Shaping Innovation Together: Navigating Geopolitical Shift Through Sector-Focused Dialogue
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 initiative included consultation sessions with industry associations, a special edition of the CSPC magazine, and a symposium. More information about these activities can be found here.
The second phase of the National Conversation on Canada’s Innovation Strategy builds on the momentum of the 2024 flagship initiative, further engaging with private sectors, associations, and firms. The 2025 Innovation Strategy Conversation includes a virtual panel series, online editorials, and an in person symposium at the 17th Canadian Science Policy Conference. These initiatives deepen the dialogue on key innovation challenges and opportunities in the context of geopolitical shifts, on how Canadian industries can navigate uncertainties; and how policies can be modified to empower Canadian innovation.
2025 Innovation Series Sessions:
Each panel discussion examines the unique challenges and opportunities within an economic sector, identifying practical solutions and policy recommendations that aim to strengthen Canada’s competitive standing on the global stage. These panels were dedicated to: the high tech and digital sector; agriculture and agrifoods; life sciences; advanced manufacturing; and natural resources. Panelists engage in discussions that focus on the alignment of policies across all levels of government and the strategic priorities needed to ensure long term success. The following questions guide these discussions:
- Considering the geopolitical shift, tariffs and a new dimension into the Canadian economy, what are the top three challenges currently hindering innovation in your sector?
- How should the government and industry respond to these challenges to enable long-term innovation and competitiveness?
- How can Canada enhance private sector R&D investment and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this sector?
- What new opportunities or advantages should Canada exploit in this sector despite (or because of) the changing global landscape?”
The emphasis of the panels is on fostering inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive impactful innovation. The ultimate objective is to generate actionable insights that contribute to a cohesive, forward-thinking approach to Canada’s innovation ecosystem.
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.
