A Hub for Defence Activity: Expand Your Business in Nova Scotia, Canada

They say the best defence is a good offence. That’s certainly the case in Nova Scotia, where countless institutions work together to aggressively and proactively build, advance, and grow a successful ecosystem of defence companies.

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Ready to see what the Invest Nova Scotia team can do to support your business expansion in Nova Scotia? Connect with Jonathan Coles and Chandra Pottle at DSEI UK in London.

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Why Nova Scotia? The province is home to globally recognized companies working in naval defence, shipbuilding, sonar and sensing, in-service support, cyber security, aerospace and training and simulation.

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Canada’s next fleet of combat vessels

What gives Nova Scotia the edge?

Nova Scotia is Canada’s command centre for aerospace and defence innovation—where global leaders connect with cutting-edge capabilities.

Largest Defence Procurement in Canadian History: Canada’s next fleet of combat vessels are being built in Halifax, Nova Scotia, by Irving Shipbuilding under an $84 billion contract, the largest in Canada’s history. The cost to build and deliver the first three River-Class Destroyers is estimated at $22.2 billion with 15 additional ships proposed.

Supply Chain and In-Service Support

Nova Scotia: Canada’s Defence Innovation Hub

When it comes to defence, Nova Scotia leads the nation. Home to Canada’s highest concentration of defence spending and over 30% of the country’s top defence companies, the province is where industry giants choose to build, innovate, and grow.

Here, you’ll find three of Canada’s four largest ISS prime contractors—IMP Aerospace & Defence, Babcock Canada, and Lockheed Martin—anchoring a thriving ecosystem of expertise. From advanced engineering and modernization to life-cycle maintenance and platform overhaul across air, sea, and land, Nova Scotia delivers world-class capabilities trusted by global partners.

Whether you’re seeking collaboration, innovation, or expansion, Nova Scotia offers the talent, infrastructure, and strategic location to power the future of defence.

Innovation and R&D

Innovation & R&D: Powering the Future of Defence

Nova Scotia is where cutting-edge ideas meet world-class execution. Anchored by the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Atlantic Research Centre—a global leader in anti-submarine warfare, naval materials, and virtual platform development—the province is driving next-generation defence innovation.

At the heart of ocean tech advancement is COVE, Canada’s premier ocean innovation hub and an official accelerator site for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). This unique ecosystem connects companies directly with world-leading expertise, infrastructure, and opportunities.

Here, collaboration fuels progress. Companies work alongside top universities, research institutions, and industry leaders to accelerate R&D, commercialization, and global market access.

In Nova Scotia, innovation isn’t just supported—it’s accelerated.

Why Nova Scotia?

A natural home for servicing our future submarines

Home to Canada’s East Coast navy, we have a rich history in naval operations and defence innovation. Our capital city, Halifax, is the base for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic fleet and home to CFB Halifax, the largest Canadian Forces Base in terms of posted personnel.

This proximity to operational command offers efficiency and continuity in submarine maintenance and logistics. But more than just our history and current strength in defence operations, it’s our forward-looking capabilities that truly make Nova Scotia a natural choice for submarine sustainment.

Incentives, Programs and Services

Payroll Rebate

Invest Nova Scotia

A payroll rebate is a return on a company’s eligible gross payroll, paid out yearly after a company achieves predetermined targets. It’s issued over a set number of years—generally five—and...

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Innovative Ecosystem

Leading companies continually choose Nova Scotia for their global operations.

NATO chose us for DIANA’s regional office and accelerator because of our unmatched strategic and innovation assets. With direct access to the North Atlantic and Arctic—key regions for Canada’s future submarine operations—plus ice-free deepwater ports, secure defence infrastructure, and established shipyards like Halifax Shipyard, Nova Scotia is built for both operational readiness and long-term sustainment. Add to that a thriving ocean tech and research ecosystem, and it's clear why we’re helping lead this global initiative to accelerate dual-use technologies and industry growth.

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Questions? Looking for more information? Get in touch today—we’d love to talk more about the many reasons you have to choose to do business in Nova Scotia, Canada.