Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

May 14, 2025

It’s Go Time: Bold Action for Canada

In just over two weeks since his election, Prime Minister Mark Carney has already outlined some bold objectives for building housing, improving affordability, boosting productivity, and transforming the Canadian economy through bold action.

On these priorities, the message from our sector is clear: Canada’s colleges and institutes are key partners in getting things done.

The Big Conversations

Last month, CICan convened over 130 leaders from Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics along with key partner organizations for our first-ever Leaders Summit to chart a path that will empower our sector to continue doing what we do best.

Bringing together the right people to ask the right questions at the right time, conversations focused on the most pressing questions where Canada’s challenges, a new government’s priorities, and the big opportunities in postsecondary education intersect:

Growing domestic enrollment in ways that build a made-in-Canada skilled workforce, driving digital transformation and leveraging digital tools to enhance Canadian innovation and productivity, and boosting inter-provincial learner and credential mobility to create a connected, competitive Canadian economy.

The result? A renewed spirit of unity and urgency, driving bold action for Canada.

Some of the ideas:

Strengthening programs with real-time labour market data and industry partnerships.

Building new models to support microcredentials, modular learning, and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

Supporting non-traditional learners through expanded financial aid and flexible pathways.

Scaling national initiatives like Military-Connected Campuses to grow enrollment and better support Canada’s defense and civilian workforce needs.

Empowering faculty and staff to champion digital innovation through peer-driven training.

Balancing digital delivery with hands-on learning to meet diverse learner needs.

Leveraging sector-wide tools like Digital Campus Canada and the Canadian Coalition of Affordable Learning to drive access, efficiency, and innovation.

Connecting learners more effectively to programs and careers through digital tools and labour market data.

Advocating for national coordination on credential and competency recognition.

Piloting innovative models like the Authentic Competency Evaluation (ACE) system, led by Atlantic Colleges Atlantique (ACA), that validates real skills, not just classroom time.

Forming regional and national coalitions to drive political momentum, share best practices, and accelerate change.

Prioritizing inclusive solutions that work for non-traditional, marginalized, and mobile learners.

The Road Ahead

This is a new chapter for Canada and our sector. Canadians are asking for change, reassurance, and confidence in public institutions following what has been called the most consequential election since the end of the Second World War – and our sector is front and centre in this national frame.

Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics are central to building and making stuff in Canada. We are the path to good careers in the skilled trades and ensuring exponential growth in talent and labour mobility in the skilled workforce needed to support sectors of critical national importance. We are essential partners to boosting productivity among Canadian SMEs via AI uptake and applied research and innovation at scale, and to building Canada’s national security and defense capacity through training partnerships.

Investing in the capacity and expertise of our institutions isn’t just good policy, it’s essential for Canada’s future. From building and making things right here at home, to growing a more competitive, productive workforce and economy, to strengthening global trade, our sector is where it starts.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

April 15, 2025

Meeting Canada’s Moment

A federal election is two weeks away and Canada is at a turning point. The next government will shape Canada’s future, setting priorities on everything from housing and workforce development to resource development and global competitiveness.

For any government to succeed in delivering on its promises, Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs and polytechnics are essential.

Coming Together When It Matters

At CICan, we work year-round with the federal government to ensure our members have what they need to thrive

That means bringing a unified national voice for the sector to Ottawa, working with the right people and partner organizations, shaping the right policies and investments, and implementing the right supports to empower our sector to continue doing what we do best: anticipating future needs, and delivering accessible, adaptable, and sustainable training, education, and applied research solutions across the country to meet Canada’s biggest challenges.

In everything we do, we bring our members together to share knowledge, drive innovation, align efforts to drive bold, lasting impact, and Election 2025 is a pivotal – and consequential – moment.

That’s the rationale behind our inaugural Leaders Summit, taking place next week. We’re bringing sector leaders – and partners – together at a critical moment for our country.

This national dialogue will ensure our institutions are ready to collaborate with whoever forms government – thinking proactively and strategically about what Canadians need from us, and how we can build coalitions of the willing and meet the moment together.

