In all leading industrial nations there is a close linkage between expenditure on defence research and development and procurement with the growth of high technology sectors of the economy. The science and technology (S&T) activities of the Department of National Defence contribute significantly to Canada's system of innovation. This paper describes how greater co-ordination of departmental S&T activities as well as a more focused objective for the departmental contribution to the overall federal S&T strategy can increase the impact and visibility of the Department's activities.