On October 14, 2010, the federal government established an independent expert panel to solicit advice on maximizing the effectiveness of federal programs that contribute to innovation and create economic opportunities for business. The panel will look at three types of federal initiatives:
- Tax incentive programs, such as the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program
- Programs that support business research and revelopment (R&D) through both general support (e.g., Industrial Research Assistance Program) and sector-specific support (e.g., Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative)
- Programs that support business R&D through federal granting councils and other departments and agencies, including research at universities and colleges (e.g., Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research)
The panel has six members and is chaired by Thomas Jenkins, Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of Open Text. The other panel members are Dr. Bev Dahlby of the University of Alberta, Dr. Arvind Gupta of the University of British Columbia, Mrs. Monique F. Leroux of the Desjardins Group, Dr. David Naylor of the University of Toronto and Mrs. Nobina Robinson of Polytechnics Canada.
The review will build on the evidence presented in Innovation and Business Strategy: Why Canada Falls Short. The panel will report back to the Minister of State (Science and Technology) in one year with recommendations to enhance Canadian business innovation.
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