DOCUMENT RESUME CE 085 221 ED 479 999 Canadians Speak on Innovation and Learning=Les Canadiens, TITLE L'Innovation et L'Apprentissage. ISBN-0-662-66955-X ISBN 2003-00-00 PUB DATE 199p.; Produced by the Government of Canada (Ontario). For NOTE other documents related to Canada's Innovation Strategy, see CE 084511-512, CE 085 220 and 222. The national summit took place on November 18-19, 2002 in Toronto, Canada. Information Distribution Centre, Communications and Marketing AVAILABLE FROM Branch, Industry Canada, Room 268D, West Tower, 235 Queen Street, Ottawa ON KlA OH5 Canada. Tel: 613-947-7466; Fax: 613-954-6436; e-mail: [email protected] or Enquiries Centre, Human Resources Development Canada, 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, Level 0, Gatineau QC KlA 0J9 Canada. Fax: 819-953-7260; e-mail: [email protected]. Available in multiple formats. For full text: http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/. Opinion Papers (120) Collected Works Proceedings (021) PUB TYPE - Multilingual/Bilingual Materials (171) English, French LANGUAGE _EDRS Price MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Adoption (Ideas); Adult Education; Attitudes; Business; DESCRIPTORS *Citizen Participation; *Community Action; Community Development; Creativity; Developed Nations; *Economic Development; Educational Development; Educational Research; Entrepreneurship; Foreign Countries; *Innovation; Job Skills; *Labor Force Development; *Public Opinion; Research and Development; Technology Transfer *Canada IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This publication captures the thoughts, suggestions, and concerns Canadians expressed through an engagement process on behalf, of the Government of Canada to animate discussion on Canada's innovation and learning challenges. The chapters provide summaries of what different groups had to say in relation to these key challenge areas and themes set out in strategy papers: research and development and commercialization; learning and immigration systems; skills; taxation and regulation; and community innovative capacity. Chapters 2-9 summarize what was said by people in Canada's regions; young Canadians; aboriginal groups; business associations, labor and economic development organizations, and sector councils; industry sectors; small and medium-sized businesses; the academic community; and provincial and territorial governments. Chapter 10 highlights the major suggested actions and recommendations brought forth or endorsed through the endorsement process in these areas: strengthening the learning process; building an inclusive and skilled work force; enhancing the innovation environment; improving research, development, and commercialization; and strengthening communities. The appendix presents a summary of the major goals, targets, and milestones laid out in Achieving Excellence and Knowledge Matters. A French language version is provided. (YLB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 100/ I Government Gouvernement du Canada of Canada Canadians Speak on INNOVATION LEARNING and CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY U S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) fhis document has been reproduced as v received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Canadq BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 Canadians Speak on INNOVATION LEARNING and CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY This publication is available upon request in multiple formats. 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For additional copies of this publication, please contact: Enquiries Centre Information Distribution Centre Communications and Marketing Branch Human Resources Development Canada 140 Promenade du Portage Industry Canada Room 268D, West Tower Phase IV, Level 0 Gatineau QC KIA 0J9 235 Queen Street Ottawa ON K1A OH5 Fax: (819) 953-7260 Tel.: (613) 947-7466 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: (613) 954-6436 E-mail: [email protected] also available electronically on the World Wide Web at the following address: This publication is http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca Permission to Reproduce Except as otherwise specifically noted, the information in this publication may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from Industry Canada or Human Resources Development Canada, provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the information reproduced; that Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada are identified as the source institutions; and that the reproduction is not represented as an official version of the information reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of, Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada. 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No. 1u4-21/2002 ISBN 0-662-66955-X 53818B 10% recycled material CANADIANS SPEAK ON INNOVATION AND LEARNING CONTENTS FOREWORD 1 MINISTERS' MESSAGE 2 INTRODUCTION 4 1 Why an Innovation Strategy? 4 The Engagement Process 5 About this Document 8 New Opportunities for Partnership 9 WHAT WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN CANADA'S REGIONS 2 10 The Engagement Process 10 General Impressions 10 Skills and Learning 12 Research, Development and Commercialization 14 Innovation Environment 15 Strengthening Communities 17 WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOUNG CANADIANS 20 3 The Engagement Process 20 Skills and Learning 20 Research, Development and Commercialization 25 Regulatory and Tax Environment 25 Strengthening Communities 25 6 OM CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY 26 WHAT WE HEARD FROM ABORIGINAL GROUPS 4 26 The Engagement Process 27 Skills and Learning 28 Strengthening Communities 29 Innovation Environment 29 Research, Development and Commercialization WHAT WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, LABOUR AND ECONOMIC 5 30 DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND SECTOR COUNCILS 30 The Engagement Process 31 General Impressions 31 Regulatory and Tax Environment 32 Skills and Learning 34 Strengthening Communities 35 Research, Development and Commercialization 36 WHAT WE HEARD FROM INDUSTRY