About Invest Ottawa
Ottawa economic-development and technology accelerator that operates venture programs and Area X.O, a secure R&D complex supporting testing, validation, demonstration, and commercialization of autonomy, drones, communications, defence, and security technologies.
Operating context
Invest Ottawa supports venture formation, commercialization and scaling through distinct programmes, with workspace at Bayview Yards and applied testing through Area X.O. A founder can approach IO Ignition or Flex at an early stage, while Accelerator and ScaleUp address more developed businesses; programme admission and support should be checked against the venture’s maturity. Area X.O is relevant where mobility, autonomy or connected-system trials need a controlled environment. Invest Ottawa also helps coordinate the capital-region Defence Innovation Hub strategy with Ottawa, Gatineau and ecosystem partners. This is a regional collaboration and investment-attraction strategy, not a single new laboratory or an automatic federal procurement channel. The ONE9 collaboration adds a defence-entrepreneur network to the existing business and test infrastructure. The City of Ottawa’s May 2026 briefing to foreign missions demonstrates active international engagement. A company should separate its business-development requirement from its test plan, then establish the applicable programme, facility, schedule, costs and security conditions. Public strategy ambitions do not establish funding awarded to an individual company.