Innovation Superclusters Initiative
Resources for Canadian businesses
The challenge
When small, medium-sized and large companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations come together to generate bold ideas, Canadians benefit from more well-paying jobs, groundbreaking research and a world-leading innovation economy that creates global market leaders.
That's why the Government of Canada challenged Canadian businesses of all sizes to collaborate with other innovation actors, including post-secondary and research institutions, to propose bold and ambitious strategies that would transform regional innovation ecosystems and develop job-creating Superclusters of innovation, like Silicon Valley.
Canada's five Superclusters —Digital Technology, Protein Industries (PIC), Next Generation Manufacturing (NGen), Scale AI, and Ocean — were announced in 2018 with $950M over 5 years to incent large-scale collaboration among industry leaders, SMEs and post-secondary institutions, to develop and scale high-potential technologies in Canada. The $950 million investment is being matched dollar for dollar by the private sector in these five Superclusters.
Superclusters: Transforming Canada's innovation economy (video)
Related information
Fostering collaboration and delivering results
Since the launch of Canada's Superclusters, we see the impact these bold, supercharged ecosystems are having. Through collaboration, companies of all sizes, academics, incubators and innovators are helping Canada build a strong, global brand.
With projects that range from self-driving sanitizing robots to the latest technology to keep our oceans safe and healthy, the Superclusters are leading the way in important areas where Canada has a potential for significant competitive advantage. Here are just a few of our early results.
The results
- 265+ projects approved
- including over 80 projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total investment of almost $270M
- Over $1.1B co-invested, with almost $660M invested by industry and other partners
- 830+ project partners, including more than 440 small and medium-sized enterprises
- 4,600+ members across Canada
- 6,100+ jobs created and on track to exceed target of 50,000 jobs created over 10 years
Data current as of November 30, 2020.
Benefits of Superclusters
Meet the Superclusters
What people are saying
"We are thrilled to officially launch Canada's first-ever Digital Technology Supercluster and to join forces with employers in key industries throughout B.C. and across Canada. Our agreement with the Government of Canada's Innovation Superclusters Initiative, along with signed member agreements with our initial cohort of members, brings the total amount of committed funding to more than $360 million. Our leadership team and Board of Directors are excited to launch ambitious collaborative projects that will propel Canada to be a global leader in our digitally driven future."
– Sue Paish, CEO, Digital Technology Supercluster
"The global demand for plant-based protein continues to grow at a rapid pace and the signing of the contribution agreement will allow Protein Industries Canada to help industry seize this opportunity. We are very excited to move onto the next phase of our Supercluster efforts and to work with industry to identify and support the projects that will establish Canada as a global leader in plant-based proteins."
– Bill Greuel, CEO, Protein Industries Canada
"Whether it's the Internet of things, AI and machine learning, robotics, lasers, 3D printing or new materials, advanced technologies are revolutionizing the business of manufacturing. The Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster aims to leverage Canada's strengths in these fields by building collaboration among manufacturing and technology companies, large and small, our world-class research, education and innovation networks, and business services. Through its Innovation Superclusters Initiative, the federal government will help to boost the competitiveness of our manufacturing sector, support the emergence of new global technology champions and create high-paying job opportunities for Canadians in Canada."
– Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen
Join the conversation
Contact information
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