Denise Amyot, CEO and President of Colleges and Institutes Canada
Innovation is critical to the success of almost everything. Sustained economic growth, business development, research and even evolving communities all depend on innovative individuals and practices for success. Canada's colleges and institutes are a particularly dynamic part of this success, touching all aspects of the innovation agenda.
This contribution is not always obvious, yet there can be no doubt that our member institutions play an absolutely essential role in driving innovation in Canada. Their activities go well beyond providing Canadians with the skills they need to succeed in the evolving job market. Colleges and institutes also contribute to innovation by conducting leading-edge applied research projects, supporting social innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
In recognition of colleges and institutes leadership in this area, Canada has seen a sizable increase in funding to support innovation in communities across the country. For example, last November, the Government of Canada launched the Community and College Social Innovation Fund, a pilot program providing $15-million in support of research in areas such as education, integration of vulnerable populations and community development.
We were thrilled to hear Minister of State for Science and Technology Ed Holder explain that the fund would "connect the innovative talent of researchers and students at colleges and polytechnics to meet the research needs of local community organizations to build stronger, safer, healthier communities."
These kinds of collaborations are at the very heart of the Canadian model of technical and professional education. Whether it is to ensure curricula respond to industry standards and local business needs or to develop innovative research projects, partnerships play a key role in all colleges and institutes.
The extent to which colleges and institutes are embedded in their communities ensures that innovation comes from the ground up, across 670 specialized research centres and labs that last year tackled projects in 1,083 areas of research.
Private-sector partnerships with colleges have grown significantly over the past five years, with a number of large companies and microenterprises joining small and medium enterprises since 2013.
It is no surprise then that 5,633 companies partnered with colleges and institutes on applied research projects in the last year alone. The benefits are significant, whether it is to help test a new technology or develop a new product or process.
In return, college students get practical experience, driving innovation hand in hand with industry, preparing them for meaningful careers. Last year, 32,093 students took part in applied research projects in many different sectors.
In the social innovation context, the same hands-on approach applies. With new funding, colleges and institutes are actively working to reshape their communities, tackling social challenges in partnership with local businesses, community organizations and government agencies.
This particular form of innovation is so important to nurture that we have recently launched a truly innovative Social Finance project that will explore ways to further support pay-for-performance mechanisms linking colleges, governments and private sector partners.
As you will read in a number of the articles that follow, entrepreneurship is another way by which colleges and institutes support innovation. Entrepreneurial values are integrated across many programs, encouraging students to innovate while preparing them to be self-employed, and providing direct support to entrepreneurs through business incubators.
For all these reasons, colleges and institutes play a key role in leading the innovation agenda across Canada. Their impact is felt in each of the 3,000 communities they reach, where they contribute to economic growth and prosperity while developing the tools required to ensure innovation is sustained.
For more information, visit www.collegesinstitutes.ca.
This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.