Synthesis Report of the CSPC Innovation Strategy Project
Navigating Geopolitical Shift Through Sector-Focused Dialogue
This synthesis Report of the CSPC Innovation Strategy Project draws on insights generated through the series of virtual panel discussions that convened private sector representatives from five different sectors: high tech and digital, agriculture and agrifood, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and natural resources. These discussions generated a wide range of perspectives, recommendations, and reflections on barriers to innovation and opportunities for strategic alignment. The report also includes insights from the Innovation Policy Symposium, which took place at the 17th Science Policy Conference in Ottawa – which expanded the discussion to include a broader community of participants. The symposium provided an opportunity to integrate and validate insights obtained from the virtual panels through live conversation, enabling participants to reflect on emerging themes, identify areas of convergence, and explore actionable policy directions. Together, these engagements produced a rich qualitative evidence base capturing both sector-specific insights and system-level considerations for Canada’s innovation strategy.
History of the Project
The National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy represents a landmark, multi-year initiative of the CSPC to deepen and broaden the national dialogue on innovation policy. Launched in 2024 and concluding in November 2025, This initiative aims to bring the private sector perspectives to inform Canada’s innovation strategy in the context of geopolitical uncertainty, economic transition, and technological change. It convened private sector association consultation sessions, virtual panel sessions, Innovation Policy Symposia, a suite of editorials and opinion pieces published as part of CSPC’s 2025 editorial series, which provided contextual commentary on emerging trends, strategic imperatives for Canada’s innovation agenda. Together, the components of the project enrich the conversation by highlighting both systemic barriers and promising pathways for growth across the national innovation landscape.
More information on previous activities is available here.
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. The editorials are now published and can be viewed here.
- Participating in sector-based virtual panel series Shaping Innovation Together: Navigating Global Uncertainty Through Sector-Focused Dialogue. For more information and for upcoming sessions, click here.
- 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.
Series Sessions
The videos of the live events are available on the individual panel websites. The series will culminate in individual report summaries, a cross-sectoral summary, and the 2025 Innovation Symposium.
2025 Editorials:
CSPC is proud to publish the special editorial series exploring how Canada can respond to today’s shifting geopolitical landscape through renewed and adaptive innovation strategies. This initiative brings together opinion pieces from leaders of industry, not-for-profit, and academia. These must-read editorials are available now: 2025 Canada’s Innovation Strategy Archives – CSPC
The 2024 opinion pieces are available here.
CSPC 2025 Innovation (in-Person) Symposium: Canada’s Innovation Strategy Navigating Geopolitical Shift – November 19, 9-12
The Innovation Strategy Symposium will convene senior leaders from industry, government, non-profit, and research. The goal is to translate the findings of CSPC’s National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy into concrete, policy-ready actions. The symposium will validate sector findings, identify cross-cutting policy levers, outline implementation steps, and will produce a concise, targeted policy brief timed to inform initiatives at the various levels of government.
2024 Innovation Strategy Symposium
The 2024 Innovation Strategy Symposium brought together interdisciplinary thought leaders and laid the groundwork for the 2025 virtual series. Listen in to and watch the cross-sectoral discussions HERE.
Innovation Series Reports – 2024:
The 2024 Innovation Consultation Series reports span the sectors of: Agriculture and Agri-Food; Advanced Manufacturing and Natural Resources; and Health, Bioscience, and Digital High-Tech. The Series Culminated in a Cross Sector Synthesis and Summary accessible HERE
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.
