Innovation Supercluster Initiative Announced by Federal Government

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced today the launch of a $950 million innovation supercluster initiative.

This program, a centrepiece of the Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan, follows up on innovation commitments made by the federal government in its 2017 budget and represents an investment in innovation on a scale that has never been seen in Canada. The purpose of this initiative is to “create more middle-class jobs and more opportunities for Canadian businesses to grow into globally successful brands.”

The Government of Canada will work with industry through a business-led partnership model, aligning the efforts of diverse industries, researchers and intermediary institutions, building an ecosystem with advantages in regions across Canada.

This announcement follows on extensive consultations with industry, including CSCA and our membership, and we look forward to continuing to engage fully with the government as this program moves forward.

For more information on what this announcement means for the space industry, and to learn how you and your organization can be involved, please contact Michelle Mendes, Executive Director, Canadian Space Commerce Association: michelle.mendes@spacecommerce.ca.

Further details

• Government news release (English | French)
• Innovation Superclusters Initiative homepage (English | French)
• Register for an ISED-hosted information session (English | French)
• Federal Innovation and Skills Plan (English | French)

About the Canadian Space Commerce Association

The Canadian Space Commerce Association (CSCA) is the national association representing the space industry in Canada. The Association represents industry, academia, government, professionals, young entrepreneurs and all stakeholders in the space industry, locally, nationally and internationally. The purpose of the CSCA is to support economic, legal, political and educational interests that advance the Canadian Space and Defence sector. The CSCA has been a registered not-for-profit industry organization since 2007.

Learn more at: http://www.spacecommerce.ca/