The Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP) is a federally-funded program that supports federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments in the development of innovative science and technology advancements that contribute to the safety and security of Canadians. Projects funded by CSSP strengthen Canada's ability to anticipate, prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, serious accidents, crime and terrorism through the convergence of science and technology (S&T) with policy, operations, and intelligence.
CSSP allows government departments to meet their safety and security requirements with science and technology solutions in collaboration with industry and/or academia.
The CSSP is managed by the Department of National Defence (DND) in partnership with Public Safety Canada (PSC). Coordination of the CSSP is led by the Centre for Security Science within DND’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
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Priority areas - Text version
A Venn diagram shows the six priority areas of the Canadian Safety and Security Program which fall under the Public Safety, National Security and overlapping domains. Each priority area has a brief description.
Under Public Safety, the priority areas are:
- First responders
Enable the development of knowledge, trusted advice and innovative technology solutions that support paramedic, fire, and law enforcement service delivery that is responsive to community expectations and operating environment challenges. - Preparedness and resilience
Develop capabilities that support national risk management and mitigation, improve public emergency communications and public responses to emergencies, and strengthen whole-of-society resilience.
Under National Security, the priority areas are:
- Surveillance, intelligence and interdiction
Support analytical or operational solutions that help detect, prevent, and respond to various public and national security threats. - Border security
Improve efficiency and security of the flow of people and goods at Canada’s ports of entry; ensure integrity of Canada’s borders.
Under the overlapping area of Public Safety and National Security, the priority areas are:
- CBRNE security
Advance national capabilities to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from high consequence Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) public safety and security events. - Critical infrastructure resilience
Enable understanding and preparedness for physical and cyber threats and risks to critical infrastructure.
- First responders
Priority areas
CSSP projects are organized under six priority themes under public safety and national security:
First responders
Develop knowledge, informed advice, and innovative technology solutions to support paramedic, fire, and law enforcement service delivery that is responsive to community needs and the specific challenges facing first responders.
Preparedness and resilience
Develop solutions that support national risk management and mitigation efforts, improve public emergency communications and public responses to emergencies (including natural disasters, violent extremism, etc.), and strengthen whole-of-society resilience.
CBRNE security
Improve Canada’s national capacity to anticipate, prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from high consequence Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) public safety and security events.
Critical infrastructure resilience
Anticipate, prepare for, and prevent physical and cyber threats and risks to critical infrastructure.
Surveillance, intelligence, and interdiction
Support analytical or operational solutions that help detect, prevent, and respond to various public safety and national security threats.
Border security
Improve efficiency and security of the flow of people and goods at Canada’s ports of entry; and ensure integrity of Canada’s borders.
Key aspects of CSSP projects:
- Lead government department: Projects are driven by timely needs of a lead government department that owns or co-owns the science and technology research and implements the projects.
- Whole of government: CSSP is a national, whole of government(s) science and technology program with the mandate and investment mechanisms to address common needs and areas of shared responsibility across the federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous safety and security landscape.
- Between mandates: CSSP projects address needs that fall between departmental and/or institutional mandates, which pose a critical risk or serious impediment to public safety and national security.
- Collaboration: CSSP projects engage value-added partners in government, industry, and academia, which help to build networks and partnerships for safety and security.
- High-impact science and technology: CSSP research and development address key safety and security challenges identified by the Centre for Security Science and/or other government departments.