Official Launch of the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program

The Honourable Christian Paradis, PC, MP
Minister of Industry

Ottawa, Ontario
November 14, 2011

Speaking Points

Check Against Delivery

Thank you for the kind introduction. And thank you to Boomerang Kids Consignment Shop for hosting us here today.

Mr. Ciobanu, Mr. McDougall, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Meek, distinguished guests, it is a privilege to join you here to celebrate the launch of the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program.

Back in June, our government announced funding for this initiative as an important component of our Digital Economy Strategy.

As the minister responsible, I am sincerely pleased to be able to deliver on that commitment.

Ladies and gentlemen, our government was given a strong mandate to continue to focus on creating jobs and growth. During these challenging economic times, this is our priority and that of Canadians.

Part of this mandate—a big part—involves creating jobs and stimulating growth through the promotion of digital technologies.

No matter what sector of the economy you look at, digital technologies allow companies to be more innovative, productive and competitive.

There are inventory tracking systems that allow firms to track and manage parts and products without the need to enter a warehouse. There are robotics on assembly lines that allow even small firms to produce more goods with fewer resources. And there is the digitization of processes that allows all firms to have access to new markets—both locally and abroad.

It's becoming increasingly common to have employees located in different parts of the world all working together on the same project—from concept development to design to assembly.

But despite all of these positive benefits for business, Canadian firms have not been reaching their potential. In terms of information and communications technologies, Canadian firms invest at approximately 60 percent the rate of their U.S. counterparts on a per-worker basis.

I think it's fair to say that many smaller firms understand that technology is changing the way businesses operate. But there is still uncertainty around which investments will meet an individual firm's specific needs. There are so many new technologies out there that it can be hard to determine which ones will be of most benefit to your business.

Turning this around—creating an environment in which Canada's private sector increasingly adopts new digital technologies and integrates them into normal business practices—is what is needed.

The Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program is a key component in making the move toward greater adoption.

This $80-million, three-year pilot program will be administered by National Research Council Canada through its well-known and successful Industrial Research Assistance Program. It will help small and medium-sized enterprises integrate digital technologies into their business models—spurring innovation and increasing productivity.

The Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program will provide much-needed advice and guidance to small businesses on what types of digital technologies are best suited to their business objectives.

It will also provide financial assistance to more than 600 firms to support the integration of the technology into their operations after they've made that important decision to adopt a digital technology.

As a complement to NRC's network of expert advisors, the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program will also partner with colleges to support firms with digital technology adoption.

As many of you are aware, colleges provide technology expertise, cutting-edge facilities and a rich supply of students that can assist with the adoption process.

Engaging colleges in digital technology adoption projects will provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to enhance their technical skill set—a benefit that will endure long after their participation in the pilot program has ended.

To ensure the program is working as planned, information about the adoption process will be collected from pilot participants and through national surveys.

At the end of the three-year pilot period, we will have data and feedback on what types of support were most helpful to the participants as well as areas for improvement.

This information will be used to raise awareness among smaller firms of the importance of adopting digital technologies.

Ladies and gentlemen, increasing the rate of adoption of digital technologies is a critical part of our Digital Economy Strategy.

Through the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program and other initiatives such as the Business Development Bank of Canada's recent efforts to help entrepreneurs get businesses online, we are helping small and medium-sized enterprises to make informed decisions based on their business models and outlook for growth.

Our government is committed to ensuring that the right conditions are in place for businesses to succeed, as they continue to create jobs and strengthen our economy.

By working together—government, businesses and academia—we improve our chances of becoming leaders in the digital economy. Real leaders.

I'm eager to hear about the many successes this forward-looking program is destined to inspire.

Thank you.