Canada’s Challenges, Our Solutions

Supporting Team Canada – building, training, growing, making, and powering the jobs and solutions that drive this country – and public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics go hand in hand. We are responsive, adaptable, deeply embedded in communities and working directly with employers in every part of the country.

Canada’s major parties have started outlining their election platform and promises, and nearly every key election issue connects to our work and the very challenges we help solve every day.

That’s why investing in our institutions is essential for lasting, meaningful impact.

On Building and Making Things at Home

Construction and Homebuilding: There are currently close to 65,000 students training at colleges and institutes to become our future construction workers and engineering technicians, building better homes faster. Plus, they also offer over 300 pre-apprenticeship programs that train skilled construction workers Canada urgently needs.

Food Supply: Colleges and institutes offer 164 agricultural programs – including crop sciences, farm management, and greenhouse technologies – that train workers and business owners to grow food for Canadians.

Plus, through nearly 3,000 applied research projects, our sector works with Canada’s manufacturers and producers to improve the way we make and grow stuff in Canada, for Canadians. 878 of these projects were specifically tied to supporting Canada’s natural resource sector and agricultural sectors.

Healthcare and Social Services: Close to 100,000 students are trained through over 1,100 college and institute programs in healthcare, including close to 300 nursing programs. With shifting demographics and an aging population, college and institute-led innovation in seniors’ care and social innovation is more important than ever.

Defence and Public Safety: Colleges and institutes also play a crucial role in offering certified training for high-demand occupations within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and supporting veterans, reservists and their families transitioning to civilian careers.  And, close to 22,000 students are trained in security and protective services, including 14,901 in criminal justice and corrections.

On Global Trade and the Economy

Supply Chains: Colleges and institutes keep Canada’s supply chains moving with over 1,500 manufacturing-related programs. We train the skilled workers—technicians, engineers, and specialists—who design, build, and maintain the systems that manufacture and move the goods that Canadians rely on every day.

Transportation: From aerospace and automotive manufacturing to rail and trucking logistics, our job-ready graduates are essential to keeping supply chains efficient, smart, and resilient – and helping Canadian businesses get their products to market.

Global Partnerships: Our sector builds capacity, shares best practices, and delivers consistent, high-quality training that connects Canadian employment-based education with the world. This work positions us as a leader in skills and workforce development, innovation, and sustainable development. As global markets shift, leveraging all of our assets and networks abroad will be key in market diversification.

On Productivity and Competitiveness

Resilient and Efficient Industry: With nearly 700 research labs across Canada, colleges and institutes partner with Canadian industries (especially SMEs) to develop innovative, made-in-Canada solutions.

As tariffs impact business operations, college and institute applied research centres also help businesses pivot to new markets and source alternative components – and provide market analysis that ensures business can continue to provide the essential products and services Canadians depend on.

Derisking Technology Adoption: These collaborations – with a focus on derisking new product, process and prototype development – give Canadian manufacturers a competitive edge, boost productivity, enhance automation, and help businesses navigate market shifts, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes.

Digital Skills: As innovators, our institutions are always looking forward and central to building Canada’s digital infrastructure. We provide accessible and cutting-edge training and relevant industry-ready skills for the digital economy, while leveraging AI tools to transform programs to meet Canada’s digital imperative.

Energy Production and Transformation: To meet Canada’s energy objectives, colleges and institutes lead in skills training to drive Canada’s energy transformation and grow our capacity in alternative energies like nuclear, solar, wind, and hydro, and to support existing industries to get energy to market. Federal investment in our institutions drives energy transformation while balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

Natural Resources: We lead in skills training, research, and sustainable solutions in high-demand sectors like mining and critical mineral extraction and processing to support growing industries like semi-conductors and EV production.

Ready to Support Team Canada

While the future is uncertain, CICan and its members are committed partners on Team Canada. As Canada’s most accessible public training network, we are Canadians’ safety net, ready to collaborate and support the priorities shaping Canada’s future.

This election is a key moment for Canada — and we’re here to meet it.

Factsheet: Supporting Team Canada
Blog: A Stronger Canada Starts Within: How Colleges and Institutes Build National Resilience
Blog: Scaling Solutions, Building Our Workforce
Blog: Building Canada’s Edge in Trade, Talent, and Innovation
Blog: A United Public College Sector Supports a Strong and Resilient Canada
Pre-budget Submission: Building a Strong and Resilient Canada

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

March 17, 2025

What I See in a United Public College and Institute Sector

What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

I’m fresh off a mission to Washington D.C. with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce where I met with key U.S. industry leaders, political influencers, and my postsecondary association counterparts south of the border to discuss – among other things – what Canada needs most to safeguard economic stability, protect jobs, and drive innovation.

The conversations were fruitful and strategic, and I was struck by the appetite for unity and shared purpose. Amid challenging Canada-US relations and an uncertain political and economic landscape at home, a united public college and institute sector is a safety net Canadians can rely on.

Meeting the Moment Together

At CICan, we take our role in bringing together voices from across the sector seriously. We hear concerns and ideas from our members, gather and distill insights, and turn that intel into engagement that can drive new opportunities for growth.

Our Futures Forum is the college and institute sector’s premier convening platform, designed to ignite national conversations on the emerging trends and system-wide transformation that serve Team Canada.

Through it all, Canada’s public colleges and institutes are driving the conversation with purpose – they’re asking bold and strategic questions.

How can we develop new national approaches to workforce development in critical sectors of national importance for Canada (e.g. critical minerals and nuclear energy)?
How can we leverage and scale technology to enhance learning and institutional efficiency and outcomes?
How can we co-develop and scale procurement, program delivery and/or credit evaluation and transfer solutions that will drive system transformation?
How do we redesign and refocus the postsecondary sector to meet Canada’s moment?

These are some of the real-time sectoral trends, emerging issues, and forward-focused strategies that will drive the agenda at CICan’s first-ever Leaders Summit – our Futures Forum’s flagship event.

At moments like these, coming together matters more than ever. These critical discussions will ensure Canada’s public colleges and institutes remain agile, impactful, and equipped to serve Canadian businesses, Canadian workers, and Canadian-made solutions.

Agility and Leadership

Our network prepares nearly 800,000 learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities with more than 10,000 programs across all sectors, conducts more than 8,000 applied research projects annually, and adds over $190 billion to Canada’s economy each year.

We are part of Team Canada. Canada’s public colleges and institutes train the builders, growers, makers, caregivers, first responders, innovators, and job creators that Canadians depend on. We can be counted on to help Canada build and do big things, especially as we pivot to new markets both within Canada and around the world.

As a sector, we ensure we have a skilled workforce to meet housing and healthcare demands, ensure workers are equipped to thrive in resource-intensive and digital industries, and makes Canada’s small businesses more innovative, efficient, and productive.

As leaders, colleges and institutes are the ones driving the conversations that will take Canada where it needs to go – thinking proactively and strategically about what Canadians need from our institutions, and engaging government, industry, and other partners to meet Canada’s – and the world’s – biggest challenges.

A federal election is likely to be called in the coming days.

The future may be uncertain, but the leadership, unity, and commitment of public colleges and institutes to Team Canada are not. The moment to capitalize on strategy, new thinking, and system-wide action is now.

Canada needs what public colleges do best: workforce readiness; anticipating future skills and innovation needs on the ground, regularly reviewing and developing adaptive learning models, creating opportunities for micro-credentialing and robust work-integrated learning programs.

When public colleges and institutes thrive, their communities thrive. When they come together on the national stage, they build our country.

In a unified public college and institute sector, I see a resilient, competitive, and prosperous future for all Canadians.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

March 3, 2025

Building Canada’s Edge in Trade, Talent, and Innovation

What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

This week, I’m in Washington, D.C., joining a Canadian Chamber of Commerce mission focused on one of the most pressing issues for both Canada and the U.S.: the future of our advanced manufacturing and supply chains.

With new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods adding further strain to supply chains—on top of ongoing workforce challenges and rising economic uncertainty—this mission brings together key American and Canadian stakeholders, including current and former government officials, industry leaders, and political influencers to discuss what’s needed to safeguard supply chains, protect jobs, and drive innovation in these critical industries.

