Canada Makes
Canada Makes is a national network organization that connects Canadian manufacturers, academia, and government to accelerate adoption of additive and digital manufacturing through membership services, an AM Demonstration Program, and ecosystem coordination.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSaint-léonard, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Canada Makes does
Canada Makes is a national network organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Saint-Léonard, Quebec, that connects industry, academia, and government stakeholders to accelerate adoption of additive manufacturing (3D printing) and other digital manufacturing technologies across Canada. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it operates as a neutral intermediary offering a portfolio of services including a member directory of 79+ organizations, an interactive Capability Map visualization tool, an "Ask the Experts" advisory service, the annual Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program (AM Demo), and the "Additive Insights" podcast. Its core function is ecosystem orchestration — reducing fragmentation in Canada's advanced manufacturing landscape by facilitating introductions between manufacturers seeking technology solutions and service providers spanning 3D print bureaus, equipment vendors, materials suppliers, training providers, and research institutions.
The organization's revenue model rests on two pillars: recurring membership fees across corporate, institutional, and individual tiers, and managed services revenue derived from government-funded program delivery, most notably the AM Demo Program in partnership with NGen Canada and NRC IRAP. Specific membership pricing is not publicly disclosed; a job posting for a Membership & Program Coordinator references a commission-based compensation structure for membership recruitment, indicating that growth depends on direct sales rather than inbound self-service. The organization serves a horizontally segmented customer base spanning SMEs, large industrial manufacturers, research institutions and universities, technology providers and startups, and government and policy organizations — a structure that diversifies revenue but limits depth in any single vertical.
Strategically, Canada Makes has been extending its footprint through partnerships with global and domestic players: Renishaw (AM equipment, 2024), Germany's Mobility Goes Additive cluster (2023), NGen Canada (ongoing program delivery), and most recently AI4Manufacturing Canada (2025), which signals intent to broaden from pure additive manufacturing into adjacent digital manufacturing themes such as AI. The organization operates with a small staff of roughly 3-10 people and an 11-member Board of Directors chaired by Mark Kirby, with Frank Defalco bridging the organization to NGen Canada as that cluster's Director of Member Relations. There is no disclosed venture funding; financial support flows primarily through NGen cluster funding and program-based government contracts, creating exposure to Canadian industrial policy and cluster budget cycles.
Canada Makes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Canada Makes
- Legal name
- Canada Makes
- Website
- https://canadamakes.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Canada Makes is a national network organization that connects Canadian manufacturers, academia, and government to accelerate adoption of additive and digital manufacturing through membership services, an AM Demonstration Program, and ecosystem coordination.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Canada Makes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint-léonard
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Canada Makes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Canada Makes generates revenue through membership fees. Membership levels include corporate, institutional, and individual tiers. Benefits include technical advisory services, networking events, business development support, training programs, and marketing visibility within the Canadian manufacturing community.
- Government Funding & Program Delivery: Canada Makes receives funding support for program delivery, including the Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program (AM Demo) which is supported by NGen Canada and NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Canada Makes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Canada Makes operates as Canada's premier national network for additive manufacturing, connecting industry, academia, and government to accelerate adoption of digital and additive manufacturing technologies. The organization offers membership-based services including a searchable member directory, an interactive capability map, expert advisory consultations, training programs, R&D collaboration support, an annual Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program, and networking events across the country.
Product overview
Canada Makes is a national network organization, not a unified software product. It provides a portfolio of services including a member directory, capability mapping tool, expert advisory services, training programs, R&D collaboration support, and an annual demonstration program. The organization connects Canadian manufacturers, technology providers, academia, and government to advance digital and additive manufacturing adoption. No standalone software products, APIs, or AI-powered products were identified in the provided source material.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Canada Makes Network Membership Membership-based access to a national network connecting manufacturers, technology providers, academia, and government to accelerate additive manufacturing adoption, with corporate, institutional, and individual tiers.
- Member Directory A searchable online directory of Canada Makes members including 3D print bureaus, equipment suppliers, materials providers, AI companies, and manufacturing service providers across Canada.
- Canada Makes Capability Map An interactive map connecting Canada's additive manufacturing capability network, allowing users to locate manufacturers and service providers across all provinces.
- Ask the Experts A consultation service connecting users with technical experts in additive manufacturing and 3D printing to provide technical guidance and answers to domain questions.
- Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program An annual program that demonstrates additive manufacturing technologies through member-delivered projects showcasing applications in aerospace, medical, energy, and defense sectors, supported by NGen and NRC IRAP funding.
- I Need Parts Manufactured (Connection Service) A connection service that matches businesses with local Canadian manufacturers capable of producing their parts for prototyping and low-volume production.
- Technology Acquisition Consulting A connection service linking businesses with experts to identify and acquire the right additive manufacturing technology for their needs.
- Training Programs Hands-on training and educational programs delivered by industry leaders to build additive manufacturing skills.
- Research and Development Collaboration A connection service that links members with research and development experts to collaborate on additive manufacturing innovation projects.
