Canada’s path to technology sovereignty requires a fundamental shift from being a nation that invents for the world to one that can build for itself, protect its creations, and support domestic procurement and competition, according to the Balsillie Survey, a survey of Canada’s technology governance conducted by the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
“The Balsillie Survey provides critical policy-related feedback that is crucial for achieving Canada’s technology sovereignty,” said Ann Fitz-Gerald, director of Balsillie School of International Affairs. “The survey draws a convergence of reflections from industry, policy and research communities which, if addressed, will greatly support Canadian industry.”
The inaugural survey, “Securing Canada’s Technology Sovereignty,” captures common frustrations with current federal strategies relating to procurement, funding, talent retention and barriers to commercialization. Key findings of the report discuss the procurement gap, regulatory fog, the importance of trust, the disconnect between research inputs and economic outcomes, and outdated categories of critical technology sectors.
A majority of survey participants (61.11%) confirmed that they had faced major barriers in moving innovations from research to market, with some citing a risk-averse culture where domestic enterprises hesitate to adopt local start-up solutions. Nearly 30% of respondents found Canada’s regulatory framework to be “unclear” or “very unclear,” with some describing it as a “hodgepodge” of reactive, “feel-good regulations” that add administrative bloat without technical substance.
The survey provides six recommendations that include a call for Canada to create a central innovation agency or crown corporation tasked with focusing, tracking and driving a unified national research strategy. It calls for diversified economic partnerships, reforms to the domestic procurement system, and a comprehensive governance framework that protects data, intellectual property and AI systems.
“We are grateful to our students, partners and the Balsillie Family Foundation for supporting the development of this important initiative,” said Ann Fitz-Gerald.
The Balsillie Survey was developed with the assistance of master’s and PhD students from Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo studying at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. The survey was reviewed and approved by Wilfrid Laurier University’s Research Ethics Board (#9274).
For media inquiries:
Saad Hammadi
Manager, Policy and Advocacy, BSIA
shammadi@balsillieschool.ca