Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness

Canada faces unprecedented economic challenges. Its productivity growth is stagnant. Its advanced industries are losing in global competition. And too few innovation-based companies are growing to scale. These challenges are daunting but not insurmountable. Solving them requires the right policies at all levels of government. And their development depends on actionable insights generated not from broad macroeconomic analysis, but from deep analysis of actual production systems, industry dynamics, and technologies.

The Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, an Ottawa-based affiliate of ITIF, focuses on addressing those needs. As a separately incorporated and registered charity under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Income Tax Act, the Centre’s mission is to help policymakers and the public better understand the nature of the innovation economy and the types of public policies necessary to drive Canadian innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness. The Centre also informs ITIF’s broader work on shared North American innovation challenges and opportunities. (Support the Centre’s work, contact Lawrence Zhang, [email protected].)

Featured Publications

How Can Canada Fight Smart Against the Trump Tariff Threat?

While Trump’s tariffs pose an unprecedented threat to Canada’s economy, they should serve as a wake-up call. Canadian policymakers must seize this moment to enact bold reforms that drive innovation, boost productivity, and strengthen global competitiveness.

The Online Streaming Act Will Cost Canadians

Canadian consumers should not have to bear the costs of the Online Streaming Act. If the creation and promotion of Canadian content is a societal goal, then it should be funded by the government.

A Techno-Economic Agenda for Canada’s Next Federal Government

Innovation, productivity, and competitiveness must be top priorities for Canada’s next federal government, not sidenotes or vague aspirations to be addressed with little more than lip service.

Assessing Canadian Innovation, Productivity, and Competitiveness

Canada faces unprecedented challenges in innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The first step in addressing them is to develop a clear understanding of the Canadian economy’s underlying structure and performance in each area. Policymakers must then tailor strategies for specific industries and technologies instead of focusing on principally on macro factors.

Comments to Canada’s Department of Finance Regarding Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentives

By changing the tax credit to be quasi-incremental, unifying the rates between small and large businesses, and simplifying the filing process, the government will be able to incentivize private R&D spending more effectively.

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Events

July 17, 2024

How Can Canadian Policymakers Improve the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act?

Watch now for an engaging discussion with leading international experts and peers presented by ITIF’s Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness.

April 30, 2024

Reviving Canada’s Innovation Economy

Watch now for ITIF's launch event for the Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, an Ottawa-based ITIF affiliate focused on tackling these issues. The event featured an expert panel discussion on a new report from the Centre examining the how and why of Canada’s performance on key measures of productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

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Robert D. Atkinson

President

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation