The Government of Canada is advancing Canada’s position as a global leader in innovation

Canadians are innovative, taking on challenges and coming up with inventive ways to solve them. Consider insulin, road lines, the paint roller, or the Java programming language: Canadians have great ideas. It has become clear that we can’t keep doing things the same old way; we need to make sure Canadians benefit from their own ingenuity. We know that we have to make a different kind of investment and work with industry in a new, collaborative way. In short, we need to innovate. That is why our government fundamentally shifted Canada’s innovation landscape with the launch of the Global Innovation Clusters and Innovative Solutions Canada. These two programs are reshaping how our nation supports—and benefits from—our own good ideas. The Global Innovation Clusters are driving innovation across the country in five areas where Canada has a significant competitive advantage: digital technologies, plant-based protein industries, next-generation manufacturing, artificial intelligence and supply chain logistics, and the ocean economy. These clusters are the Government of Canada’s co-investment with industry to continue building ecosystems that accelerate innovation and take innovators further, faster through collaboration. Andy Fillmore is the Liberal MP for Halifax and parliamentary secretary to the minister of innovation, science, and industry. Photograph courtesy of Andy Fillmore Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a prime example of how this approach generates success, tapping into the combined strengths of the small, medium, and large enterprises operating in Canada’s oceans and forming partnerships to develop innovative projects and solutions that enrich the lives of all Canadians. The Ocean Cluster has approved more than 70 projects worth more than $360-million. These projects are delivering more than 120 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. Together, these projects are positioning Canada as a leader in the blue economy and are expected to generate thousands of jobs for Canadians. Across all five clusters, the numbers tell us that this approach is working. The Global Innovation Clusters have exceeded expectations, approving more than 500 projects worth more than $2.24-billion—$1.4-billion from industry and other partners, which involved almost 2,400 partners, more than half of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). More than 8,000 members can connect with like-minded peers, drawing on expertise and resources, to shape projects that will have an undeniable impact on the everyday lives of Canadians. More than this, the clusters are on track to meet or exceed the overall job creation target of 15,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs by 2023, and 50,000 by 2028. To keep building momentum, the government is doubling down with another $750-million over six years for the Global Innovation Clusters, as announced in Budget 2022. Complementing this, Innovative Solutions Canada is delivering strong results that benefit Canadians. The program is designed to take advantage of the government’s capacity as the largest purchaser of goods and services in Canada (roughly $22-billion annually) to support the growth and scale-up of SMEs. Innovative Solutions Canada supports commercialization through two streams: the Challenge Stream, where companies respond to departmental challenges for their early-stage research and development (R&D) needs, and the Testing Stream, where they can test their last-stage R&D with a department. The program’s Pathway to Commercialization gives selected companies the opportunity to sell their innovation directly to the government without further competition. As of January 2023, Innovative Solutions Canada’s Challenge Stream has issued more than 330 awards for funding. And since 2010, its Testing Stream has awarded almost 705 contracts valued at more than $372-million, enabling hundreds of Canadian SMEs to commercialize their innovations and create high-value jobs. Together, these programs are supporting the advancement of economic outcomes for Canadians. The Global Innovation Clusters are building partnerships and developing technologies that will have applications around the world, opening up big markets for homegrown innovations, while Innovative Solutions Canada is helping Canadian SMEs advance and commercialize their R&D. Both programs create well-paying jobs for Canadians, help companies scale up, and position Canada as a global innovation leader. They are also positioning Canada to succeed in the economy of the future and in global markets. All Canadians will benefit from their continued success. Andy Fillmore is the Member of Parliament for Halifax and parliamentary secretary to the minister of innovation, science, and industry. First elected in 2015, he has held numerous roles in government including parliamentary secretary for Canadian heritage, for democratic institutions, and for infrastructure and communities. The Hill Times

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The Government of Canada is advancing Canada’s position as a global leader in innovation

It has become clear that we can’t keep doing things the same old way; we need to make sure Canadians benefit from their own ingenuity.

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