The Security and Defence Forum

The Security and Defence Forum (SDF) is a program of the Department of National Defence. It is mandated to develop a domestic competence and national interest in defence issues of current and future relevance to Canadian security. To meet this mandate, the SDF program provides:

1.       grants to Centres of Expertise in security and defence and the Chair of Defence Management Studies, located at Canadian universities, to assist them in teaching both undergraduate and graduate students, in conducting research, and in publishing articles relevant to the field;

2.       Awards, such as scholarships and internships, to candidates pursuing master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral studies in security, defence, and/or defence management; and

3.       Special Project grants to individuals and institutions to finance academic projects, conferences, or other unique initiatives that are directly relevant to the mandate of the Security and Defence Forum.

The Department seeks a Security and Defence Forum that is representative, varied in its interests, and diverse in its strengths. Academic freedom and objectivity are at the heart of the Forum’s mandate. Accordingly, the Directorate of Public Policy manages the program based on the guidance and recommendations of an independent Selection Committee. The Selection Committee’s members are appointed by the Minister of National Defence and are drawn from Canadian academia and the defence community. The Chair of the Committee is a person with notable expertise in the security and defence field.

The SDF program seeks to promote and develop scholarly interests in contemporary security and defence issues. These issues include, but are not limited to:

§         Failed or failing states;

§         Terrorism;

§         Weapons of Mass Destruction;

§         Regional flashpoints;

§         Canadian Forces Transformation, including integrated and unified approaches to operations;

§         The Defence of Canada;

§         Canada-United States defence relations;

§         The Canadian Forces’ international role;

§         The Integrated Defence, Diplomacy and Development (“3D”) approach to conflict and post-conflict situations;

§         Defence procurement and management;

§         National Defence’s support to other governmental departments and agencies.