Abstract:
The Innovation Strategy symposium is the third part of the CSPC project titled: “National Conversation on Innovation Strategy” and will discuss the findings of the consultations sessions with industry representatives. The symposium also features a panel of experts to respond to findings and discuss how Canada’s long term strategy on innovation should be designed to reflect national priorities. Attendees will engage in dialogue on actionable next steps for the project in the coming year.

Summary of Conversations

The discussion centered on addressing key challenges and opportunities within Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Immigration, skills training, and workforce capacity were highlighted as critical areas needing attention. Participants emphasized the importance of leveraging defense investments for dual-use technologies and adopting a mission-oriented approach to industrial policy, fostering public-private partnerships. Science communication was debated, advocating for more inclusive engagement beyond professional communicators. The need to future-proof innovation strategies by involving youth and addressing the risk capital market structure for scaling startups was also discussed. The conversation also touched on bridging gaps through collaborative efforts and the role of organizations like the NRC.

Take Away Messages/ Current Status of Challenges

• Immigration policies and skills training programs require improvements to support the innovation ecosystem. 
• The potential for leveraging defense spending to stimulate innovation in dual-use technologies remains largely untapped. 
• A shift away from mission-oriented industrial policies has created a gap in addressing strategic national challenges. 
• Science communication strategies need to evolve beyond public-facing activities to foster genuine engagement and trust. 
• Innovation strategies must consider the perspectives and needs of future generations. 
• The structure of the Canadian risk capital market presents challenges for startups seeking to scale beyond seed funding. 
• Workforce capacity and competency development are critical barriers to advancing health innovation and digital health technologies. 
• There is a need to better learn from past pilot projects to inform future initiatives.

Recommendations/Next Steps

• Develop a more integrated approach to immigration and skills training to support talent pipelines in innovative sectors. 
• Explore opportunities to align defense investments with innovation priorities, promoting the development of dual-use technologies. 
• Re-establish mission-oriented research and innovation projects through public-private partnerships at both federal and provincial levels.
• Prioritize inclusive science engagement strategies that build relationships and trust across sectors. 
• Actively involve youth in shaping future innovation strategies, ensuring their perspectives are considered. 
• Address structural issues in the Canadian risk capital market to support the scaling of successful startups. 
• Focus on workforce capacity building and competency development in the health innovation space. 
• Leverage national organizations to connect the universities, industry and government to support innovation, productivity and to grow the Canadian economy