News That Matters To You

By Andrew Maxwell
Canada's innovation system suffers from a shortage of outcomes, not ideas, argues Andrew Maxwell, Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship at York University. Maxwell points to a Canadian Science Policy Centre report, noting that a central innovation body is needed to convert research and talent into economic and social impact.

By Geoffrey Blanc
Canada's digital innovation and long-term competitiveness are at risk because sensitive data is stored under foreign jurisdiction, says Geoffrey Blanc, general manager of Quebec-based Cyberimpact. Blanc argues that building sovereign digital infrastructure and implementing a national data residency standard would strengthen the economy, protect privacy and foster trust in research and public institutions.

By Peter Josty
Insights into innovation-led growth from this year's Nobel Prize winners offer potential solutions for Canada's projected economic slowdown, says Peter Josty at The Centre for Innovation Studies. He notes that fostering competition, supporting science communication, and strengthening university-industry connections are key to boosting Canada's long-term growth.

By Peter MacKinnon
AI's rapid advancement poses a threat to democracy, enabling both manipulation through deepfakes and mass surveillance, warn Eli Fathi from Mindbridge Analytics and Peter MacKinnon from the University of Ottawa. Addressing this requires urgent safeguards and society-wide digital literacy campaigns to ensure AI empowers citizens rather than undermining democratic institutions, they say.

By Kendra MacDonald
Canada risks falling behind in the global ocean economy, warn Kendra MacDonald and Anya Waite, despite having the world's longest coastline. Investing in marine innovation and public-private partnerships can unlock clean growth and position Canada as a leader in sustainable ocean solutions.

By Roseann O'Reilly Runte
Nobel laureate Peter Howitt's work on "creative destruction" highlights capitalism's cycles of innovation and instability, emphasizing the need for lifelong learning and collaboration. Roseann O'Reilly Runte from Runte and Associates argues that, like Howitt, supporting education and innovation can address fears surrounding AI and ensure meaningful work in the future.

By Peter Josty
Canada leads the G7 in citizens with college or university credentials, yet artificial intelligence could significantly transform jobs held by highly educated workers. Peter Josty, executive director at The Centre for Innovation Studies, examines whether Canada is producing too many graduates in light of these shifts, noting that most graduate jobs will likely benefit from AI.

By David Watters
Government innovation program support has focused too much on subsidizing technology “creation” by a few firms, instead of supporting widespread technology adoption by all firms and diffusion throughout society , says David Watters, founder and president of the not-for-profit Institute for Collaborative Innovation. All federal support for innovation should be designed to serve a clear public purpose, he argues.

By Pia Kinhult
New European Union initiatives prioritize societal benefits and collaboration between academia and industry, signaling a shift towards a more integrated innovation ecosystem, says Pia Kinhult, Head of Host States and Industrial Relations at European Spallation Source ERIC. These changes could help the EU regain global competitiveness amid concerns highlighted in Mario Draghi's report, she says.