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Supporting Canadian sovereignty 

Knowledge, innovation and leadership for Canada’s future 

At the University of Toronto, Canadian sovereignty is about more than borders — it’s about strengthening our nation’s resilience and defence capabilities to lead nationally and globally in research, technology, culture, health and public policy. As one of the world’s top research universities, U of T is helping to shape a strong, self-determined future for Canada. 

Learn more about Defence at U of T

We’re innovating defence capabilities for Canada's future 

U of T experts continue to lead the way in aerospace, artificial intelligence, health, human performance, medicine, trauma care, public health, rehabilitative science, computing, cybersecurity, manufacturing, supply chain management, disaster preparedness, human rights, brokering peace, preventing conflicts, ethics, trade law and much more. Discover some of the U of T initiatives that contribute to the defence and sovereignty of our nation.

See U of T’s talent ecosystem in action

U of T’s training programs span the full range of capabilities required to design, build, operate, and govern complex systems. Programs aligned with Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy form a broad and interconnected network of talent that supports national capacity across critical sectors. 

Learn about U of T's talent ecosystem

News & Events

Serving Scholar Program

NEWS |  April 23, 2026

The University of Toronto is establishing a Serving Scholar Program to support students who are currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), in the Regular or Reserve Force. This initiative will focus on ensuring that student service members are aware of available academic supports and have clear pathways to request flexibility when service obligations affect their studies.

Preparing Canada’s health system for military conflicts: a framework for civilian-military medical readiness

NEWS |  April 3, 2026

A national framework for civilian military medical integration should rest on 3 pillars: sustained clinical readiness through shared training and embedded personnel, scalable dual use medical capacity, and formalized coordination supported by interoperable data systems

U of T partners with South Korean firm Hanwha Ocean to strengthen Canada’s maritime sovereignty 

NEWS |  March 10, 2026

The agreement offers U of T researchers the opportunity to contribute to real-world solutions that bolster Canada’s maritime security and Arctic capability

Government of Canada invests in CDL Defence to accelerate dual-use technologies from research to deployment

NEWS |  March 6, 2026

Creative Destruction Lab is receiving a Government of Canada investment, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support its newly launched CDL Defence program.

Biosecurity and Health Emergency Preparedness in Today's Research and Development Landscape

EVENT |  Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:00 am  to 12:00 pm

U.S. Navy CAPT Andrew Letizia (MD, MTM&H, FIDSA) will provide a keynote address on biosecurity and health emergency preparedness, including a brief history, the opportunities, and current concerns as scientific knowledge and tools have become more powerful and accessible in enabling developments of dual-use technologies. The talk will highlight how advances in the life sciences intersect with ethical use considerations, public safety, and public policy, as well as what steps countries should take to strengthen health emergency preparedness to establish health security.
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