What’s being discussed?

Enhancing Supply Chain Stability: We need stronger, more resilient trade partnerships to ensure businesses on both sides of the border can continue to operate efficiently, even during times of economic uncertainty.

Addressing Tariffs and Trade Barriers: President Trump’s proposed tariffs threaten to disrupt Canada-U.S. trade. We need to advocate for fair trade policies that protect Canadian businesses and workers under The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Strengthening Canada-U.S. Trade Relations: Open, collaborative dialogue is critical to keeping markets accessible and ensuring that Canadian products and expertise remain competitive.

Boosting Innovation in Manufacturing: The integration of cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing is key to staying ahead in an evolving global economy.

But these discussions aren’t just about protecting and strengthening trade relations; they’re about reinforcing Canada’s economic resilience.

That’s where we come in.

To strengthen supply chain stability and resilience, businesses on both sides of the border need workers with expertise in everything from advanced manufacturing to logistics. Public colleges and institutes deliver that skilled and relevant workforce.

With over 1,500 manufacturing-related programs, including supply chain management, colleges and institutes train the skilled workers—technicians, engineers, and specialists—who design, build, and maintain the systems that manufacture and move the goods that Canadians rely on every day. From aerospace and automotive manufacturing to rail and trucking logistics, our job-ready graduates are essential to keeping supply chains efficient, smart, and resilient.

Plus, with nearly 700 research labs across Canada, colleges are partnering with Canadian industries (especially SMEs) to develop innovative, made-in-Canada solutions that boost productivity, enhance automation, and help businesses navigate market shifts, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes. These collaborations – with a focus on derisking new product, process and prototype development – give Canadian manufacturers a competitive edge. In just one year, almost 3,000 college applied research projects have powered Canadian manufacturers and producers to improve how we make and market things right here at home.

Securing Our Role in Shaping the Future

When we say public colleges train the builders, makers, and doers Canada needs more than ever, this is what we mean. As cross-border supply chains face disruptions, political tensions mount, and global trade transforms, our 135 members stand united – ready to serve Team Canada.

I’ll be your voice in D.C. to ensure Canada’s public colleges and institutes remain at the forefront of policy discussions on continental supply chain stability, workforce development, and innovation. While there, I look also forward to engaging with my counterparts at the Amercian Community College Association, the Amercian Council on Education, and our talented trade commissioners at the Canadian Embassy. Look for my LinkedIn posts from the road on what I am seeing and hearing.

Public colleges and institutes are essential partners to building a strong and resilient Canada, today, tomorrow and in the months and years to come.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

February 12, 2025

A Stronger Canada Starts Within: How Colleges and Institutes Build National Resilience

Canada is facing tough times. The threat of widespread U.S. tariffs puts our jobs, goods, and wallets at risk. This week our steel and aluminum sectors were hit. If these tariffs expand across industries like advanced manufacturing, automotive production, food, agriculture and forestry, the impacts will be severe – disrupting supply chains and critical services. Prices will rise, jobs will be cut, and families will face fewer options and greater uncertainty.

Now is the time for Canada to take charge of its future. That means investing in Canadian businesses, Canadian workers, and Canadian-made solutions. Publicly funded colleges and institutes are central to that effort. They help Canadians land good-paying jobs, support Canadian businesses as they grow and diversify, and drive the kind of innovation that strengthens Canadian industries and the economy. And, in tough times, they’ve always stepped up – helping local companies adapt and training the workers needed to keep our economy moving.

Today is no different. Colleges and institutes stand united, ready to serve Team Canada.

Driving Local Impact, Scaling National Transformation

With nearly 700 campuses nationwide, 95% of Canadians live within 50 km of a college or institute. That means these institutions are always within reach, providing workers, businesses, and families with the training and support they need, right where they are.

Deeply connected to their communities, colleges move fast. They collaborate with local industries, municipalities, and community organizations to meet the real-time needs of the people they serve – from housing and caregiving support to export and energy diversification and helping local businesses embrace new technologies, processes and products. And, with CICan’s convening power and leadership initiatives like our Futures Forum, colleges and institutes can coordinate efforts across the country, amplifying their impact in tackling both local and national challenges.

