Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

This RFP’s purpose is to produce research designed to analyze how Atlantic Indigenous communities and businesses can realize economic opportunities in the defence industry.

In October 2025, the Government of Canada announced a commitment to increase defence spending by 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP), which amounts to approximately $63 billion in 2025-2026. The plan is to have this percentage up to 5% by 2035. The Canadian defence industry contributes nearly $10 billion to the GDP and it supports over 81,000 jobs. With the new Defence Investment Agency – which will overhaul and streamline Canada’s defence procurement – domestic manufacturing and supply chains will be created. This in turn will provide world-class equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces.

With this increase in spending over the next several years, a thorough study needs to be undertaken on how Atlantic First Nations can become involved in this reinvigorated commerce. This is an important opportunity for Atlantic First Nations especially in light of federal procurement openings for Indigenous businesses and Economic Reconciliation. Exploring this area would help Canada achieve its spending goals, foster and support Atlantic Indigenous Economic Reconciliation, and strengthen Canada’s Department of National Defence.

The research activities will include, but are not limited to, exploring economic development opportunities for Atlantic Indigenous communities and businesses, both by literature review and interviews/focus group meetings with Atlantic Indigenous economic development leaders and stakeholders. Such research activities and engagements will have defence industry opportunities for Atlantic Indigenous communities and businesses at the forefront in the economic development context. The research project will suggest how government, post-secondary institutions, and or industry can support and facilitate Atlantic Indigenous involvement and participation via best practices, recommendations, and calls to action. The research project will also advise on steps Atlantic Indigenous communities and businesses should undertake for thorough involvement.

See attached for more information.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this opportunity must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.

• APC-Defence-Industry-Opportunities-2026-RFP.pdf