1. Canada's RPAS /Drone Industry Survey

It's time for an industry check in. 
One of the most important activities we can undertake at this time is to gather research informed by two surveys that will help to:
  • Assess the current status of Canada's drone / Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) industry; 
  • Gather insights about Canadian companies' current capabilities, research activities & challenges, and;
  • Shape recommendations for government to guide program development to best support innovation & growth over the next one, three & five years.
Results of THIS online industry survey plus the 'Canadian Capabilities' survey are crucial to shaping those recommendations, so we appreciate your participation!

The research team acknowledges that our work spans many traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples across the nation. We are grateful for the Traditional Knowledge Keepers, those who have gone before us and the youth from all Nations who inspire us to pave a shared path towards Reconciliation.
2021 National Survey: Status of Canadian RPAS / Drone Industry

SMALL BUSINESSES DRIVE CANADA'S ECONOMY
The Small Business Branch of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) reported in 2019 that 88% of Canada's private workforce is employed by small to medium-sized enterprises (SME's) with less than 500 employees. Their success is critical to Canada's economy, so government and industry associations must continually gather and analyze data to identify activities and support services that can help organizations to stabilize, innovate and grow.

Research can help to identify both barriers and supportive factors that can impact an organization's success - improving employee and industry expertise, increasing revenues and profit, creating or enhancing products and services to strengthen supply chains, and expanding their customer base to serve local, regional, national and international markets.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN OUR SECTOR
In our 2018 'Status of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) / Drone Industry Report', the vast majority of survey respondents fell into the small to medium-sized business category. Yet it is important to note that even though this sector continues to evolve and expand, almost 60% of organizations were considered very small firms:
  • Approximately 40% indicated they had less than 10 employees.
  • Only 19% indicated they had over 100 employees.
Although Canada's RPAS / Drone sector is driven by innovative people and organizations, we are not immune to the last two years of significant economic and social stress. The on-going impacts of a global pandemic, rising calls for social justice and systemic change, and numerous environmental disasters dramatically changed how we all work, learn and live. 

Yet chaos can be a catalyst for change – and disruption often drives innovation. Many organizations may have: 
  • Developed or found new products and suppliers to address supply chain disruptions;
  • Invested in employee training, new tools or technologies to streamline operations, improve their efficiency and become more competitive;
  • Created new revenue streams or 'pivoted' products and services to reduce the impact of lost contracts, lower sales and profits; 
  • Taken advantage of changing work environments to test new software or processes to improve their Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 
This research will help to assess the current status of Canada's RPAS / Drone sector and identify programs that could support further innovation and growth - especially for the small and medium-sized businesses most affected by two years of changes and challenges.

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