Preparing Workers for the Future Economy

For Canada to strengthen its economy from within, we need an adaptable, skilled workforce that can build, make, and innovate right here at home. From training electricians, technicians and engineers to supporting entrepreneurs, colleges and institutes provide essential skills through a wide range of demand-driven programs. In fact, with over 10,000 programs offered across various sectors within CICan’s network, 6.45 million Canadians in the workforce today are college and institute graduates.

When industries shift, colleges and institutes quickly adapt, working with partners to identify needs and offering retraining and upskilling to ensure no one is left behind. They also provide flexible learning options like online courses, short-term programs, or part-time study so workers can develop new skills without putting their lives – or paycheques – on hold. This kind of accessible, adaptable education is essential as Canada works to build a more self-sufficient and resilient economy.

Accelerating Homegrown Innovation

Canadian businesses – especially small and medium-sized ones – rely on colleges and institutes for innovation and expertise. With nearly 700 research labs across the country, colleges collaborate with Canadian companies to develop made-in-Canada products, enhance efficiency, and quickly pivot to meet evolving market demands, keeping them competitive.

The results speak for themselves. In just one year, college research led to 6,436 new processes, products, prototypes and services, with 80% of them developed in less than a year. This translates to fast, effective solutions that strengthen Canadian businesses, create more good jobs, and improve life for Canadians.

And with 98% of industry research partners based in Canada, intellectual property (IP) stays where it belongs – at home. Better yet, businesses – not colleges – retain full ownership of their IP, keeping the benefits in their hands while driving national wealth creation and economic growth.

Leveraging Global Partnerships

Colleges and institutes maintain global partnerships in over 50 countries, leveraging Canada’s reputation for excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and its leadership in delivering critical skills training internationally.

These partnerships help Canadian businesses innovate, pivot, and expand into new markets, while also equipping workers with in-demand global skills that enhance Canada’s competitive edge on the world stage.

By tapping into our 135 public colleges and institutes, Canada can emerge from these challenges stronger and more resilient, with a workforce and economy ready to thrive in the face of uncertainty and transformation.

Colleges and institutes are here for you, Canada.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

January 21, 2025

Future-Focused Leadership for a Changing Canada

Canada’s public post-secondary sector stands at a pivotal crossroads where significant challenges meet promising opportunities. Rapid policy changes, shifting workforce demands, technological advancements, and the uncertainty of an approaching federal election have created a complex landscape that demands bold, innovative, and forward-thinking leadership.

This is a defining moment—not just for the future of our post-secondary system, but for Canada itself.

Public colleges and institutes play a crucial role in addressing Canada’s biggest challenges, from housing and healthcare to sustainability and workforce productivity. They train the builders, caregivers, innovators, and first responders who form the backbone of our communities and economy. Their success is Canada’s success.

Introducing the Futures Forum

To support colleges and institutes tackle sector-wide challenges and meet Canada’s evolving needs, CICan is proud to launch the Futures Forum. This new, dynamic concept places transformational leadership at the forefront, connecting decision-makers with powerful insights, cutting-edge analysis, and collaborative opportunities to turn bold ideas into actionable solutions.

Through events like the biennial Leaders Summit and monthly Presidents Circle, the Futures Forum ensures colleges and institutes stay agile, responsive, and primed to lead Canada into a thriving future.

Together, our network of forward-thinking leaders and institutions is shaping what’s to come and driving lasting, positive change for all Canadians.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

December 4, 2024

Colleges and Institutes Matter

What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston.

I joined CICan a year ago this week. Since then, our sector has been turned on its head in more ways than one. Still, what I’ve learned in my first 12 months on the job is that – more than ever – the work we do matters. A lot.

In my first year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit over 40 CICan members in 9 provinces: Vancouver Community College, Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Suncrest College in Yorkton, Assiniboine College in Brandon, Fanshawe College in London, Collège Ahuntsic in Montréal, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick in Moncton and Holland College in Charlottetown, to name just a few.

