Council for Innovation and Commercialization
Innovation in Action
CIC helps enterprise leaders turn innovation into results, whether that means using AI, automation, and operational innovation to improve business performance or commercializing new products, services, technologies, and intellectual property in the marketplace.
Supporting Canada’s Innovation Leaders
The Council for Innovation Commercialization (CIC) helps Canada’s enterprise-level innovation leaders accelerate innovation safely, reduce pilot-to-scale failure rates, demonstrate ROI, and learn from peers facing similar commercialization issues. Our Council understands the unique challenges large enterprises face, such as balancing innovation speed with governance, risk, compliance, security, stakeholder alignment, and operational complexity.
CIC is differentiated by its focus on innovation commercialization in two dimensions: internally through AI, automation, R&D, and operational transformation, thereby improving business performance; and externally through new products, services, technologies, and intellectual property, which drive growth and competitive advantage.
Through confidential peer exchange, member-driven programming, and practical expert insights, CIC helps members de-risk innovation decisions, accelerate adoption, and increase the business impact of innovation investments.
Who should join?
Senior leaders with oversight for driving innovation within their organizations.
Benefits of membership
Strategic networking opportunities:
Access a diverse network of innovation leaders from academia, economic development agencies, government, and large organizations, and foster valuable connections for collaboration and learning.
Insider insights in a confidential setting:
Gain exclusive access to experiential tours and discussions about real-life innovations, opportunities, and challenges that will provide unique insights and strategies to help you navigate Canada’s complex innovation landscape. Meetings are run under Chatham House Rule creating a safe environment for open and candid dialogue.
Empowered decision-making:
Leave meetings inspired and equipped with fresh ideas, practical tools, and new relationships, which will help you make better-informed decisions that drive innovation and contribute to raising Canada’s innovation performance.
Contribute to Canada’s progress:
Deepen your understanding of the Canadian innovation ecosystem, gain valuable insights into the factors influencing the country’s innovation performance, and contribute to informed strategies for improvement. Be part of the solution.
Additional benefits of joining:
The Council for Innovation and Commercialization is run by the same team as the newly launched Canadian Centre for the Innovation Economy (CCIE). As a member of CIC, you may be asked to:
| Participate | Provide | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Participate as a member of a Research Advisory Board (RAB) comprised of external experts who inform and provide feedback on research projects developed through the Centre. | Provide your feedback and discuss the research at Council meetings and/or special virtual sessions. | Host a meeting of the Council or Centre and have the opportunity to offer a tour of your facilities and/or showcase how your organization is driving innovation. |
Testimonial
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Members Only
CIC members can access exclusive content from this page.
Member Activity
Member Only, Member Virtual Discussion
November 3, 2026 • Virtual
Executive Literacy Workshop
November 19, 2026 • Webinar
Digital Sovereignty for the Enterprise: Operational Impacts of Enterprise Data Strategy, Member Only
December 9, 2026 • Virtual
Member Virtual Discussion, Members Only
January 19, 2027 • Virtual
Interoperability, Agentic Value, and Data Sovereignty, Winter Virtual Meeting
February 17, 2027 • Virtual
Enterprise Innovation ROI Forum: Where Operational Transformation Meets Measureable Value, Roundtable
February 23–24, 2027 • Toronto
AI Enterprise Case Study
March 31, 2027 • Webinar
Members Only Discussion
April 2027 • Virtual
Spring Meeting | Canadian Enterprise Digital Advantage: Digital Transformation, Sovereignty, and Innovation for Competitive Growth
May 2027 • Location TBD
AI Adoption and Guidance Development Toolkit
June 9, 2027 • Webinar
Economic Forecast Update: Navigating Canada’s Outlook in an Era of AI
September 15, 2026 • Webinar
Fuelling our Future: How Mining and Oil & Gas Can Turn Automation, Talent Shortages, and Technology Adoption into Competitive Advantage
September 8, 2026 • Webinar
Members Only Give-Get
June 17, 2026 • Virtual
Extracting Innovation
June 1, 2026 • Webinar
Digital Dividend
April 8, 2026 • Webinar
Winter 2026 | International Perspectives: Hot Topics in Innovation 2026
February 11, 2026 • Virtual
Canada’s Workforce in Transition: How AI is Shaping the Future of Work
November 25, 2025 | Virtual
James Lanningan, Research Associate, Signal49 Research
Signal49 Research, explored how artificial intelligence is not only automating routine tasks but also fundamentally transforming high-skill, cognitive roles across Canada’s labour market. Drawing on new data, James revealed that 57 per cent of workers are in roles at risk of AI-driven disruption—and pinpointed the skills and tasks most affected. This session delved beyond surface-level analysis to provide forward-looking insights into how organizations can rethink their strategies, reshape talent planning, and prepare for evolving skill demands.
