant shift in the nation's military strategy and investment. Unveiled on April 8, 2024, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Bill Blair, the policy is a response to the evolving global landscape and aims to bolster the Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes with new capabilities to address emerging threats. Implications for Digital Technology Companies The policy's emphasis on modernization and #innovation presents a golden opportunity for #digital technology companies. With an investment of $8.1 billion over the next five years and (a somewhat more notional) $73 billion over the next 20 years, the policy outlines six major themes, including building an innovative industrial base. This focus on innovation should signal a demand for advanced digital solutions, from #cybersecurity to #AI-driven technologies. A Call for Collaboration Digital technology firms are poised to play a crucial role in this new era of defence. The policy encourages collaboration between the CAF and the tech industry, fostering an environment where cutting-edge solutions can be developed to meet the unique needs of national security. We continue to see a convergence between the #technology and #defence sectors. The Rise of Dual-Use Technologies The policy also underscores the importance of dual-use technologies—those applicable to both military and civilian sectors. This opens up avenues for tech companies to expand their offerings and contribute to national defence while also serving the broader market. Canada's latest defence policy is more than a military directive; it's a call to action for digital technology companies to step up and contribute to the nation's security and technological edge. As the policy unfolds (and a lot more detail will be required to execute this strategy effectively) we can expect to see a surge in innovation, collaboration, and growth within the tech sector, making it an exciting time for digital enterprises across Canada. #defence #defense #cloud #nationalsecurity

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Samuel Associates’ Defence Strategist Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Mark Norman reflects in this issue of Canadian Defence Review on CANSEC 2024 and expresses concerns about Canada's defence strategy. In this issue, he mentions the lack of a clear industrial strategy, insufficient government capacity, and slow processes hindering the achievement of increased defense spending goals outlined in the recent Defence Policy Update. Admiral Norman highlights Canada's failure to meet the NATO 2% GDP spending target and lack of substantial contributions to the alliance, leading to strained relationships with allies, notably the U.S. He warns of potential consequences of inaction in the face of growing security challenges. Admiral Norman also discusses upcoming transitions in key defense offices and expresses hope for improved focus within the government. Despite these challenges, he acknowledges the RCAF's centennial celebration, highlighting the need to overcome adversity. Norman's observations underline the importance of addressing current defense shortcomings and calls for a reevaluation of Canada's defence priorities. ———————————————- To learn more about Samuel Associates and how we support clients working in the defence, space, and technology sectors, visit us at www.samuel.associates. Let us be Your Trusted Defence Advisors. Government of Canada Department of National Defence/Ministère de la défense nationale Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes Public Services and Procurement Canada | Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada

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Today Defence policy update focuses on quantum technology’s role in making Canada safe Published: April 30, 2024 1:15pm EDT A major focal point of the policy update is the need to develop cutting-edge, quantum-based defence technology that will help Canada address these two threats. Quantum technology uses the sensitivity of sub-atomic particles to create increasingly precise measurements of an environment. This provides Canada the ability to better track environmental changes, potential trespassers in sovereign territory and the beginnings of cyberattacks before they become real threats. It’s a game-changer in both physical and cyber domains. The Arctic and climate change are a major focus of the policy update due to melting polar ice that will make it easier for competitive states to traverse the area and reap economic benefits.

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