A moment of reckoning: Fixing Canada’s innovation performance
It’s long been a familiar refrain: Canada punches above its weight in foundational research, but struggles to move discoveries into the marketplace. The consequence of this lagging innovation performance is a productivity crisis that affects every corner of the country. Now, with geopolitical tension, climate change and AI reshaping the global innovation landscape, and the rest of the world investing in the technologies and talent required to secure their futures, how can Canada compete?
The State of Science, Technology and Innovation in Canada 2025, a recent assessment from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), paints a comprehensive picture of Canada’s strengths, vulnerabilities and emerging opportunities. It asks the crucial questions: what is holding us back and what will it take to kick-start our economy?
Join us on July 16 for highlights from the report followed by a panel of experts examining where Canada is succeeding, where gaps persist and the hard choices we have to make.
Panelists:
Vass Bednar, Managing Director, Canadian Shield Institute
Benjamin Alarie, Founder & CEO, Blue J
Benjamin Bergen, CEO, Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)
Moderator: Ilse Treurnicht, General Partner, North South Ventures
Agenda
9:00 a.m.: Check-in
9:10 a.m.: Opening remarks
9:12 a.m.: Presentation- Ilse Treurnicht - The State of Science, Technology and Innovation in Canada
9:25 a.m.: Panel discussion
10:00 a.m.: Audience Q&A
10:10 a.m.: Closing remarks - Tijs Creutzberg, President and CEO, Council of Canadian Academies (CCA)
10:15am - 11:00am Networking over coffee