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Canadian Centre for the Innovation Economy

Improving Canada’s innovation performance

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Canada has a highly educated workforce and strong research capability, but fails to turn these advantages into commercial success and innovation-based economic growth. This is known as Canada’s innovation paradox.

The Canadian Centre for the Innovation Economy (CCIE) brings together Canadian innovation hubs, institutions, entrepreneurs, governments, corporate partners, and investors to research critical issues facing the innovation community and deliver data-driven insights to decision-makers.

Our focus

CCIE examines strategies to boost productivity and global competitiveness by accelerating technology adoption, scaling Canadian businesses, and understanding how technological change shapes the future of work. Our research is focused on key areas such as innovation performance, emerging technologies, R&D and tech adoption, entrepreneurship, talent development, intellectual property, innovation financing, and government policy.

Funding members

Alberta Innovates
Ontario Genomics
Scale AI

Research impact

Our research centre model creates collective impact, amplifying its reach and producing usable insights. Our innovation and technology research is driving government strategy, shaping media conversations, and transforming industry practices. Our work isn’t just attracting attention—it’s directly influencing decisions across government, business, and academia. 

Centre research

Canada’s AI Economy—May 2025

Canada’s AI Economy This research identifies Canada’s competitive edge in artificial intelligence (AI) and offers strategies for Canada to become a global AI leader. What strategic investments currently exist to…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, People and Culture
Skills and Workforce Development, Technology and Innovation Analysis
Subject Matter: Artificial Intelligence, Business Research
Digital Upskilling, Emerging Technologies, Innovation and Growth, Innovation Economy, Labour Market, Post Secondary Education in Canada
Focus Area: Innovation & Technology
May 15, 2025 1 min read

Risky Business

Has Canada lost its competitive edge? What role does innovation play in supporting start-ups? Drawing from interviews with founders, innovation ecosystem leaders, and experts from various sectors and regions, we…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Technology and Innovation Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Corporate Innovation
Economy Analysis, Employment Rate in Canada, GDP Canada, Industry Analysis, Innovation and Growth, Upskilling the Workforce
Focus Area: Innovation & Technology
September 4, 2024 1 min read

2024 Innovation Report Card: Benchmarking Canada’s Innovation Performance

Innovation is the process through which economic or social value is extracted from knowledge –by creating, diffusing, and transforming ideas – to produce new or improved products, services, and processes….
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Technology and Innovation Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Climate Change Adaptation
Corporate Innovation, Emerging Technologies, Healthcare in Canada, Innovation and Growth, Innovation Economy, Innovation Policy Strategy, Innovation Strategy, Post Secondary Education in Canada, Workforce of the Future
Focus Area: Innovation & Technology
April 11, 2024 1 min read

Real Talk: How Generative AI Could Close Canada’s Productivity Gap and Reshape the Workplace—Lessons From the Innovation Economy

In this research, we discuss the results of a survey of 221 Canadian start-ups and 17 interviews with company leaders and experts to understand how ventures are using or exploring…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Technology and Innovation Analysis
Subject Matter: Artificial Intelligence, Business Research
Canadian Cities, Corporate Innovation, Digital Upskilling, Emerging Technologies, Future of Work, Innovation and Growth, Upskilling the Workforce
Focus Area: Innovation & Technology
February 20, 2024 1 min read

Why become a funding member?

Help shape the future of Canada’s innovation performance and economy through strategic, evidence-based research .

Join a powerful network of leaders working to transform Canada’s innovation economy. Through a shared investment model, your funding goes further, enabling deeper insights, broader collaboration, and stronger policy influence. Together, we can create research that not only informs dialogue but also drives meaningful change. 

Get involved with the Canadian Centre for the Innovation Economy

Make Canada’s future bright by enabling evidence-based innovation research.