FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

GCXpo 2026 showcases sovereign technology as Canada’s defence, dual-use and Agtech sectors gather in Ottawa.  

OTTAWA, ON – October 7th, 2026 – More than 100 Canadian companies gathered at Area X.O last week for Canada’s largest live technology demonstration. GCXpo 2026 welcomed more than 2,300 attendees, the largest turnout in event history. The showcase served as a platform for new announcements, partnerships, and live demonstrations spanning defence and dual-use technology and agtech, while helping move Canadian technologies toward greater commercialization and deployment.  

The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, joined government, industry, and research leaders on site to deliver the event’s opening remarks, setting the tone for a day of discussions surrounding sovereignty, resilience, procurement, and the role Canadian innovation can play in strengthening critical systems at home.  

“We’re no longer asking only what equipment we need to buy. We’re also asking what capability we can build here in Canada,’ he said. “Who can design it here, who can build it here, who can sustain it here. Every major defence investment should leave Canada stronger than it found it.”

The event comes at a pivotal moment, as Canada significantly increases defence investment while working to strengthen domestic industrial capacity, food security, sovereign capability, and resilient supply chains. GCXpo 2026 provided a tangible look at the companies and technologies working to turn those ambitions into operational and commercial capability. 

Calian and Invest Ottawa announce Northstar Defence Lab at Area X.O  

One of the day’s most significant announcements was the launch of the Northstar Defence Lab by Calian and Invest Ottawa. The new mission-orchestration environment is designed to help Canadian defence technology companies securely share data, coordinate, and operate as an integrated system of systems.  

Located at Area X.O’s Greenbelt campus in Ottawa, the lab will provide a persistent environment where technologies can be integrated, orchestrated, tested, validated, and scaled on home-soil. Calian will build and operate the lab, which will be powered by Calian ATHORA™, bringing together innovators, defence manufacturers, and technology partners from across Canada.  

“As the Canadian Armed Forces modernizes to meet evolving threats, we are investing in the technologies, companies and collaborative infrastructure needed to move at pace alongside them,” said Patrick Houston, the Chief Executive Officer at Calian. “Through Calian VENTURES and the Northstar Defence Lab, we are helping strengthen Canada’s defence industrial base and accelerate the development, validation and deployment of integrated mission capabilities.”  

Northstar is the first facility in Calian’s planned nationwide network of regional defence development labs, representing the company’s initiative to mobilize $100 million toward sovereign Canadian defence capabilities.  

“Through Area X.O and Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem, we are bringing together founders, companies, government, our Forces, and partners to accelerate the validation, adoption and deployment of defence and dual-use technologies, helping Canadian companies get to market, customers and revenue faster,” said Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa. “The Northstar Defence Lab at Area X.O will help strengthen this pathway, creating new opportunities for Canadian companies, building our defence industrial capacity, and continually increasing the impact of Canada’s Capital Region as a national and global defence innovation hub serving Canada, our Forces and allies.”   

The announcement reflects the growing role of Area X.O and the capital region as Canada’s defence innovation hub, bringing together government, the Canadian Armed Forces, defence companies, and emerging technology firms to accelerate the path from development and testing to adoption and procurement.  

Two zones, one focus 

At the centre of GCXpo 2026 were two dedicated innovation zones.  

The Accenture Defence and Dual-Use Zone showcased Canadian technologies supporting national security, sovereign capability, and resilient infrastructure. Through live and tabletop demonstrations and dedicated stage programming, attendees explored technologies being developed for defence and security, with applications across multiple industries. Programming delved into key issues surrounding the adoption of technologies, procurement and deployment, and collaboration between Canadian innovators and government, industry and defence leaders.  

The FCC Agtech Zone highlighted the technology that transforms how Canada is producing, managing, and protecting its food and resource systems. Demonstrations and programming spanned autonomous machinery and robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics for crop and livestock management, climate-resilient practices, and rural connectivity. The zone also highlighted the dual-use nature of technologies that can move between agriculture and other critical sectors.  