During my visits, I toured cutting-edge aviation, biomanufacturing and agriculture training and research facilities; tried my hand (badly) at virtual simulations to fix a tire on an EV and administer a needle for dental work; drove a firetruck and filmed a scene in an animation studio; dined at student-run bistros; met dedicated staff, faculty, and students from all over the world; marvelled at the top-line jewellery, fashion and high end ceramics made by talented graduates; and witnessed the prototypes created for local companies to solve their business problems and help them scale their operations. In short, I discovered firsthand how CICan’s 134 members are community – and nation-builders.

Read back through my LinkedIn posts from my visits and you’ll notice a theme – bold, pioneering, passionate, unrivalled dynamism and responsiveness.

Even through the challenging context of the past year, I’m struck by the vitality of your campuses, by how deeply rooted your institutions are in your communities, and by just how much Canadians – from all walks of life—rely on publicly funded colleges and institutes to realize new opportunities.

Colleges and institutes train the builders, growers, makers, caregivers, first responders, innovators and job creators that Canadians depend on. As a sector, what we do ensures we have a skilled workforce to meet housing and healthcare demands, ensures workers are equipped to thrive in green and digital industries, and makes Canada’s small businesses more innovative, efficient, and productive.

But more so, your institutions build communities. And by building communities, we build a country.

Being out on the road this past year brought to life for me that nearly every Canadian lives within 50 km of a CICan member campus. The way we reach Canadians as a sector – in rural, remote, Northern, and urban areas – is unmatched and a true Canadian asset.

We’re facing challenges both as a sector and as a country.

Canadians can expect a lot of change in the coming months. Globally, geopolitical winds are changing, industries and supply chains are being redefined, populations are aging, and technologies like AI are accelerating the pace of change and shifting where business is done. 

At home, in view of a federal election, it’s clear that colleges and institutes can and must focus on the things Canada needs most: housing, healthcare, innovative resource development, food security, strong domestic manufacturing capacity and thriving local businesses to drive long-term competitiveness and productivity.

Looking forward, CICan is ready to evolve.

What I’ve heard during my visits – about your aspirations, your needs, and your challenges – are the key drivers of CICan’s evolving strategic directions.

We’ll be starting work in 2025 to continue to define with members, our Board, CICan staff, and our partners the “CICan of the Future.” A vision characterized by intensified focus on leadership development, convening and supporting college leaders in institutional and system transformation to continue to meet the needs of Canadians and address Canada’s biggest challenges.

Leadership matters more than ever.

We are agile, responsive, resilient, and we deliver results for Canadians.

But there is still collective work to do to refresh and renew the public value narrative of what we deliver. We need to continue the on-the-ground mobilization with partners that has been generated in the past few months to build robust coalitions and a strong public postsecondary system working with industry, communities, universities, mayors and labour unions.

We’ll need your continued support to ensure decision makers recognize the opportunities offered by colleges and institutes to be leaders in meeting Canada’s – and their communities’ – biggest challenges

It is our time – we are the partners Canada needs.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

October 1, 2024

Canada’s Research Ecosystem Must Drive Impact

By Pari Johnston, President & CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.

This op-ed was published by The Hill Times on September 25, 2024.

Canada’s research and innovation landscape is ready for an overhaul. For years, our public research and development spending has trailed behind other Group of Seven (G7) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and our track record in business innovation is sub-par. That means we’re missing out on realizing the full benefits of our research right here at home.

But here’s the good news: change is on the horizon. Last year’s Report on the Federal Research Support System (“the Bouchard Report”) made it clear that many of us in Canada’s research ecosystem need to reflect with purpose on what we’re trying to achieve. More recently, federal investments and the ongoing work to set up a new capstone research funding organization indicate a promising shift to a more strategic, multi- and interdisciplinary approach that mobilizes our research and innovation ecosystem to address the country’s – and the world’s – most pressing challenges.

It’s more important than ever that we reimagine our approach to meeting policy challenges and driving impact via our research ecosystem – and Canada’s colleges and institutes are uniquely placed to do so.

