Canada has received an overall “D” grade in terms of innovation, according to a Conference Board of Canada report released this morning.
The board looked at 16 countries and measured how they ranked in terms of 21 separate indicators. Canada came in at number 13.
“Despite a decade or so of innovation agendas and prosperity reports, Canada remains near the bottom of the pack among its peers on innovation,” said Conference Board president and CEO Daniel Muzyka.
“While governments, other organizations and individuals have done many things right, the gaps in innovation investment and activities create serious consequences for our economy and society.”
Muzyka explained that Canada has reached a point where these gaps are seriously impacting the wealth and opportunities for future generations.
Canada received no “A” grades on any of the indicators. It received Bs for:
- scientific articles;
- new firm density;
- public R&D spending;
- top-cited papers index;
- ease of entrepreneurship index; and
- government online services index.
The country received 13 Ds, for such indicators as patents by population, venture capital and connectivity.
Muzyka said there are some bright spots.
“It may seem counterintuitive due to our low overall ranking, but Canada actually gets above-average grades on the quality of its scientific research and the creation of new businesses,” he said.
“But these signs of promise are not being turned into commercially viable products and services, and successfully, globally competitive companies are not emerging from our creative ideas.”
Switzerland, Sweden and the U.S. all received overall “A” grades.
