A couple years ago the government introduced its innovation agenda. An attempt to chart out targets and strategies needed to be implemented and reached, in order for Canada to improve its ranking amongst G-7 countries in productivity and competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the targets set out by the government and their credibility while offering suggestions and alternatives to the innovation agenda. Issues discussed will include Canada’s goal to create a Silicon North, Canada’s ability to attract international investment, Canada’s success in international competition, Canada’s current and previous roles in creating a successful R&D atmos

Canadian manufacturers spend only 38.1 per cent as much as their U.S. counterparts on R&D per employee. In transportation equipment, which is dominated by the auto and auto-parts industries, Canadian-based companies spend only 17.2 per cent as much as their U.S. counterparts. Among 16 manufacturing industries, only two - chemicals and oil refining-have higher productivity than their U.S. counterparts. Canadian manufacturers in 1996 were only 64.3 per cent as productive as their U.S. counterparts. In all industries, Canadian companies were only 56.9 per cent as productive as American firms.

If innovation is broadly interpreted and applied, a number of opportunities to use research to meet a variety of social needs in a diversity of ways may be opened up. Canada is facing an uncertain future with an unclear sense of direction on how to precede as a result Canada is on a slippery slope but with a concerted national effort we can reverse the trends and chart a new course to excellence.

projects at 69 Canadian universities, colleges, hospitals, and not-for-profit research institutions. "The CFI is a key element of the Government of Canada's strategy to place our country among the most innovative nations in the world by 2010," said Industry Minister, Allen Rock. The investment was allocated in the following manner $588 million for 208 projects at 65 institutions under the Innovation Fund and $11 million for 72 projects at 31 institutions to support new researchers under the New Opportunities Fund. This investment represents a step up in supporting the high standards of research excellence, and in moving Canada's innovation agenda forward. According to Dr.Strangway, "Such an investment will provide the extraordinary means to the research institutions and their researchers to become world-class leaders in the global knowledge-based economy".

from its current short-term target of about 225,000 persons.

Canada’s innovation policy must acknowledge that the influence of global competition and the need for global collaboration as innovation systems cannot be reduced to within national borders. In order for Canada to seek its international rankings it must have better strategic thinking and further analysis of its agenda.

Targets are useful tools. They help focus debate, concentrate effort and provide a rallying point that everyone can get behind. But what happens when targets set by the government are unrealistic, as is the case for its R&D targets and many other targets that it has set?

Unfortunately not only are the steps that Canada is taking not enough but the benefits borne from undertaking R&D are not well understood by the private sector.

Some topics in this essay:
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