16,000 +

research and innovation projects funded

$250M

invested in 2019-20

$858M +

invested in the last 10 years

33,000

researchers in our network

6,000 +

organizations

117

post-secondary partners

6,000 +

international research internships

1,450 +

professional skills courses

22,000 +

training participants
Social Innovation. Abstract Men and Woman Heads with gears and LightBulb icons.
Blog

What is the secret

to meaningful innovation?

Takeaways

  • According to the Global Innovation Index 2020, collaboration among academic institutions, researchers, and businesses is a key driver of innovation.
  • Narrowing the labour market gap for people with disabilities could boost Canada’s real GDP by roughly $50 billion and create close to 450,000 net new jobs.
  • Arts and culture contribute more than $57 billion to the Canadian economy and represent close to 673,000 jobs.

Not all innovations are born equal. Some are modest upgrades to existing ideas and technology, while others disrupt entire industries and alter the course of history. 

Take ChatGPT.  

The trending AI marvel seemed to emerge overnight, reaching 100 million users just two months after launch. But like most innovative technologies, it took years of collaborative research to turn the stuff of science fiction into mind-melting reality and potentially revolutionize the way we interact with machines. 

So, what can you do to lead meaningful innovation in your industry? 

According to a report, companies that form collaborative alliances and integrate creativity, analytics, and purpose experience twice the growth of their competitors, even in the most turbulent times — regardless of industry, sector, or geographical region. Yet only 7% of businesses and enterprises put this in practice. 

In celebration of Canadian Innovation Week, Mitacs is spotlighting four breakthrough innovations resulting from powerful collaboration between industry and academia. These interdisciplinary teams are combining lived experience with data and intentionality to set a benchmark in meaningful innovation. 

Let’s dive into their incredible stories and learn from their success! 

1. This team is using non-traditional methods to drive social change. 

Art and culture are a catalyst for social change. But how do you measure their impact using traditional methods? A team of researchers from Emily Carr University is addressing this challenge by looking at how programming centred around Indigenous cultural knowledge generates access, community, and connection. 

 

2. This team is propelling a new era of quantum innovation. 

Canada sits on the edge of a quantum revolution — thanks to an ambitious national strategy and a wealth of research talent. As we inch closer to a quantum-powered future, Mitacs is deploying top academic experts into the quantum industry, creating an ecosystem where quantum innovation can thrive. 

These efforts have already yielded significant breakthroughs for companies like Ki3 Photonics Technologies and SBQuantum, who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 

 

3. This team is creating access and visibility for persons with disabilities. 

Over 6 million Canadians live with some form of disability. Yet most companies lack the hiring and retention strategies needed to unleash their true potential. A Saskatchewan-based researcher is changing the status quo by developing social entrepreneurship training programs for persons with disabilities — and setting a benchmark in inclusive innovation across Canada and the world. 

 

4. This team is building a greener world for future generations. 

Canada has ranked 2nd on the 2023 Global Cleantech Innovation Index — thanks in part to the country’s clean energy sector which is expected to grow by 16% annually and reach $46 billion by 2025. To meet these targets, Mitacs is helping cleantech companies experiment, commercialize, and succeed, by turning to Canada’s greatest resource: a diverse talent pool. 

 

Two minds can spark a conversation, but four can spark a revolution. 

These projects are evidence that innovation is rarely the result of a single individual or organization, but rather a collaborative effort that draws on the strengths of multiple people with unique perspectives — from academic researchers, engineers, and social scientists to industry experts, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. 

As the innovation ecosystem grows and evolves, so does our potential to discover new ideas and knowledge — and our capacity to develop better solutions

If you’re looking for out-of-the-box thinkers for your innovation needs, grow your network and collaborate with exceptional research talent that can help you turn lofty ideas into achievable goals. 

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Mitacs Team

Mitacs’s website content is created by people throughout our organization, united in their passion for innovation and eager to share their perspectives with others in the innovation ecosystem. 

Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for over 20 years. Working with over 100 post-secondary institutions, more than 6,000 companies and not-for-profit organzations, and both federal and provincial governments, we build partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada. 

Organizations we have worked with

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