Editorial - 27-13

A reasonable case can be made that Canada's economic fundamentals are sound and bode well for future prosperity. Yet an equally sold argument can be formulated showing that weak innovation and productivity stemming (in part) from anemic industrial R&D (IR&D) are a recipe for economic stagnation.

Industry Canada appears to have acknowledged the plausibility of the latter. It commissioned the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) to explore the issue and its expert panel report on IR&D?should be a wake-up call for action on the innovation policy front. Its examination of industry's R&D performance may not break any new ground, yet its thoughtfulness and attention to detail offer policy makers yet another useful tool for crafting a revitalized S&T Strategy.

Taken together with the CCA's 2012 report on Canadian S&T performance, and the latest State of the Nation report from the Science, Technology and Innovation Council, all the pieces for a coherent and effective policy document are at hand.

While none of these new reports are perfect, they provide a rich assessment of Canada's innovation strengths and the complex challenges ahead. The government should act quickly to communicate how it plans to incorporate these reports into effective policy, and communicate those intentions as broadly as possible.

Canada has a wealth of innovation policy expertise that should be collectively marshalled to assist in developing an S&T Strategy with the resources for full execution. That requires champions and a commitment to make it happen.