- Additive Insights Podcast An ongoing podcast series featuring industry leaders discussing additive manufacturing innovations, strategies, education, and success stories from the Canadian AM ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- 79+ member organizations across various additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing categories
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Canada Makes
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Canada Makes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Canada Makes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AtlanticXLcoreAtlanticXL is an advanced manufacturing solutions provider with capabilities in metal and polymer additive manufacturing and design engineering. They serve energy, marine, and mining sectors in Atlantic Canada and North America. Canada Makes highlights AtlanticXL as advancing qualified additive manufacturing in Canada - the first facility in the Americas to receive Lloyd's Register Additive Manufacturing Facility Qualification.
- The AssemblyminorThe Assembly was founded to address Canada's manufacturing challenges by combining secure digital inventory with a sovereign, distributed production network. They aim to make it possible to produce parts closer to where/when they're needed, reducing lead times, shipping costs, and reliance on overseas suppliers.
- AI4Manufacturing Canada (AI4M)coreAI4Manufacturing Canada is an industry non-profit taking a leadership role in educating Canadian manufacturers on AI adoption. Canada Makes partners with AI4M on joint initiatives, shared staff positions, and ecosystem development for both additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence in Canadian manufacturing.
- RenishawcoreRenishaw, a global leader in engineering technologies, partnered with Canada Makes to promote widespread adoption of additive manufacturing in Canada. The partnership aims to leverage Renishaw's global expertise in AM equipment and Canada Makes' national network to accelerate technology adoption across Canadian industry.
- NGen CanadacoreNGen Canada completed the Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program with support from NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). NGen is Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. Canada Makes participates in NGen events including the N³ Summit and delivers AM Demo Program projects.
- Mobility Goes Additive (MGA)coreCanada Makes formalized a partnership with German cluster Mobility Goes Additive (MGA) through a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate AM partnership between the two organizations. Both organizations are thrilled to announce the partnership solidified through the signing.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Canada Makes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- America Makes: America Makes is the U.S. national accelerator for additive manufacturing, part of the Manufacturing USA network. It is the closest international analog to Canada Makes — serving as a national AM cluster connecting industry, academia, and government to accelerate 3D printing adoption.
- NGen Canada: NGen is Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing and a direct partner of Canada Makes. While broader than AM, NGen operates a similar network-and-program-delivery model with federal funding, making it the most comparable peer organization within Canada.
- Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA): AMGTA is a global trade organization promoting the environmental benefits of additive manufacturing. It is a comparable non-profit trade-association model focused specifically on AM, with similar member-network and advocacy functions to Canada Makes.
- Mobility Goes Additive (MGA): MGA is Germany's leading AM cluster organization focused on mobility applications. As a formal MOU partner of Canada Makes (Nov 2023), it shares the same industry-cluster model but operates in European automotive and mobility markets.
Broad incumbents
- Manufacturing USA: Manufacturing USA is the U.S. network of 16+ federally funded manufacturing innovation institutes, including America Makes. It provides a broader umbrella model for industry-academia-government collaboration in advanced manufacturing, similar in spirit to Canada Makes' positioning.
- Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME): CME is Canada's largest industry association representing manufacturers and exporters across all sectors. It serves a similar member-network and policy-advocacy function to Canada Makes but operates at a broader (non-AM-specific) level within Canada.
- ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE): ASTM's AM CoE is a global consortium focused on AM standards, qualification, and certification — activities that overlap with Canada Makes' policy/qualification work (e.g., AtlanticXL's Lloyd's Register qualification). Comparable in standards-and-ecosystem-development function.
- CECIMO: CECIMO is the European Association of Manufacturing Technologies, representing the broader machine-tool and AM industry at EU policy level. It is a comparable industry-association/cluster model with policy advocacy and networking functions analogous to Canada Makes.
Emerging players
- 3D Printing Industry / Innovate UK: 3D Printing Industry is a global media and events company covering AM, while Innovate UK funds manufacturing innovation. Both function as ecosystem connectors adjacent to Canada Makes' role — providing information, networking, and program funding that overlaps with Canada Makes' services.
Regional players
- High Value Manufacturing Catapult: The UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult is a network of manufacturing research centers with a similar consortium-and-program-delivery model. It is comparable in function but operates in UK/European markets rather than North America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Canada Makes social profiles
Digital presenceCanada Makes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Canada Makes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Canada Makes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Canada Makes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Canada Makes
What does Canada Makes do?
Canada Makes operates as Canada's premier national network for additive manufacturing, connecting industry, academia, and government to accelerate adoption of digital and additive manufacturing technologies. The organization offers membership-based services including a searchable member directory, an interactive capability map, expert advisory consultations, training programs, R&D collaboration support, an annual Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Program, and networking events across the country.
Is Canada Makes a public or private company?
Canada Makes is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Canada Makes founded?
Canada Makes was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Canada Makes based?
Canada Makes is headquartered in Saint-léonard, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Canada Makes make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Funding & Program Delivery.
Who are Canada Makes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are America Makes, NGen Canada, Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA) and Mobility Goes Additive (MGA). Broad incumbents are Manufacturing USA, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) and CECIMO. 3D Printing Industry / Innovate UK is listed as an emerging player. High Value Manufacturing Catapult is listed as a regional player.
Does Canada Makes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Canada Makes.