In 2021-2022, our sector worked on more than 8,000 applied research projects resulting in 6,500 new processes, products, and prototypes in areas like housing construction and advanced manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture and food production, and social innovation. That means things like developing a new prototype that can help a local business reduce waste – or testing the efficiency of a new insulated panel that can be used in modular housing construction. These are the real results that make Canadian businesses more efficient, competitive, and productive.

College and institute applied research is partner- and problem-driven innovation. Our cues come from the communities we serve, leading to on-the ground impact and improved technology adoption, adaptation, and integration. 

With 80% of projects completed in less than a year, it’s also innovation at the “speed of business”. And – importantly – with college-led research, 98% of industry partners are in Canada and keep their intellectual property.

The numbers tell us half the story. The other half is about how the impact, relevance, and reach of college and institute research translate into real benefits for Canadians and for the long-term sustainability of Canadian industry.

That impact is more important now than ever, with urgent demands to address our big public policy questions – things like providing sustainable and affordable housing, preparing for and preventing large natural disasters, designing cities and spaces that respect our environment, transitioning to clean energies. 

I am glad the Bouchard Report, the development of a new the capstone research organization, and new partnership opportunities with Horizon Europe have brought mission-driven research back into focus and, looking forward, I’m optimistic about the impact we can achieve.

Still, the college and institute sector currently only receives 2.9% of federal research funding from Tri-Council agencies. And many federal research programs, either in terms of institutional eligibility, funding restrictions, or the process by which successful applicants are determined, are not adequately attuned to the college and institute reality. That needs to be changed if we want to leverage the full potential of college applied research and maximize the impact of federal research dollars.

Innovation policy thinkers have advocated for a challenge-driven industrial strategy for Canada – and I think we need to also embrace a challenge-driven research approach to support this agenda. That means a fresh look at the role, value-add, capacities and connections of all research ecosystem partners to focus our efforts and resources on solving practical challenges facing communities, regions, and our country. This is precisely what colleges and institutes do best.

The future of Canada’s research ecosystem must also support historically excluded groups in conducting impact-oriented research. Challenge-driven research that capitalizes on college and institute applied research expertise, their networks of partners across sectors, and state-of-the-art facilities can – and should – be positioned one of Canada’s strongest motors for innovation by thinking purposefully about funding.

With a demand-driven approach, an ethos of collaboration, and expertise in knowledge translation and technology uptake by local industry partners, we can drive greater downstream impact of a challenge-driven research agenda in areas like housing, economic diversification in traditional sectors and innovative manufacturing.

Canada’s research ecosystem must be reimagined and redesigned in a way that drives impact for Canadians and Canadian businesses. The way to get there is through colleges and institutes.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

September 13, 2024

Building Skills, Building Homes

As we navigate the shifting landscape of post-secondary education, CICan’s focus is sharper than ever.

For the first time, our vision is defined around five new Impact Goals that will direct our efforts around priority areas where we want to drive tangible change – where colleges and institutes can deliver results for their communities and the country. 

Boosting Canada’s Job-ready Workforce

A key part of this vision is serving as the national voice for the innovative and inclusive training programs offered by colleges and institutes. These cutting-edge programs, including upskilling and reskilling initiatives, create fast and effective pathways to employment to address Canada’s critical labour shortages. They train the builders, makers, caregivers, first responders, and innovators shaping Canada’s economic future.

Why does this matter? Because a job-ready workforce is the only way to meet Canada’s – and the world’s – biggest challenges.

The Challenge: Build More Homes

Building a typical home involves more than 30 different skilled trades and technical occupations, from carpenters to painters, plumbers to electricians, masons to roofers and on-site managers, many of which are expected to retire by 2028. Preparation for these jobs comes directly from colleges and institutes.

In fact, as experts in hands-on learning, colleges and institutes offer over 300 pre-apprenticeship programs in over 20 skilled trades. And, over 80 of those programs are designed to support groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the trades.

Harnessing the full potential of colleges and institutes to develop the homebuilding workforce will be key to realizing the success and greater downstream impact of federal housing investments.

The Challenge: Build Better Homes

Boosting innovation and labour productivity is pivotal for the future of Canada’s construction sector. According to a new report by economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada may face declining living standards if productivity does not improve, highlighting the construction sector as a particular concern due to this moribund productivity.

