Canadian Government Seeks Input For Innovation Agenda

In September 2015 a new government was elected in Canada, on a platform of significant change. Its first budget, tabled last March, outlines its plan for implementation of that change. A significant part of the budget – upwards of three billion Canadian dollars - is committed to the encouragement of innovation. Specific initiatives include:

• $2 billion CAD over two years, beginning 2017-2018, to establish a Low Carbon Economy Fund, which will support provincial and territorial actions to reduce greenhouse emissions.
• $800 million CAD over four years to support the development of innovation networks and regional clusters, including support for the Industrial Research Assistance Program.