Ottawa, Ontario, September 3, 2025 — ONE9, Canada’s leading security investment and innovation platform, and Invest Ottawa, lead economic growth agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital, today announced a new collaboration to accelerate the growth of Canada’s defence and security innovation sector.

The partnership includes Area X.O, the ITB-certified R&D complex for next-gen technology and NATO DIANA test centre established by Invest Ottawa, positioning Ottawa as the destination of choice for defence and security startups, SMEs and their collaborators. With three integrated R&D sites, it enables these firms to test, validate, demonstrate and commercialize new technologies, helping them get to market faster safely.

Strengthening Canada’s Strategic Advantage

Through this collaboration, ONE9 and Invest Ottawa are creating an ecosystem that enables defence and security startups to grow and scale in Canada while also contributing to the priorities of allied partners.

By combining ONE9’s trusted capital and operational expertise with the infrastructure, talent and global networks of Invest Ottawa and Area X.O, the partnership gives entrepreneurs a platform to validate technologies, access specialized support, and engage directly with end-users, prospective customers and investors.

This environment will generate opportunities ranging from demo days and pilot projects to investment forums and international engagements that connect Canadian innovators with NATO, Five Eyes, and other allied defence hubs.

Home to decision-makers and end-users across the defence and security R&D and business landscape, Ottawa is a national hub for dual-use innovation. This makes the collaboration between ONE9 and Invest Ottawa a strategic step, strengthening Canada’s domestic innovation base while positioning Canadian companies as valuable contributors to collective defence and security capabilities and efforts worldwide.

“This partnership combines the operational expertise and trusted capital ecosystem of ONE9 with the world-class infrastructure and networks of Invest Ottawa and Area X.O,” said Glenn Cowan, Founder and Managing Director of ONE9. “Together, we are building the environment for Canadian defence and security innovators need to succeed at home and abroad.”

Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, added: “Canada’s Capital is a national defence innovation hub with the highest tech talent concentration in North America. Leveraging the unique capabilities of our ecosystem and Area X.O as an ITB-certified R&D complex and NATO DIANA test centre, we help defence and security entrepreneurs and firms test, validate and commercialize world-class technologies faster, safely. By collaborating with ONE9, we will unlock new global opportunities for homegrown companies while creating jobs and economic impact across our region.”

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About ONE9

ONE9 is Canada’s first and only security investment and innovation platform with a mission to solve national security challenges through innovation. Working with end-users and startups alike, ONE9 finds, funds, and scales the capabilities necessary to meet 21^st century defence and security challenges.

About Invest Ottawa and Area X.O

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic growth agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include small business training, mentorship, acceleration for technology firms, foreign business and investment attraction, local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors, technology commercialization and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life.

Invest Ottawa is also the manager of Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation hub and one-stop business acceleration shop, and founder and operator of Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen technologies. Since 2013, Invest Ottawa has supported more than 14,000 companies, contributed to the creation of more than 14,700 jobs, helped domestic companies raise $1.86 billion in capital and attracted $1.47 billion in domestic and foreign direct investment to Ottawa.

About Area X.O

Area X.O, operated by Invest Ottawa, is Canada’s all-weather ITB-certified R&D complex that enables the testing, validation, demonstration and commercialization of next-generation technologies, helping entrepreneurs and companies get to market faster, safely.

One of 14 NATO DIANA test centres in Canada, it:

• Combines diverse expertise with Ottawa’s telecom and cybersecurity strengths as a global tech hub and operating one of the most advanced communications infrastructures in the world
• Is the only all-weather innovation hub of its kind in North America with three integrated R&D sites for private, public and defence testing and validation with specialization in AI, drones and advanced robotics.

These applications benefit our community, economy, and environment, and span: defence, security, public safety, smart mobility, telecom, smart agriculture, unmanned aerial vehicles, and smart cities.

Established and managed by Invest Ottawa, Area X.O leverages critical support from world-class founding partners, including: the Government of Canada (through FedDev Ontario), the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network managed by the Ontario Centre of Innovation), the City of Ottawa, Accenture, BlackBerry QNX, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, and Ottawa’s post-secondary institutions.