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The Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Canada’s Opportunities and Barriers for Success May 12, 2011 Toronto, Ontario Chris Gray Director, Innovation Policy cgray@chamber.ca. Our Members Corporate Members 420 Chambers Associations
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The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Canada’s Opportunities and Barriers for Success May 12, 2011 Toronto, Ontario Chris Gray Director, Innovation Policy cgray@chamber.ca
Our Members Corporate Members 420 Chambers Associations Representing businesses of every size, from every sector and every region in Canada Mandate = Canadian Competitiveness Priority Files Canadian IP Council The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
2011Federal Election CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY • Majority government should make lobbying more stable for four years. • Harper’s mandate will develop over the next few months. • Responsibility to deliver for business. • “Orange Crush” in Quebec. • Chamber calling for a pro-growth strategy. • Government will set cabinet posts in the coming days, most likely return to work on May 30th or June 6th – Throne Speech, Budget.
Canada’s Business Game Plan • Canada is an economic leader among the G8 nations. • Decent growth due to global demand for commodities and better than expected expansion in United States. • More than 300,000 jobs added to the Canadian economy in the last twelve months. • With the loonie trading at or above par for the balance of 2011, Canadian businesses will be under more pressure to improve productivity to compete. • Corporate tax reductions.
Conference Board of Canada Report • Still lagging in productivity and living standards, loonie’s rise has helped somewhat. • Canada continues to invest less in machinery and equipment than other major industrialized nations. • Remain at the back of the pack on labour productivity, a key economic challenge for Canada. • Income gap between Canada-U.S. has narrowed, but it and productivity gap forecast to grow again. • Lagging investment ranks Canada 12th out of 17 countries.
Intellectual Property in Canada • Effective criminal and civil enforcement requires policy and legislation. • In 2007, two Parliamentary Committees (Industry and Public Safety) issued unanimous reports that called on the government to take action. • Canada continues to lag in digital business innovation and investors are unwilling to embrace new business models built on a shaky IPR legal framework. • Launched the Canadian IP Council in 2008.
Canada & IP 11th Most Innovative Economy $29 CDN billion R&D funding in 2010 $84.6 billion In 2007, Canadian culture and creative sector estimated at $1 million jobs in the culture and creative sector
IP for Innovation and Economic Growth • Over 15,000 people are directly employment by the more than 50 research-based pharmaceutical companies in Canada. These companies contribute an annual $4 billion to the Canadian economy. • In the Kitchener-Waterloo region, 400 high-tech companies (whose strengths are in software, microelectronics and telecommunications) generate revenues of $4.6 billion annually and employ 15,000 people. • In BC, approximately 6,000 companies, active in the information and communications technologies sector, generate revenues of $9 billion and employ about 46,000 people.
IP for Innovation and Economic Growth • International Chamber report – February 2011 IPR: • benefit the economy; • promotes innovation; • helps firms monetize their innovations and grow; and • helps SMEs grow. • IP represents 4-11% of GDP in G8 countries
R & D panel – CCC priority issues • Government has a definite role to play, but businesses must also continue to evolve their business models with a greater focus on innovation. • Government programs, like the Science Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program, are key to the early success for many Canadian companies. • Venture capital is also a key element. • Ownership of intellectual property is of principal importance to a successful business/post-secondary partnership. There should be one model that is used across the board. • Adoption of smart technologies.
Economic Impact of IP theft in Canada $30 billion
Barriers to Increasing Competitiveness • Weak intellectual property rights laws • Inter-provincial trade barriers • Lack of start-up capital • Immigration policies • Lack of skilled workers
CCC’s Economic Edge Conference • What can government do to better position Canada for future growth in ICT e-business adoption? • How can we work together to better make the link between technology companies and venture capital? • Can universities and colleges finally come up with one good model for the commercialization of research? Bridging the gap between universities/business/incubators. • What conclusions will come from the government’s federal review of R&D in Canada? • Is Canada a leader or laggard in green/smart innovation?