The Workplace of the Future: What it Means for Innovation Leaders
November 4–5, 2025 • Waterloo
Carol Leaman, Co-founder, Axonify
Dave Galloway, General Partner, Garage Capital
Devon Kroetsch, Board Member, Voyis
Katherine (Katie) Mack, Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication, Perimeter Institute
Marc Gibson, Chief Operating Officer, Quantum Valley Ideas Lab (QVIL)
Michele Mosca, Co-founder, President and CEO, evolutionQ Inc.
Norbert Lütkenhaus, Executive Director, Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC)
Sheldon McCormick, Chief Executive Officer, Communitech
The Power of Perception and Public Opinion and its Impact on Business
September 16, 2025 | Virtual
David Coletto, Founder, Abacus Data
David Coletto, is one of Canada’s most influential voices in politics. Drawing on decades of research experience, David explored how shifting mindsets—from scarcity to precarity—are reshaping expectations, trust, and how people engage with institutions. In a time of deep uncertainty, leaders need more than intuition—they need insight. As one observer put it: “When David releases a poll, Ottawa listens.” This session was designed to help you understand why—and how to apply it.
Canada’s AI Economy
September 9, 2025 | Virtual
Graham Dobbs, Senior Research Associate, Signal49 Research
During this webinar, Graham explored the state of Canada’s AI economy—highlighting its global leadership in research, talent growth, and innovation potential. He examined economic opportunities arising from AI-driven productivity gains while addressing key barriers, including infrastructure gaps, slow industry adoption, and talent retention challenges.
The Workplace of the Future: What it Means for Innovation Leaders
April 30 to May 1, 2025 • Ottawa
Alice Lafferty, Vice President, Operations Excellence, Canada Post Corporation
Danielle Doiron, General Manager, Marketing, Canada Post Corporation
Gordon Frost, Partner, Global Rewards Solution Leader, Mercer
Nicole Stewart, Principal and Career Office Business Leader, Mercer
Rob Annan, Chief Executive Officer, Genome Canada
Dr. Robert Atkinson, Founder and President, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
Vidur (VK) Krishan, Vice President, Product Management, Payworks
Relevant Research for Members
Canadian and U.S. Mechanical Engineering Patent Holders—July 2026
Comparing Canadian and U.S. Chemistry Patent Holders—July 2026
Comparing Canadian and U.S. Instruments Patent Holders—July 2026
Comparing Canadian and U.S. Patent Holders—April 2026
Tech, Automation, and Talent in Mining and Oil & Gas—April 2026
Canada’s Genomics Market Potential—February 2026
AI on the Horizon: February 26, 2026
AI on the Horizon: November 27, 2025
AI on the Horizon: November 13, 2025
Innovation in Canada’s Primary Industries—October 2025
Skill Shifts in Canada’s Primary Industries—October 2025
Contact Us
For more information about the Council for Innovation and Commercialization or to arrange for a guest invitation to attend one of our meetings, please contact our team.
1-888-801-8818
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; after hours, please send an e-mail.