Colleges and institutes with strong community ties and expertise in skills training, applied research, and technology transfer, are essential partners in driving progress. They are building and reskilling the technical workforce required to meet future demands and build better homes through cutting-edge, inclusive training, upskilling and reskilling programs.

Programs like the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, known for its focus on Red Seal trades and sustainable construction and SAIT’s School of Construction with its comprehensive offerings in everything from design to operations, provide students with the advanced skills required to drive housing innovation.

To further support educators in delivering the skills shaping the construction sector—particularly in sustainability—CICan recently launched four Green Training Modules. These free modules equip educators with the tools to integrate climate awareness, eco-friendly practices, and Indigenous perspectives into their lessons, preparing students to build smart, sustainable housing that addresses environmental and community needs.

Colleges and institutes also play a role in driving innovative, sustainable research. For example, BCIT’s High Performance Building Lab explores designs and technologies to reduce energy consumption while enhancing comfort, while Cégep de Trois-Rivières is developing bio-based materials like hemp concrete to support greener, more energy-efficient construction.

Investing in the homebuilding workforce Canada needs

Looking ahead, CICan is focused on securing increased federal funding for college and-institute-based skills and training initiatives. We are calling for investments that accelerate housing construction while enhancing productivity and innovation in the construction workforce. Our fall 2024 recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance include expanding training opportunities and pathways in trades, supporting business innovation, and modernizing critical skills infrastructure.

Read: Canada’s Colleges and Institutes: Partners in Building Productivity

By fully leveraging colleges and institutes as high-value partners, Canada can equip its construction sector with the modern skills and innovative practices needed to drive productivity and build more and better homes faster.

Colourful leaf-shaped shapes are pointed in different directions. A scientist holding a plant appears in the middle of the image.

Home / Archive by category "Boosting Innovation" ( / Page 2)

August 6, 2024

Modernizing Canada’s Federal Funding Ecosystem to Drive Impact

Canada’s research and innovation landscape is ready for an overhaul. For years, Canada’s public research and development (R&D) spending has trailed behind other Group of Seven (G7) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and we’re missing out on realizing the full benefits of our research right here at home.

But here’s the good news: change is on the horizon.

The Government of Canada wants to create a new capstone research funding organization to enhance the impact of federal funding. The goal is to improve coordination among diverse research actors and foster collaboration to address emerging challenges – a move that hits all the right notes with our sector!

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)’s Perspective: Anchoring Impact

In response to the Government’s request for feedback on the design of the new organization, CICan consulted its National Applied Research Committee, comprising vice presidents and deans of applied research from colleges and institutes across Canada.

Our recommendations focus on how the new organization can ensure the benefits of Canadian research are captured and retained within the country, driving both community and economic returns. We also highlighted how colleges and institutes are ideally positioned for mission-driven research, creating real-world solutions through partner-focused, efficient, and specialized research – a unique approach that yields practical benefits for Canadians.

On the Blog: Canada’s Research and Innovation Group Chat Needs Colleges and Institutes. Challenge-driven research mobilizes college and institute applied research expertise, their networks of partners across sectors, and state-of-the-art facilities to develop solutions for Canada’s biggest challenges.

Our key recommendations include:

Identify and Address Research Gaps: Clearly define the problems and gaps the new organization is designed to solve, prioritizing the anchoring of research benefits in Canada.
Inform Structure with Stakeholder Needs: Tailor the new organization’s strategy and mandate to meet the needs of small-and medium-sized enterprises and underserved communities, including Indigenous groups.
Expand Research Capacity: Support historically excluded groups in conducting impact-oriented research.
Ensure Strong Organizational Capacity: Dedicate appropriate expertise and operational resources to the capstone organization.
Provide Proper Investment: Provide the organization with a reasonable stand-alone budget that enables it to support its objectives.

For our full list of recommendations and detailed insights on the essential role of colleges and institutes, explore our submission here.

Category: Boosting Innovation

It’s Go Time: Bold Action for Canada

The Big Conversations

The Road Ahead

Meeting Canada’s Moment

Coming Together When It Matters