The Canadian Science Policy Centre is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-advocate organization established in 2009. Over the past decade, the centre has built Canada’s largest and most diverse science and innovation policy community.

cspc tree

CSPC’s guiding vision is a strong, inclusive, and effective science policy community that contributes to the well-being of Canadians. CSPC’s mission is to operate as an inclusive hub for connectivity, convening, capacity building, and catalyzing research in support of an effective science policy community.

CSPC 2022 Partnership Prospectus past event images

CSPC offers engaging opportunities and content, including:

  • Annual Canadian Science and Innovation Policy Conference: The conference is among the most comprehensive global science and innovation policy forums, and the largest gathering of members of the Canadian science policy community
  • Workshops: Customized training sessions designed to enable the next generation of science policy experts
  • Science Meets Parliament: A transformative program designed to foster connections scientists and federal and provincial policymakers for dialogue and mutual learning
  • Virtual Sessions: Online interviews and panel discussions with key members of Canada’s science and innovation community
  • Editorials: Opinion, commentary, and critique from members of the science and innovation policy community on a wide range of issues
  • Canadian Science Policy Magazine: An annual magazine that features insight and reflections from the frontier of science and policy innovation
  • Science and Innovation Policy Awards: Celebrations of impactful contributions at all levels in Canadian science and innovation policy
  • Volunteer Program: As the largest science and policy capacity-builder in Canada, much of CSPC’s work is driven by engaged, committed volunteers who gain valuable experience and expertise in the science and innovation policy landscape

For more information about CSPC, view our strategic plan.

CSPC’S VISION, MISSION & VALUES

MANDATE

CSPC’s guiding principle is an interconnected, dynamic, and inclusive science, technology, and innovation policy ecosystem that unlocks Canada’s full socio-economic potential for the benefit of all Canadians.

VISION

An interconnected, dynamic, and inclusive science, technology, and innovation policy ecosystem that unlocks Canada’s full socio-economic potential for the benefit of all Canadians.

MISSION

CSPC’s mission is to serve as an inclusive hub that connects sectors, regions, and communities, mobilizes and disseminates knowledge, and develops human competencies in pursuit of a more effective and efficient STI policy ecosystem.

VALUES

CSPC’s core values emphasize inclusivity, organizational independence, collaboration and ethical conduct, as described more fully below.

Independence and Impartiality

CSPC values its independence (from government, industry, and academia), which enables it to operate impartially in its efforts and ensure inclusion of diverse perspectives and voices in our national STI policy discourse.

Science as a Public Good

CSPC believes that science should serve the public good and be accessible and beneficial to society as a whole. Therefore, CSPC works to connect scientific and knowledge insights with policy to support national prosperity.

Collaboration

CSPC believes in the power of collaboration to address complex challenges. It works to enhance inter- and cross-sectoral collaboration by fostering new connections and enabling inclusive dialogues between diverse stakeholders.

Diversity & Inclusion

CSPC is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion that reflects Canada’s rich diversity in all its forms. We promote the representation of voices from across the country, ensuring diversity in perspectives and recognizing the unique strengths and challenges of different regions, sectors, and communities. Guided by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), we strive to create an empowering environment where individuals from equity-seeking groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, and underrepresented communities, feel valued and are able to participate in the national STI policy discourse.

Ethics & Integrity

CSPC upholds the highest ethical standards, respecting principles in research, policymaking, and the responsible use of science and technology. We prioritize integrity, transparency, and accountability to our stakeholders and society.

SCIENCE COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Since its inception, the Centre has established a national network of stakeholders across sectors, providing a sense of community through connecting stakeholders from various sectors, disciplines, and regions who are not directly connected to each other. Salazar and Holbrook (2007) highlights “the particular importance of networks in Canada owing to the country’s low population density, distribution of research institutions and political system.”

With respect to this crucial need to build networks between stakeholders across the country, Dr. Merli Tamtik, Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba has indicated: “….Yet more research is needed in order to create a comprehensive system of policy coordination that can be adopted by policy makers. One example of an initiative to bring together government representatives, academia, and industry leaders is provided through the Canadian Science Policy Conference—a forum dedicated to building the bridge between policy experts, academia, and industry representatives.”

The Centre has provided a unique gateway for the next generation of scientists and policy makers to enter the science policy arena. Over 500 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career professionals from various disciplines and across Canada have served on various committees that assist in the development of each year’s conference. Their engagement for each conference is usually between minimum 5 to 12 months and most of them continue this experience for several years. Through the Centre, they have been able to connect and interact in an inclusive environment, generate discussion, and gain the expertise necessary to meaningfully impact the Canadian science policy landscape. This volunteer experience provides them with their first exposure to the intersection of science and society, policy discussions, individuals, organizations, etc. Many become inspired to change their career course and enter the science policy field as their career path. CSPC is the only environment in which they can earn invaluable experience, learn, and also contribute to building and impacting the community.

The Centre has been keen to be at the forefront of science policy discussions, and to introduce novel topics to the Canadian science policy community. The Centre has pioneered many new concepts in Canada including:

a) Science Diplomacy: Hosting both science advisors to the past three US Secretaries of State and organizing two national symposiums on science diplomacy are among the Centre’s impacts. The CBC website noted the importance of the issue and covered it in the news.

b) Evidence-Based Decision Making: Organizing two symposia, in 2015 and 2016, and conducting numerous panel sessions on training public servants to collect, analyze, and structure evidence for decision making, exploring methods of evidence assessment, and establishing a framework for evidence to encourage integration of science into practice. The need to hone evidence-based decision making is supported as a priority for the Canadian Government in appointing Dr. Mona Nemer as Canada’s Chief Science Advisor in 2017 and was comprehensively discussed in a candid one-on-one with Dr. Nemer and Mr. Hariri at CSPC 2017.

c) Diaspora Scientists: In 2015, the inaugural CSPC Diaspora Symposium addressed the topic of diaspora scientists and their potential to strengthen international science and technology collaboration. The symposium aimed to mobilize and connect existing diaspora scientific communities in Canada, provide networking opportunities, explore the potential of diaspora scientists, and form a Canadian Network of Diaspora Scientists that would also include a database of organizations and individuals who are active in science and science policy fields. This symposium further demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the science policy sphere.

Through the annual conference and other organized lectures, panels, meetings and collaborations each year, the Centre is successfully fostering important discussions and amplifying these messages through media outlets such as Science, Nature, Globe and Mail, CBC, TVO, CPAC, Hill Times, and iPolitics among others.