The second phase of the National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy builds on the momentum of the discussions that took place in 2024, further engaging leaders from private sectors and thought leaders in this topic. 2025 Innovation Strategy Conversation will include a dynamic virtual panel series, online editorial and a symposium at the 17th Canadian Science Policy Conference. This will deepen dialogue on key innovation challenges and opportunities, in particular in the context of geopolitical shifts and how Canadian industry can navigate through this uncertain time and how our innovation policies should be modified to empower Canadian innovation.
History of the Project
The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) launched the National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy in 2024 and sought input and feedback from industry associations on how the strategy can address their challenges. The project included consultation sessions with industry associations, a special edition of the CSPC magazine and a symposium.
WHY DO WE NEED A NATIONAL CONVERSATION?
Canada needs to improve its innovation performance. A national conversation can help collect insights on how to do it; especially in a world of geopolitical uncertainties and potentially significant changes.
WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED?
The National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy will discuss:
- Challenges and opportunities for Canada’s innovation performance due to geopolitical uncertainties, and how an innovation strategy could be designed to adapt.
- Emerging trends that are critical for the future of innovation in key industrial sectors,
- Policy alignment of federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal governments.
- Priorities for the strategy to ensure long-term success,
- Opportunities for inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaborations,
- And more…
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
Add your voice to the conversation by:
- Sharing your insights in an opinion piece for one of our innovation editorial series. These online series will make up a special digital edition of the CSPC Magazine (submissions will open March 2025)
- Participating in sector-based virtual panel series (April – October 2025)
- Attending the in-person Innovation Strategy Symposium at the 17th Canadian Science Policy Conference (Nov. 19, 2025, at the Westin Hotel, Ottawa)
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
Senior executives from the private sector, experts, and thought leaders from the Canadian innovation community, innovation networks, federal/provincial/territorial/municipal governments and academia are invited to contribute to this critical national initiative. Key industrial sectors that will be targeted include (but are not limited to):
- Advanced Manufacturing (chemical, auto, aerospace, plastics, steel, paper and others)
- Agriculture & Agrifood (crop/livestock production, food processing and others)
- Health and Biosciences (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, therapeutics, diagnostics, public health)
- Digital and High Tech industries (ICT, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and others)
- Natural Resources (mining, forestry, fisheries, oil/gas, renewable energy)
- Clean Tech (energy storage & infrastructure, transportation, water/wastewater, chemistry & materials, recycling & waste and others)
Expected outcomes:
The National Conversation project will build off of last year’s activities and further deepen our collective understanding of the key issues and highlight priorities for further discussions, consultations and policy considerations.
All outcomes from activities will be made publicly available.
Thank you to last year’s sponsors
Investment impact:
Make sure the voices and insights of your sector are being heard and seen. These sponsorship opportunities will ensure your organization’s brand exposure on this important national project.
Approach: The National Conversation would center around four activities:
- Featured editorial series in a CSPC special edition Magazine
- Sector-based consultation sessions (Fall 2024)
- An Innovation Strategy Symposium (Nov. 20, 2024)
- A potential networking reception (Nov. 19, 2024)
Content: Topics to be discussed include:
- Emerging trends that are critical for the future of innovation in each industry
- How an innovation strategy could be designed to adapt to future trends
- Priorities for the strategy to ensure long-term success
Content Contributors: Content would be encouraged from:
- Leaders of industry associations
- Senior government executives in science, technology and innovation (STI)
- Experts and thought leaders of innovation policy (including academic experts)
- Leaders of the Global Innovation Clusters
Expected Outcomes: The National Conversation project will deepen our collective understanding of the key issues and highlight priorities for further discussions, consultations and policy considerations. All discussions will be summarized and synthesized, and will be publicized to the public. CSPC, subject to its bandwidth, will further continue to identify and discuss potential ideas to strengthen the performance of Canada’s STI Ecosystem. This will be in the form of additional workshops that may be held over Spring/Summer 2025, leading to an additional symposium at CSPC 2025.
Sectors to be consulted: Sectors to be targeted include (but are not limited to):
- Life Science and Agri-Food
- Advanced Manufacturing
- High Tech (IT, Quantum, AI, others)
- Resource sector
Industrial Advisors: CSPC will engage several STI leaders, including (but not limited to):
- One ADM from ISED (your choice)
- Sue Paish (CEO Digital Supercluster)
- Valerie Pisano (President and CEO of Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute)
- Namir Annani (CEO ICTC)
- Michele Lajeunesse (VP Tech Nation)
- Andrew Casey (CEO BIOTECanada)
- Shannon Quinn (VP NRC )
- Ilse Treurnicht
- Robert Atkinson
- TB from the Resource Sector
- David Watters, CSPC Board Member
- Karimah Es Sabar, CSPC Board Member
- Andre Albinati, CSPC Board Member
