Develop and implement an Innovation Agenda.
What success looks like
Improved programs support more skills training and life-long learning for Canadians, increased investment in high growth industries, and more high growth, innovative and trade-oriented companies.
Government's narrative on progress
Through the Innovation and Skills Plan, the government will: • more than double the number of Canadians potentially eligible for employment support and skills training programs to as many as 1.4 million per year; • expand programs to support up to 10,000 work integrated learning placements each year; • provide more affordable and accessible broadband services for low-income Canadians and Canadians in remote communities through investments in broadband infrastructure and low-income support programs; • encourage the development of assistive technologies that make it easier for persons with disabilities to participate in the digital economy; • expand access to venture capital financing; and • support five superclusters that will promote innovation opportunities in high-growth industries. To support a streamlined approach to business innovation programming, programs are being delivered under the Innovation Canada umbrella. This single window platform has seen more than 600,000 visits to the website since its launch in January 2018. Through the Accelerated Growth Service (AGS), more than 470 500 firms have been supported to scale up. Since its launch in July 2017, the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has announced funding of up to $1.12 billion for 39 projects, leveraging a total investment of $10.75 billion in Canada. Five successful Innovation Superclusters have been announced. Since its launch in December 2017, Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) has launched 42 challenges identified by 14 departments for which proposed innovative solutions are required. These challenges generated nearly 715 proposals from innovative, Canadian small businesses. Departments and agencies have set aside approximately $55 M to fund the development of solutions that respond to these challenges. Since its launch in January 2018, the Clean Growth Hub has served over 930 clients to advance clean technology projects in Canada. The Hub's team of experts from across government helps companies and researchers pursuing clean technology projects identify the federal programs and supports most relevant to their needs. Budget 2019 proposes to provide a further $100 million over four years, starting in 2019–20, to the Strategic Innovation Fund, leveraging private sector co-investments, in order to support the activities of the Clean Resource Innovation Network. By developing ground-breaking clean tech and emission-lowering solutions through collaboration, the Network will support economic growth, will create good, well-paying jobs, and will lead to cleaner energy production from source to end use.
Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.