Helping bridge the innovation gap
The research community should be encouraged that the Government of Canada continues to reinforce its belief that investing in research and development is a key priority for economic growth and job creation for this country. This has been a consistent theme in the government’s economic action plans. Part of the national strategy to boost […]
Here’s another podium we should seize
OTTAWA—When our athletes took the Olympic podium in Vancouver in 2010, Canadians felt justifiable pride, both in them and our country. We marvelled at their ambition and skill, and cheered them on. One of the keys to their success was the pre-Games coaching and support that they received once they had proven themselves to […]
Innovation the holy grail of economic policy-makers in Canada
Innovation has become the holy grail of economic policy-makers in Canada. There is nearly universal agreement among economists that Canada needs much more of it to ensure the long-term prosperity of its citizens, the sustainability of its public finances and the competitiveness of its exporters. But what is innovation exactly? How is it created […]
Canada should start a pilot program for commercializing discoveries
Canada faces an urgent challenge to increase the productivity of its workforce in the face of demographic shifts, budgetary pressures, and international competition. One weak link is our poor track record in bringing successes in the laboratory to the marketplace. Canada has invested well in discovery research and produces a stream of innovation, but […]
Government policy has failed to stimulate private spending in R&D for more than decade
Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally admitted in his Jan. 26th speech in Davos what every observer knew all too well: government policy has failed to stimulate private spending in research and development for more than a decade and has critically weakened our economy’s productivity. In the wake of a series of lacklustre reports on […]
Canada ‘missing the boat’ on agricultural innovation, experts tell Senate Agriculture Committee
Canada is “missing the boat” on agricultural innovation and needs to step up its focus on getting products to market, say experts. “In Canada we see [agriculture] innovation as providing university students with a hypothesis, or providing an opportunity for the next research grant,” Earl Geddes, executive director of Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) […]
Feds should reform tax incentives, invest more dollars to spur new R&D, say experts
If Canada wants to stop lagging behind other OECD countries on innovation, the federal government needs to reform its tax incentives and invest more dollars to spur new research and development in the country, say experts. Despite the federal government spending $3.5-billion in 2011 through the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit, […]
Canada faces innovation gap, time to address it
PARLIAMENT HILL—The recent global recession has shown the world what Canadians have known for some time: we live in a country with sound economic fundamentals and a balanced and successful approach to economic growth and job creation. The numbers speak for themselves. Unlike many of our international peers, Canada has recovered all of the […]
Pharma industry pushes for a more European IP regime, Rx&D says Canada is losing out on pharma
Innovation in Canada’s pharmaceutical sector has all but stalled, according to Rx&D, which represents the country’s pharmaceutical researchers. The industry association attributes the slowdown to weak intellectual property laws that discourage companies from investing in Canada, but some stakeholders warn that stricter IP protection will have a negative impact on innovation in other sectors […]
Canada faces commercialization gap, not innovation gap: CATA
A leading national industry association representing Canada’s technology sectors is urging the federal government to rethink the country’s so-called “innovation gap” ahead of the 2012 budget. The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance’s recent white paper, Canada as a Competitive Innovation Nation: What Needs To Be Done, formed the basis of the organization’s 2012 pre-budget submission […]
