Editorial - 23-8

Nearly two years after its formation, the federal government's primary body for S&T and innovation advice has weighed in with its first public report. State of the Nation 2008 is the Science, Technology and Innovation Council's (STIC) mandated report on how Canada stacks up against other innovation nations and its findings are far from encouraging.

"Middle of the road" appears to be the dominant consensus being drawn from its findings — not exactly the status that an aspiring country requires to thrive in an increasingly competitive global environment. What strengths Canada may have in university-based research or R&D tax credits are undermined by structural weaknesses that interrupt the flow between discovery and the marketplace.

Lack of pertinent data notwithstanding, the STIC report offers little new in the way of insight. Nor does it offer any recommendations on how to improve innovative performance. These absences are not oversights. State of the Nation is intended to benchmark performance to inform the public and provide a basis upon which more effective policies can be crafted. STIC has the authority to make recommendations but that advice to government remains confidential.

Canada requires a clear sense of where it's coming from, how it's performing and areas that need improvement before effective action can be taken. It's incumbent upon the government to examine the report closely with a view to enhancing innovation and productivity. The STIC report provides ample ammunition to make the case for an aggressive re-examination of innovation policy.