Industry Canada and its agencies are moving the innovation yardsticks with initiatives that could have a significant positive impact on Canada’s competitiveness and productivity. Two initiatives were announced in recent days, responding to government-appointed expert panels calling for better support of innovative small businesses and the space sector.
First out of the gate is the new concierge service from the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). After a succession of reports telling the government to streamline access to government services and programs, IRAP is rolling out a one-stop web portal and services to assist smaller firms seeking to up their innovation game (see page 4). The recommendation for the service was made by the Expert Panel Review of Federal Support to Research and Development, led by Tom Jenkins.
Industry Canada is also responding to calls by the Aerospace Advisory Council led by David Emerson to revamp the beleaguered Canadian Space Agency. The government responded in part to all eight of the council’s space-related recommendations, including a significant boost to its industry support programs. Perhaps more importantly, Industry Canada has announced that a Space Policy Framework has been completed, accepted and slated for release early in 2014.
Research-intensive sectors like space benefit from working within a predictable policy and programmatic framework. After years of neglect, the government has acknowledged the importance of providing such an environment. The framework comes not a moment too soon.
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