Designing Innovation Policy Mixes to Support High-Growth Firms

Description

Despite today's challenging conditions, Canada continues to identify and support high-growth firms with a view to increasing its market share. High-growth firms not only hire more employees, but they noticeably lead in productivity and innovation—especially in the digital and clean technology sectors. Lately, there has been an increase in unicorn companies and initial public offerings, leaving Canada to build upon this momentum and not lag behind other countries.

This event examines what high-growth firms represent to the Canadian economy and why innovation is so difficult to support through government programs. Participants will learn about the barriers that prevent companies from becoming high-growth firms, the potential of program evaluation for identifying the next generation of high-growth firms, and the various ways policy instruments can be improved.

Speakers

• Kieron Flanagan, Professor of Science and Technology Policy, Alliance Manchester Business School – Innovation Management and Policy Division, University of Manchester (pre-recorded interview)
• Steven Denney, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto (pre-recorded interview)
• Adam Froman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Delvinia
• Krista Jones, Founding Executive, Momentum, and Vice President, Venture Services, MaRS Discovery District
• David A. Wolfe, Co-Director, Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto

Moderator

Neil Bouwer, Vice-President, Innovation and Skills Development Branch, Canada School of Public Service