Government of Canada invests $29 million in Talent Innovation Canada to anchor commercial success and accelerate homegrown innovation

Canada’s future competitiveness depends on how effectively we translate talent and research into real-world innovation, sovereign capability and economic growth.

Yesterday’s investment by the Government of Canada in Talent Innovation Canada (TICAN) recognizes that universities are essential to developing the highly skilled talent that drives the country’s innovation economy.

Canadian universities perform over $19 billion in research and development annually, which accounts for more than 33 percent of Canada’s total R&D, the highest share among G7 nations. While Canada excels at discovery, Canadian small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) often struggle to compete with multinational firms that have the scale and resources to absorb risk and advance the commercialization of new patents.

By creating pathways for graduate students to apply their expertise in real-world settings, TICAN equips employers with the talent needed to scale rapidly. This bridges the gap between research and industry, preventing intellectual property leakage and ensuring the economic benefits of Canadian innovation remain at home.