Senior leaders from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spent a day in Waterloo Region meeting with local tech companies building the future of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, imaging and data systems.

Lt.-Gen. Iain S. Huddleston and his delegation were in town to learn how made-in-Waterloo-Region technology could help Canada strengthen its ability to detect and respond to emerging global threats. The visit, hosted by Communitech, included roundtable discussions, demos and private meetings with some of the region’s most innovative companies.

What they saw in action

From traffic systems to quantum research, each presentation offered a glimpse into how Waterloo Region innovation scales from everyday problem-solving to global impact.

  • Primal presented its neuro-symbolic AI, designed for regulated industries. The company’s system eliminates bias, incompleteness and hallucination, drawing from 15 years of applied research and more than 170 patents to deliver secure, explainable AI that integrates with enterprise workflows.

  • eSentire described how its Managed Detection and Response platform protects more than 2,000 organizations across 80 countries. By combining AI with human expertise, eSentire detects and investigates threats faster, redefining how cybersecurity teams respond to attacks.

  • GovAI introduced the first dedicated AI assistant for the public sector. Used by thousands of government employees across North America, GovAI helps staff research, compare documents and draft communications, improving both accuracy and productivity.

  • Quantum Valley Ideas Lab shared how its projects are accelerating the commercialization of quantum technologies with near-term market applications. The team focuses on performance improvements for sensing and detection that can benefit both commercial and defence sectors.

  • KA Imaging demonstrated advanced X-ray imaging systems that go beyond traditional scans by identifying materials through multi-energy imaging. Originally developed for medical use, the technology also supports industrial and security applications.

Regional partners, including the Accelerator Centre, Velocity, AeroWR, the University of Waterloo, and the Region of Waterloo joined the discussion to show how collaboration across research, industry and government supports local innovation.

The NORAD delegation also held private meetings with several Waterloo companies.

  • Miovision showed how its traffic data platform helps cities move people safely and efficiently. By analyzing multimodal traffic flows, Miovision gives municipalities real-time insight into congestion and safety; tools that could also enhance situational awareness in other critical environments.

  • Cohere presented its security-first enterprise AI platform that allows organizations to deploy large language models across private, hybrid or on-premise environments.

  • OpenText shared how its Business AI and cloud platforms help global organizations manage information securely and efficiently.

  • SkyWatch provided an early look at an AI-powered application built on the SkyWatch Platform that could support a range of defence and security applications.

AI meets government and defence

This is NORAD’s second visit to Waterloo Region this year. In June 2025, a NORAD delegation led by Lt.-Gen. Blaise Frawley met with local tech leaders to explore AI and aerospace innovation. That visit connected more than a dozen local companies and sparked ongoing conversations about how dual-use technologies, those that serve both civilian and defence purposes, can help modernize systems across North America.

Waterloo Region has become one of the world’s top locations for applied AI, with more than 135 companies working in fields such as machine learning, smart robotics and natural language processing. The University of Waterloo and its AI Institute anchor a research network of more than 300 professors and scientists, while local innovation help turn those ideas into products that scale.

The roundtable focused on how large institutions can use AI responsibly. The discussion highlighted that AI can do more than automate; it gives teams space to think strategically and focus on critical decision-making.

For NORAD, the visit was a chance to see that innovation up close. For local founders, it was a reminder that the technology built here powers more than business; it helps safeguard the systems and communities that rely on it.

Want to learn more about how Waterloo Region companies are advancing responsible AI and defence innovation? Connect with Communitech to explore partnerships and opportunities.