CCA expert panel to examine the state of science, technology, and innovation in Canada

The science, technology, and innovation (STI) landscape has changed rapidly in recent years, as a result of new technologies, ongoing digitization of the economy, a global pandemic that transformed supply chains, and new global security considerations. Since 2006, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has been documenting Canada’s standing in this landscape by benchmarking science, technology, and innovation strengths and weaknesses in a series of reports, most recently with Competing in a Global Innovation Economy (2018). At the request of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, CCA has formed an expert panel to provide an updated assessment of developments in the STI ecosystem, the extent to which barriers and knowledge gaps continue to impede innovation, and potential opportunities for Canada. Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, managing partner at TwinRiver Capital, will serve as Chair of the expert panel.

“CCA’s reports on this topic have repeatedly highlighted how Canada has historically excelled in research but struggled with innovation and productivity,” said Dr. Treurnicht. “I look forward to mining the extensive evidence and expertise on the topic to determine how things have evolved over the past few years and what new insights can be gained.”

Dr. Treurnicht is a general partner at North South Ventures, chair of the Public Policy Forum Board, and a director of the Equality Fund and Zentek. She was CEO of MaRS Discovery District in Toronto from 2005-2017. She has an extensive background in scientific research and commercialization, building health and cleantech firms, venture and impact investing, and public policy.

As Chair, Dr. Treurnicht will lead a multidisciplinary group with expertise in academic research, industrial research and development, financing, science and innovation policy, economics, and methodological approaches. The Panel will answer the following question:

What is the state of science, technology, and innovation in Canada, and how does Canada compare internationally?

“We are delighted that Dr. Treurnicht has agreed to take on the role of chair,” said Tijs Creutzberg, President and CEO of the CCA. “This is a timely and important assessment—the data and expert analysis by the panel will inform critical conversations about how Canada can position itself for the future.”

Read more about the assessment on our project page.

The Expert Panel on the State of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Canada:

• Ilse Treurnicht (chair), Managing Partner, TwinRiver Capital
• Robert Atkinson, President, ITIF Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness
• Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology and Innovation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Joel Blit, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Waterloo
• Christina Freyman, Deputy Director, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
• Jean Hamel, Chief Engineer, FPInnovations
• Kathryn Hayashi, CEO, TRIUMF Innovations; Co-Lead Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem
• Burhan Hussein, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, Concordia University
• Vincent Larivière, UNESCO Chair on Open Science, Université de Montréal
• Elicia Maine, W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Associate Vice President, Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation, Simon Fraser University
• Alexandra McCann, Executive Director, ONSIDE
• R. Sandra Schillo, Associate Professor, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
• Jeffrey R. Taylor, Associate Vice-President, Applied Research and Innovation, Nova Scotia Community College
• Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation, University of Manitoba

Expert panel members serve as individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of their organizations of affiliation or employment.