CRC'25 Panel - The Security Dividend: A Fireside Chat on Defence Robotics

Robotics and autonomous systems are becoming pervasive in our world today. Many argue they underpin the future of the economy and national productivity. In another sphere, many argue they underpin the future of defence and national security. Canada needs both, and has recently announced a significantly increased commitment to defence innovation.

Bringing these national needs together requires collaboration between dual-use deep tech investors and defence and security early adopters. This fireside chat with the Business Development Bank of Canada and Lt.Gen. (ret'd) Frances Allen, former Vice-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, will discuss the future of defence robotics with a focus on Canadian needs, what a deep tech investor looks for, and how public investment can generate a "defence dividend"—leveraging early defence investment to build globally leading commercial companies.

This panel took place on October 9th, 2025 at the Canadian Robotics Council's 2025 Symposium in Kingston Ontario. https://roboticscouncil.swoogo.com/sy...

Learn more about the Canadian Robotics Council and hot to become at member at: https://www.roboticscouncil.ca/

Speakers
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Frances Allen , Lieutenant-General (ret’d), Canadian Armed Forces
Duncan Stewart , Partner, Deep Tech Fund, BDC


Bios
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Lieutenant-General (ret’d) Frances Allen served in the Canadian Armed Forces for over 41 years, retiring in November 2024.
She commanded at multiple levels throughout her career, at aerospace engineering and telecommunications support units, cyber operations units and information operations units, also serving as the Joint Force Cyber Component Commander to Canada’s Joint Operations Commander.
In 2020, she served in Brussels as Canadian Military Representative to NATO, and as the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, she was responsible for the execution of the Defence Services Program and overall Capability Development. Lieutenant-General (ret’d) Allen has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Statistics from Queens University, and a Master in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Duncan Stewart is a Partner in the Deep Tech Venture Fund at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), where he brings deep science and technology expertise in both the private and public sector to the venture capital team at BDC.

From 2012 to 2019 he was Director General of the NRC Canadian national lab Security and Disruptive Technologies research centre, leading a team of more than 100 research physicists and chemists working on disruptive quantum science and technology, including scientific research, technology innovation, IP generation and licensing, and technology transfer. This team was repeatedly recognized among the top performing science teams inside the Govt of Canada. From 2009 to 2012, he was Director of Research at the NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences.

Before joining NRC in 2008, he worked for a decade at Hewlett-Packard (HP) Laboratories in Silicon Valley, California, in the flagship Quantum Science Laboratory, leading DARPA-funded projects in disruptive computing technologies.