SECTORS 6 36 A: VIEWS FROM CANADIAN INDUSTRIES 36 The Engagement Process 36 General Impressions 38 Research, Development and Commercialization 39 Innovation Environment 41 Skilled Work Force 44 Strengthening Communities s FA CANADIANS SPEAK ON INNOVATION AND LEARNING B: VIEWS FROM THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 45 The Engagement Process 45 General Impressions 46 Research, Development and Commercialization 47 Innovation Environment 50 Skilled Work Force 51 Strengthening Communities 51 WHAT WE HEARD FROM SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES 52 7 The Engagement Process 52 Research, Development and Commercialization 53 Skilled Work Force 56 Strengthening Communities 58 Regulatory and Tax Environment 59 WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY 62 8 The Engagement Process 62 General Impressions 62 Research, Development and Commercialization 64 Skills and Learning 65 Innovation Environment 68 Strengthening Communities 69 7 CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY 70 DISCUSSIONS WITH PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS 9 70 The Engagement Process Industry Canada Discussions with Provinces and Territories 70 73 HRDC Discussions with Provinces and Territories 74 OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SHARED PRIORITIES 10 74 Perspectives Different 76 Shared Priorities 79 Highlights of Suggested Actions and Recommendations 79 Strengthening the learning system 80 Building an inclusive and skilled work force Enhancing the innovation environment 81 82 Improving research, development and commercialization 83 Strengthening communities APPENDIX: CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY: GOALS AND PROPOSED ACTIONS 84 s CANADIANS SPEAK ON INNOVATION AND LEARNING FOREWORD Canadians Speak on Innovation and Learning highlights From May 2002 to October 2002, the Government of the key points and perspectives of a large number of Canada engaged key stakeholders from a wide range Canadian organizations that answered the Govern- of large and small businesses; academia; govern- ment of Canada's "call to action" in the Innovation ments; industry, business and labour organizations; Strategy papers released in February 2002. Achieving voluntary sector organizations; and other stakeholders Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and and partners in a series of regional, national, and Opportunity and Knowledge Matters: Skills and sectoral meetings, expert roundtables, and best Learning for Canadians laid out a number of chal- practice events, to solicit feedback on and commit- lenges facing Canada in the journey to becoming one ment to Canada's Innovation Strategy. In addition to of the most innovative and skilled countries in the the 10 000 Canadians who participated across the world from an economic and social perspective country, several hundred provided their individual a country with world-class research facilities, compa- comments using on-line tools. There were more than nies and communities, and a talented, mobile, healthy 250 formal written submissions from companies and and committed work force. The two papers were organizations covering a broad and diverse range of intended to act as a catalyst for discussion on Canadian business and social society. The reports from challenges and milestones related to research and engagement activities and the submissions are the development and commercialization, skills and learn- basis of this report, which is, in essence, a summary of immigration, an innovation-friendly business ing, "what we heard" over the past few months. climate, and communities that act as magnets for Readers interested in an overview of the shared talent and investment. priorities and suggested actions arising from all of the streams of the engagement process are directed to Chapter 10. The Government of Canada thanks all Canadians who participated in the engagement process and who brought forward their views on this important initiative. A list of organizations that provided input, as well as many of their formal reports and submissions, can be viewed on the Innovation Strategy Web site (www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca). 9 CANADA'S INNOVATION STRATEGY MINISTERS' MESSAGE On February 12, 2002, we officially launched Canada's Innovation Strategy. In the 10 months that followed, our departments and our partners organized over 80 sectoral meetings, 33 regional summits, a rural summit and 20 roundtable discussions. In addition to the 250 formal submissions we received, we heard from 1000 young people, while more than 600 small and medium-sized enterprises and individual Canadians contributed their reactions on-line. As you will see in the pages that follow, the diversity of opinions presented is very striking. It is precisely the wide range of views offered that has made these discussions so valuable. We wish to thank the more than 10 000 Canadians who participated in these engagement activities. Throughout the engagement process, the "people" aspect of innovation has been emphasized. Canadians understand that it is people who innovate, people who create ideas, and people who implement those ideas. We commend each and every participant for their commitment to this national vision and for the insightful advice they have provided. Innovation and learning are crucial to a high standard of living for Canadians. The Government of Canada can create the kind of environment in which innovation can flourish, but the government cannot forge a common strategy to address the innovation challenge by itself. For this, it needed the input and advice of people in all regions and from all sectors of the economy. In particular, we needed to hear from the private sector, which is a key driver of innovation and creator of jobs. At the National Summit on Innovation and Learning, delegates representing our partners, the private sector, the voluntary sector, educational institu- unions, other levels of government and individuals will be tions, prioritizing the recommendations for action that emerged during the engagement process. We will also be sharing ideas on what actions are 0 CANADIANS SPEAK ON INNOVATION AND LEARNING