TKMS signs agreement with Canadian universities to support submarine program

March 10, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

German shipbuilding major TKMS has signed a teaming agreement with Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia for strategic collaboration in support of Canada’s submarine program.

Through these agreements, both universities will contribute their research strengths to TKMS’s Canadian Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Ecosystem (CDDE), a collaborative platform bringing together academia, industry, government, and other partners to accelerate maritime defense and dual-use innovation in Canada.

At Dalhousie, the collaboration will build on established expertise in complex marine and Arctic environments, advanced manufacturing, and cyber security, while creating new opportunities for student engagement and applied research.

The agreement with UBC outlines a prospective Defence Innovation Hub framework to enable joint research projects, align academic expertise with industry priorities, and facilitate technology transfer and commercialization in key areas such as marine systems and AI-enabled solutions.

“We are delighted to welcome two more top-class Canadian universities, Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia, on board the CDDE. We see the pooling of our skills and knowledge as a decisive added value in translating innovative research into targeted operational solutions,” said Dr. Jeronimo Dzaack, Senior Vice President OceanX at TKMS.

Dr. Gail Murphy, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at UBC, noted that the university has a long history of building purpose-driven partnerships and said that through the collaboration with TKMS, UBC’s research strengths could contribute to strengthening Canada’s preparedness and resilience while also supporting local and national economic development.

Dr. Graham Gagnon, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Dalhousie University, said that the university was pleased to collaborate with TKMS and the ecosystem it is building to drive innovation in ocean science, engineering and digital technologies. He added that the institution looked forward to working within the partnership to translate research into knowledge, skills and deployable solutions that would advance Canadian innovation and sovereignty.

Together, the parties are committed to strengthening Canada’s defence innovation base, supporting domestic suppliers and SMEs, and developing the skilled workforce required to sustain sovereign submarine capabilities for decades to come.

Recently, TKMS signed a teaming agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in support of Canada’s future submarine capabilities with Montreal-based global technology company CAE. The agreements are part of TKMS’ effort to build partnerships with industry, academia, and technology providers to support Canada’s future submarine program.

The German company is one of the bidders for Canada’s submarine project, competing with South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean.