The report "The State of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Canada 2025" by the Council of Canadian Academies provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of Canada’s strengths and weaknesses in science, technology, and innovation and how the country compares internationally.
Key Findings
- R&D spending is lagging: Canada’s R&D intensity has declined since 2000, while peer countries have increased their investments. Business and government R&D spending are both far below the OECD average.
- Canada’s higher education sector is a rare bright spot: Canadian universities continue to produce world-class talent and research, with high levels of international collaboration and impact. However, this competitive edge is at risk and Canadian post-secondary institutions often struggle to support the transfer of technologies to new companies.
- Aggressive AI adoption could transform Canada’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem: Canada has played a leading role in the development of AI but is losing ground in adoption and commercialization.
- Despite strengths in research, Canada struggles to translate discoveries into commercial success: The country lacks large, innovative firms and faces persistent barriers in scaling startups and retaining intellectual property.
