Council for Innovation and Commercialization: Innovation in Action

Canada’s economy is not living up to its innovation potential. According to the Conference Board’s Innovation Report Card, Canada receives a “C” grade on innovation performance. A country’s capacity to innovate is directly linked to productivity and economic prosperity, and our economy remains a below-average performer. We need to do better.

Join Us

Supporting Canada’s Innovation Leaders

The Council for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is a peer-to-peer learning and networking forum that brings together visionaries from across Canada’s innovation ecosystem, including academia, economic development agencies, government, innovation hubs, and large organizations with innovation portfolios that invest in R&D.

We are committed to fostering collaboration and understanding what we need to do—and how—to develop the best support system that will enable and foster business-led innovation and commercialization in Canada.

We do that by exploring, showcasing, and experiencing innovation in action. Members meet both virtually and in locations across the country to learn, discuss, and explore—in a confidential environment—the real-life opportunities and challenges they are facing. As a member, you’ll leave these meetings inspired and equipped with new ideas, tools, and connections that will help you make better decisions.

Join us to amplify your impact, leverage diverse expertise, and forge partnerships that will shape the future of innovation in our country and drive Canada’s progress forward.

Who should join?

Senior leaders with oversight for driving innovation within their organizations.

Benefits of membership

Strategic networking opportunities:

Access a diverse network of innovation leaders from academia, economic development agencies, government, and large organizations, and foster valuable connections for collaboration and learning.

Insider insights in a confidential setting:

Gain exclusive access to experiential tours and discussions about real-life innovations, opportunities, and challenges that will provide unique insights and strategies to help you navigate Canada’s complex innovation landscape. Meetings are run under Chatham House Rule creating a safe environment for open and candid dialogue.

Empowered decision-making:

Leave meetings inspired and equipped with fresh ideas, practical tools, and new relationships, which will help you make better-informed decisions that drive innovation and contribute to raising Canada’s innovation performance.

Contribute to Canada’s progress:

Deepen your understanding of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, gain valuable insights into the factors influencing the country’s innovation performance, and contribute to informed strategies for improvement. Be part of the solution.

Additional benefits of joining:

The Council for Innovation and Commercialization is run by the same team as the newly launched Canadian Centre for the Innovation Economy (CCIE). As a member of CIC, you may be asked to:

Participate	Provide	Host
Participate as a member of a Research Advisory Board (RAB) comprised of external experts who inform and provide feedback on research projects developed through the Centre.	Provide your feedback and discuss the research at Council meetings and/or special virtual sessions.	Host a meeting of the Council or Centre and have the opportunity to offer a tour of your facilities and/or showcase how your organization is driving innovation.