Networking Canada’s Innovation Networks

The compelling reason for forging stronger links among innovation networks is to ensure Canadian firms have access to innovation assistance. These networks can strengthen pathfinding capabilities by focusing on real-time responses to SME needs.

Document Highlights 

On September 5, 2001, The Conference Board of Canada and the Canadian Technology Network (CTN) of the National Research Council (NRC) co-hosted a meeting under a theme ‘Networking Canada’s Innovation Networks’.

The objectives included:

• Exploring networking models that could lead to increasing the performance and international competitiveness of Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises;
• Considering future steps to develop innovation networks in a global environment;
• Strengthening relationships among key innovation networks in Canada

The forum brought together prominent voices from a broad cross-section of Canadian institutions, each considered a hub for an innovation network that supports SMEs.

To accelerate strong links among networks, various initiatives were suggested, of which the further development of the pathfinding network for SMEs was most prominent. This report elaborates on forum results, invites to action and discusses collaborative opportunities for the Conference Board and CTN-NRC in strengthening Canada’s innovation networks pathfinding capabilities.