Why Canada’s advanced manufacturing leaders are heading to Toronto in 2026
March 31 – April 1, 2026, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Canada is living through the most significant industrial repositioning since the post-war boom.
A confluence of forces has changed the game all at once: U.S. legislation that explicitly rewards North American content with hundreds of billions in subsidies, European and Asian buyers desperate to derisk supply chains after pandemic shocks and geopolitical tensions, a domestic policy framework that treats advanced manufacturing as strategic infrastructure rather than just another industry sector.
The result is a rare opportunity. One that closes the moment the rest of the world finishes building their own secure supply bases. If Canada seizes it, advanced manufacturing becomes the engine that re-industrializes entire regions, creates hundreds of thousands of high-skill jobs, and moves us from resource periphery to technology core.
The technologies driving this shift are no longer theoretical. Industrial AI that predicts equipment failure weeks in advance is already running on factory floors in Windsor and Calgary. Digital twins that cut new-product introduction time are live in aerospace clusters from Montréal to Winnipeg. Additive processes that produce flight-critical parts in titanium and high-performance polymers are certified and shipping from shops in British Columbia and Québec. Robotics and vision systems developed for automotive lines are being repurposed for dual-use defence applications that meet both DND and NATO requirements. And an entirely new generation of prefabrication, modular, and advanced materials developments for homebuilding technologies is emerging to tackle the country’s chronic housing shortage while creating exportable intellectual property.
None of this happens in isolation. A single company cannot absorb the capital cost, the certification burden, or the market risk alone. The winners will be the consortia that combine specialized Canadian manufacturers, technology providers, research institutions, and anchor customers into teams that can bid against anyone on the planet.
That is exactly what NGen was created to orchestrate, and it is why the N3 Summit on March 31–April 1, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre matters more than any trade show or conference on the calendar. Two days. Hundreds of decision-makers. More than one hundred Canadian exhibitors. International delegations that are actively sourcing. Investors who understand the sector. Policymakers who control the funding levers.
N3 is an opportunity to be where Canadian supply meets global demand.
What can you expect at N3?
Exhibit Hall – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
More than 100 Canadian advanced-manufacturing companies will fill the hall at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. These are not trade-show regulars with glossy brochures; they are the firms already delivering production parts and systems in industrial AI, additive manufacturing, robotics, hydrogen components, digital twins, and next-generation homebuilding technologies.
The floor is organized by technology stream so you can move quickly from a live demonstration of an AI-driven quality system to a modular housing panel line to a dual-use defence composite part.
High-Profile Policy Forum
The summit will feature engaging sessions that draw ministers, deputy ministers, and C-suite executives. This year’s themes are laser-focused on the issues that will decide whether Canada captures the reshoring wave:
• Market diversification and new opportunities for Canadian exporters
• Manufacturing sector transformation driven by industrial AI, automation, and additive processes
• Supply-chain resilience in an era of geopolitical risk
• Leveraging advanced manufacturing to accelerate domestic homebuilding and close the housing gap
• Building industrial capabilities that also serve Canada’s defence and security requirements (dual-use technologies that strengthen both civilian competitiveness and national sovereignty)
Bring your toughest policy questions; the people on stage are the ones who have the real-world experience and can actually move the file.
Startup Pitches
Dozens of Canada’s most promising advanced-manufacturing scale-ups will take the stage for live, pitches to a room of corporate venture arms, institutional funds, and strategic investors.
Workshops – Running Concurrently Both Days
Small-room (40–60 person), practitioner-led sessions will dive deep into implementation. Sample sessions include:
• Scaling industrial AI without a PhD on staff
• Qualifying additive parts for aerospace and defence
• Digital-twin deployment that cuts new-product introduction time
• Retrofitting existing lines for net-zero heat treating
• Modular and 3D-printed homebuilding systems ready for Canadian climates
Networking Lounges and Bookable B2B Meeting Rooms
Access dedicated networking lounges and a bank of private meeting rooms that can be booked in 30-minute blocks through the event app. NGen’s matchmaking team pre-populates schedules weeks in advance based on the capability profiles every delegate submits at registration, so you land in Toronto with a full diary of meetings that matter.
Exclusive VIP Gala – Evening of March 31 at Aera Toronto
Cap the first day at Aera, the stunning 38th-floor venue overlooking the city. This gala will bring together exhibitors, speakers, international delegation leads, investors, and senior government officials in a relaxed setting that’s premium, memorable, and made for mingling – you may just land your next deal there. VIP gala tickets are available for purchase at n3summit.ca
How to get involved – your next step is simple
N3 Summit 2026 is intentionally limited in size to keep every conversation high-value, so the sooner you move, the better your outcome.
Attend as a Delegate
Purchase your delegate pass directly at n3summit.ca. You’ll choose between the standard two-day pass (with full access to the Policy Forum, exhibit hall, startup pitches, workshops, networking lounges, and all matchmaking) or the VIP delegate pass, which includes everything above plus reserved front-section seating and the exclusive VIP gala at Aera Toronto on the evening of March 31.
Early-bird pricing ends December 31, 2025.
Exhibit – Put Your Capabilities in Front of Hundreds of Decision-Makers
Exhibit space is limited to just over 100 Canadian companies and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis after a short qualification call with NGen’s events team. If your company has production-ready advanced-manufacturing technology or capacity and you’re incorporated in Canada, submit your expression of interest today at n3summit.ca. A member of the team will contact you within 48 hours to discuss booth options and confirm fit. Act fast – booth space is limited and 25% of the floor is already reserved.
Become a Sponsor
A small number of strategic sponsorship packages are still available (presenting sponsor for individual Policy Forum themes, workshop streams, the VIP gala, networking lounges, and more!). These opportunities include prominent branding, speaking opportunities, and guaranteed private meeting time with delegation leads. Contact info@ngen.ca for the current sponsorship deck and availability.
Don’t wait for the reminder email. Register, submit your exhibit interest, or reach out about sponsorship today. Once the delegate cap is hit and the floor plan is full, that’s it until 2027.