Canada must tackle its persistent innovation, productivity, and technology adoption challenges. Despite significant investments in academic research, its ability to translate discoveries into economic and social impact is weak. Innovation underpins a competitive economy, yet Canada’s ecosystem remains imbalanced — strong research performance and weak commercialization outcomes.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations to the Standing Committee on Industry include:

• Increasing the baseline investment in the College and Community Innovation Program to $216 million per year.
• Extending eligibility to all federal research streams focusing on impact-driven partnered research to Canada’s polytechnics.
• Creating a seamless pathway from early intellectual property identification to validation and commercialization.
• Aligning with related federal programs to give firms coordinated, end-to-end commercialization support.