Together, the two zones reflect a broader reality for Canadian innovation, one that spans beyond a single sector, and works to advance Canada’s sovereignty across farm fields and critical infrastructure from coast to coast to coast. 

Throughout the day, attendees watched as technologies were tested in real-world conditions across the site. Live demonstrations ranged from counter-drone and autonomous vehicle displays in the Accenture Defence and Dual-Use Zone, to robotic systems, precision agriculture technologies, and smart farming equipment in the FCC Agtech Zone. The event’s displays provided tangible proof of Canadian technologies performing in the environments they are designed to serve, proving both the readiness of homegrown capabilities and Ottawa’s growing role as the global hub for defence innovation, testing, and commercialization.  

Why international companies are choosing Ottawa 

GCXpo 2026 also brought a global spotlight to Ottawa’s technology ecosystem. Participants from 20 countries took part in the event, and 12 international companies that have Ottawa operations joined a VIP session sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Representing countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, China and Poland, these companies have chosen to establish or expand their operations in Ottawa. 

Their decision reflects more than Ottawa’s growing role as Canada’s defence innovation hub. Companies are drawn to the city’s skilled talent, resources, partners, research and development capabilities, and the innovative technologies being developed here. Some companies participating in the event have also expanded their operations to other Canadian locations, contributing to a broader story of technologies and businesses being built and scaled across the country. 

Speakers from international companies including iQ-LOOP, Quantum Systems and K WaterCraft shared their experiences of choosing Ottawa and the role Invest Ottawa’s Global Expansion team played in supporting their growth. Representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT) and FedDev Ontario also shared information on funding opportunities available to international companies looking to establish or expand in Canada.  

The event concluded with networking among international businesses, Canadian innovators, government representatives and industry leaders, connecting companies already investing in Ottawa with the broader ecosystem supporting innovation, commercialization and growth. 

About GCXpo 2026 

Hosted by Area X.O and Invest Ottawa, GCXpo is Canada’s premier live technology demonstration event, bringing together government, procurement leaders, industry, investors, researchers, innovators, and ecosystem partners for an immersive day of discovery, collaboration, and real-world innovation. 

Unlike a traditional conference or trade show, GCXpo allows you to experience cutting-edge Canadian technologies operating in live environments—creating opportunities to accelerate commercialization, procurement, investment, and strategic partnerships. 

Whether you’re looking to discover emerging technologies, connect with innovators, evaluate procurement-ready solutions, or explore Canada’s innovation ecosystem, GCXpo is where the future moves from concept to capability. 

This year’s theme reflects Canada’s growing focus on strengthening Canada’s sovereignty through innovation. 

GCXpo 2026 highlights the technologies helping Canada build, protect, and sustain its future—from defence and dual-use capabilities to agriculture, food security, autonomous systems, and critical infrastructure. 

By bringing together innovators, government, industry, and investors, GCXpo showcases how Canadian technologies are strengthening economic competitiveness, supporting procurement, and accelerating commercialization in sectors critical to Canada’s future. 

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About Invest Ottawa, Area X.O and GCXpo   

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital. It supports entrepreneurs and companies from startup through scale-up and global expansion, with programs and services spanning venture development, global expansion, talent, research and development and innovation collaboration.  

Invest Ottawa is also the founder and operator of Area X.O, a next-generation R&D complex and NATO DIANA Test Centre that helps innovators, entrepreneurs and companies get to market faster and safely by working directly with end users. Through Area X.O at the Greenbelt in Ottawa and Killaloe in the Ottawa Valley, Invest Ottawa brings together entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, multinationals, governments, prospective customers, regulators and collaborators to safely develop, test, validate, demonstrate and commercialize breakthrough technologies in real-world conditions, driving adoption and deployment.  

Area X.O also hosts GCXpo, Canada’s premier next-generation technology demonstration event, bringing together innovators, companies, government and industry leaders, investors, researchers, and ecosystem partners across defence, agtech, smart mobility and other dual-use technologies to accelerate commercialization, adoption, deployment, and global growth.  

Invest Ottawa – Area X.O – GCXpo