12.07.2015 Views

Innovation Canada: A Call to Action

Innovation Canada: A Call to Action

Innovation Canada: A Call to Action

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Innovation</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>: A <strong>Call</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Action</strong>Recommendation 6Establish a clear federal voice forinnovation, and engage in adialogue with the provinces <strong>to</strong>improve coordination and impact.The Vision of the PanelThe Government of <strong>Canada</strong> must assume aleadership role by establishing businessinnovation as a whole-of-government priorityand consequently restructuring the governanceof its business innovation agenda, whiledeveloping a shared and cooperative approachwith provincial and business leaders.Getting ThereTo realize this vision, the Panel recommendsthe following.National LeadershipA comprehensive innovation policy mustencompass a suite of policies that addressresearch and invention, technology, servicesec<strong>to</strong>r strategy, financial capital and talent,among other domains. A narrow science andtechnology policy will not adequately promoteinnovation by Canadian businesses. <strong>Canada</strong>needs a whole-of-government innovation policythat encompasses research, development,commercialization and business supportstrategies. This principle implies thefollowing need.6.1 Assign responsibility — Identify a leadminister responsible for innovation in theGovernment of <strong>Canada</strong> <strong>to</strong>gether with astated mandate <strong>to</strong> put business innovationat the centre of the government’s strategyfor improving <strong>Canada</strong>’s economicperformance.The Prime Minister might assign responsibilityand accountability <strong>to</strong> a single minister <strong>to</strong> leadthe challenge function in government forbusiness innovation and <strong>to</strong> work with provincialand terri<strong>to</strong>rial governments <strong>to</strong> undertake anational innovation dialogue focussed onobjectives and guiding principles. The same leadminister should be charged with developingoutcome-oriented performance objectives <strong>to</strong>enable comparisons of program effectivenessacross all federal departments. This might befacilitated via a Cabinet committee oninnovation, chaired by the lead minister.In addition, the designated minister couldprovide leadership in helping clarify mandatesfor existing and new entities, including the threegranting councils — Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council (NSERC), SocialSciences and Humanities Research Council(SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of HealthResearch (CIHR) — and the many related thirdpartyorganizations currently being funded bythe government <strong>to</strong> support business innovation.The granting councils have played a pivotal rolein developing both talent and ideas for <strong>Canada</strong>’sinnovation agenda. Their core raison d’être hasbeen and remains investiga<strong>to</strong>r-initiated researchof both a basic and applied nature, and eachneeds <strong>to</strong> continue <strong>to</strong> be generously supported.However, there has been mission drift for thegranting councils, as they have responded <strong>to</strong>pressure from government <strong>to</strong> be more businessfacing. While some business-facing programsmight appropriately be under the aegis of thegranting councils going forward, there is a need<strong>to</strong> clarify their mandates, taking in<strong>to</strong> accountthe other changes being recommended by thePanel, such as the creation of the IRIC and theevolution of the NRC. In this regard, thedesignated minister will need <strong>to</strong> play aleadership role in establishing the IRIC andseeing the NRC through <strong>to</strong> its recommendedend state. Recall that the IRIC, under thepurview of the minister responsible for8-4

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!