The federal Fall Economic Statement had more to say about last spring’s budget than anything new for this season. Meanwhile, many more details will not be available for week or months to come.
Person: Benjamin Bergen
New advanced research agency high on federal innovation minister’s lengthy to do list
Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is facing a very busy year, with a mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that includes more than 30 assigned tasks. They include establishing a new advanced research projects agency, launching a Canadian critical minerals strategy and a national quantum strategy and creating a global centre of excellence for eliminating methane gas emissions.
Six-week program launches to educate corporate directors on digital economy
A new program launched by the Council of Canadian Innovators will train corporate directors on governance issues faced by fast-growing technology companies.
New Canadian advanced research agency appears likely, says CCI
A Canadian advanced research agency is closer to becoming a reality now that both the Liberals and Conservatives are promising to create one, says the executive-director of the Canadian Council of Innovators (CCI).
The Short Report – Aug. 25, 2021: $100M to study safer railways, planning Canada’s first Mental Health Innovation Incubator, SSHRC Anti-Black Racism committee, and more…
FEDERAL ELECTION More than 200 Canadian tech and business executives are asking more of their peers to sign an open letter calling on federal political leaders to outline how Canada can achieve “prosperous, secure, equitable and sustainable” growth in a post-pandemic economy. Released Aug. 24, the letter stresses the need for Canada to adopt Canadian-made…
Canada needs a targeted industrial strategy to improve innovation performance, experts say
Canada’s continued poor performance in innovation and business productivity is due to a failure to link publicly funded research and innovation programs to an industrial strategy based on the country’s strengths, say innovation experts. Meanwhile, studies by University of Toronto researchers show the federal innovation agenda has negatively impacted funding for basic, investigator-driven research but hasn’t addressed the underlying problem of industrial innovation in Canada.
Federal government must improve “catastrophic” innovation performance, say innovation experts and business groups
Innovation experts and business groups are stepping up calls for the federal government to fix a “weak and out of balance” innovation ecosystem. Canada continues to lag other countries in innovation performance and productivity, according to international indexes.
For stakeholders and experts, the sale of Element AI underscores critical problems in Canadian innovation
For close observers, the sale of Element AI to California-based ServiceNow was a disappointment but not a surprise.
Except Greens, campaigning parties silent on support for STI
With the exception of the Green Party, scant attention is being paid to STI funding and policy issues as the parties compete on so-called pocketbook issues while ignoring the critical underpinnings of the knowledge economy.
Business groups urge fewer R&D incentive programs and smarter policies to support innovation
Government needs smarter policies and regulations, not more R&D incentive programs, to support innovation, say business and innovator organizations.