Canada is actively prioritizing maritime operational readiness across its coastal and northern domains. The federal Defence Industrial Strategy explicitly names uncrewed and autonomous underwater and surface systems, marine sensors, and specialized manufacturing for marine systems as "Key Sovereign Capabilities" for domestic scaling. This is supported by the Arctic Foreign Policy’s mandates for dual-use surveillance and seaport networks. 

Meanwhile, frameworks like the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), the Nature Strategy and the Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations (ORER) Initiative drive demand for uncrewed platforms and sensor networks to scale environmental monitoring, protect mariners and infrastructure, and safeguard biodiversity across millions of square kilometers of waters. Concurrently, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan outlines over $760M in budget reductions and a decrease of 837 full-time equivalents by 2028–29. This combination of expanding regulatory mandates and shrinking departmental capacity makes uncrewed systems a necessity for maintaining operational coverage.

While Canada has strong capabilities in marine robotics, autonomy, sensing, and offshore operations, scaling these technologies from demonstrations to reliable, long-term field deployment remains a critical hurdle. 

• In which sub-sectors or applications of Marine Autonomy are Canadian companies and researchers already globally competitive?

• What are Canada’s specific needs with respect to Marine Autonomy, and where do our greatest opportunities lie?

• What technical and operational gaps most limit adoption of marine autonomy?

• How can we leverage international partnerships to benchmark progress and scale Canadian capabilities globally?

• What concrete next steps could help build a stronger Canadian marine autonomy ecosystem?

• A clearer view of Canada’s strengths and native industrial capabilities.
• Defined technical and ecosystem gaps that must be addressed to transition from pilot demonstrations to reliable field deployment.
• Potential collaboration opportunities, including pathways to leverage international partnerships to benchmark progress and scale Canadian technology globally.
• Recommended next steps to directly inform and accelerate a Canadian marine autonomy roadmap.