Transcript Canadian Chamber of Commerce

The Canadian Chamber
of Commerce
Canada’s Opportunities and Barriers for
Success
May 12, 2011
Toronto, Ontario
Chris Gray
Director, Innovation Policy
[email protected]
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Our Members
– Corporate Members
– 420 Chambers
– Associations
• Representing businesses of every size,
from every sector and every region in
Canada
• Mandate = Canadian Competitiveness
• Priority Files
• Canadian IP Council
2011Federal Election
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY
•
Majority government should make
lobbying more stable for four years.
•
Harper’s mandate will develop over the
next few months.
•
Responsibility to deliver for business.
•
“Orange Crush” in Quebec.
•
Chamber calling for a pro-growth
strategy.
•
Government will set cabinet posts in the
coming days, most likely return to
work on May 30th or June 6th – Throne
Speech, Budget.
Canada’s Business Game Plan
• Canada is an economic leader among the G8 nations.
• Decent growth due to global demand for
commodities and better than expected expansion in
United States.
• More than 300,000 jobs added to the Canadian
economy in the last twelve months.
• With the loonie trading at or above par for the
balance of 2011, Canadian businesses will be under
more pressure to improve productivity to compete.
• Corporate tax reductions.
Conference Board of Canada Report
• Still lagging in productivity and living standards,
loonie’s rise has helped somewhat.
• Canada continues to invest less in machinery and
equipment than other major industrialized nations.
• Remain at the back of the pack on labour
productivity, a key economic challenge for Canada.
• Income gap between Canada-U.S. has narrowed, but
it and productivity gap forecast to grow again.
• Lagging investment ranks Canada 12th out of 17
countries.
Intellectual Property in Canada
• Effective criminal and civil enforcement requires
policy and legislation.
• In 2007, two Parliamentary Committees (Industry
and Public Safety) issued unanimous reports that
called on the government to take action.
• Canada continues to lag in digital business
innovation and investors are unwilling to embrace
new business models built on a shaky IPR legal
framework.
• Launched the Canadian IP Council in 2008.
Canada & IP
Most Innovative Economy
R&D funding in 2010
In 2007, Canadian culture and
creative sector estimated at
in the culture and creative sector
IP for Innovation and
Economic Growth
• Over 15,000 people are directly employment by the
more than 50 research-based pharmaceutical
companies in Canada. These companies contribute an
annual $4 billion to the Canadian economy.
• In the Kitchener-Waterloo region, 400 high-tech
companies (whose strengths are in software,
microelectronics and telecommunications) generate
revenues of $4.6 billion annually and employ 15,000
people.
• In BC, approximately 6,000 companies, active in the
information and communications technologies sector,
generate revenues of $9 billion and employ about
46,000 people.
IP for Innovation and
Economic Growth
• International Chamber report – February 2011
IPR:
–
benefit the economy;
–
promotes innovation;
–
helps firms monetize their
innovations and grow; and
–
helps SMEs grow.
• IP represents 4-11% of
GDP in G8 countries
R & D panel – CCC priority issues
• Government has a definite role to play, but businesses must also
continue to evolve their business models with a greater focus on
innovation.
• Government programs, like the Science Research and
Experimental Development (SR&ED) program, are key to the
early success for many Canadian companies.
• Venture capital is also a key element.
• Ownership of intellectual property is of principal importance to
a successful business/post-secondary partnership. There should
be one model that is used across the board.
• Adoption of smart technologies.
Economic Impact of IP theft
in Canada
Barriers to Increasing Competitiveness
•
•
•
•
•
Weak intellectual property rights laws
Inter-provincial trade barriers
Lack of start-up capital
Immigration policies
Lack of skilled workers
CCC’s Economic Edge Conference
• What can government do to better position Canada for future
growth in ICT e-business adoption?
• How can we work together to better make the link between
technology companies and venture capital?
• Can universities and colleges finally come up with one good
model for the commercialization of research? Bridging the gap
between universities/business/incubators.
• What conclusions will come from the government’s federal
review of R&D in Canada?
• Is Canada a leader or laggard in green/smart innovation?
The Path Forward for Canada
Competitive
business
agenda
Promote
Canada’s
advantages
Encourage
growth and
innovation for
businesses of
all sizes