September 28, 2021
Moving beyond invention towards equitable innovation
蓝莓视频 Innovation Summit challenges us to think past traditional innovation models to create a more prosperous future for all Canadians
鈥�Innovation is not invention,听and is not only new high-tech gadgets,鈥� said听Dan听Breznitz,听as he kicked off his keynote at the听蓝莓视频 Innovation Summit听on September 28.听It is听"the complete process of taking new ideas and devising new or improved products and services.鈥�鈥�
Breznitz听is the听chair of Innovation Studies at the University of Toronto and author of a new book听titled,听Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World.听He joined听the听Summit鈥痮n social and economic prosperity听in conversation with听奥补迟别谤濒辞辞鈥檚听President,听Dr. Vivek Goel, to discuss the process of innovation and challenge the audience to look at new models of innovation-based growth that enable communities to recognize their own advantages听in the global market.听
Breznitz听told to听a听virtual crowd of more than 150 that leaders and policymakers听often听aspire to copy the high-tech model created in Silicon Valley, but not only is Silicon Valley impossible to recreate,鈥�it is fraught with inequities. He explained that听鈥�the miracle鈥�, or听breakthrough听idea, is just one stage of the innovation process.听It听does not听on its own听drive localized social and economic听prosperity听because听inventions do not create jobs or local re-investment听unless they are nurtured and developed further.
The innovation challenge for Canada, said听Breznitz,听is that we鈥檙e very good at invention听and research, but we need to move beyond invention to scale prototypes for commercialization.
Reducing barriers to innovation听
Dynamic change happens when policy transforms alongside the communities and innovators shaping our听nation.听The Summit鈥檚 panel explored how businesses and governments听must听do a better job at听engaging听new voices and听reducing听barriers听if we want to move beyond听our听current听innovation听models听and听champion听equity and听social impact.听
Jacob Glick, vice president听of听public policy at TELUS听and听senior executive fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation听(CIGI), explained that 鈥渋nnovation isn鈥檛 an end goal, but a means to an end鈥� that benefits society. He noted that our current听Canadian听process is not equitable, particularly when it comes to infrastructure. Rural and Indigenous communities have less access to infrastructure, like broadband and 5G technologies,听that听are听readily available in urban centres. He noted听that听this is听a solvable problem听that can be fixed with better policy and planning.
Tabatha Bull, CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, agreed that policies supporting more equitable infrastructure needs听to听be听prioritized. She added that equitable access to financing needs to be addressed. She听has seen that听Indigenous innovators are far too often听viewed听as 鈥渞iskier鈥� from a lender perspective, putting them at a disadvantage.
The panelists discussed听how听Canadian businesses and governments听should听prioritize more voices and diverse thinking when it comes to innovation.听Bessma听Momani,听professor at鈥�the听University of 蓝莓视频听and听senior fellow at听CIGI, said that Canada should 鈥渢ap into the talent鈥� already within our society. She noted that racialized and immigrant communities bring different perspectives and experiences that challenge our old ways of thinking and spur听more听innovation.听
鈥淏uild back better鈥�听
As we move through the pandemic, Momani noted that 鈥渂uild back better鈥� has become a global mantra听鈥� a听recognition that our old models were not working and need to be improved. The听great听news, she said, is that there is no shortage of good ideas or talent听in Canada, but we do need political will and听social protection听policies听to make meaningful听economic听change.
The pandemic has shown us just how resilient and innovative鈥痺e are鈥痺hen faced with a global鈥痗hallenge. It has also鈥痵hined a spotlight on鈥痶he鈥痠ssues鈥痑nd inequities鈥痠n our society鈥痶hat can鈥痭o鈥痩onger鈥痓e ignored.听The conversations听at the 蓝莓视频 Innovation Summit听have听articulated听how听we can change our听innovation听models to be more equitable听and prosperous.听Industries and governments must embrace new perspectives and policies that support听innovation听that improves the quality of life for all Canadians.鈥�听
