Karima-Catherine Goundiam

It was great to gather last night at Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 celebration where I was a guest of fellow Innovation Governance Program cohort member and Fast 50 leader Anders McKenzie. Wonderful to reconnect and/or meet in-person with the Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs team members Skaidra Puodžiūnas, Gabriella B., and Patrice Oliveira. There was a fireside chat with Anders and PointClickCare's Founder and Executive Chair Mike Wessinger who shared his insights on bootstrapping a new startup, raising financing, focusing on the right markets. Key insights for me were: - don't capital-constrain your business by getting financing too late, and balance with retaining control - don't just chase financing, find the right people to have around the capital table, which means ones who are additive, are the right fit for you, and provide access to the right network - the two most important pieces of advice he gives to aspiring entrepreneurs - (a) focus on one thing, not the many many things, and (b) find true product-market fit for that thing. He also, without prompting, gave an impassioned plea to governments to be more supportive and enabling for Canada's tech, innovation and entrepreneurship sector. Yes, this was driven, at least in part, by the recent changes to the inclusion rate on the capital gains tax (cited as hostile to business) but what came through to me was his love of the country and desire to enable us to create the conditions that will allow us to grow companies here, with all the benefits that come from that. For those wanting to apply to the Technology Fast 50 program - the deadline is June 7 and you can apply here: https://lnkd.in/g5SbDf3g

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Innovation360 is excited to announce our latest initiative with SmartTO, as part of the OVIN program. As described below, the 2025 SmartTO Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity for iterative dialogue around the transportation mobility sector. After months of design work and an open ideation exercise, we’re inviting an extended community of innovators, thought leaders, and experts to help us to finalize a view of the core challenges in the sector. Why you should participate o Engage with industry leaders from Ontario Canada and from around the world o Test your ideas, get and provide feedback on industry evolution through iterative dialogue o Gain insight into core business challenges facing the transportation mobility environment, and o Connect with Ontario-based organizations. More information is provided below.  

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Yesterday, I joined FutureFit AI CEO Hamoon Ekhtiari and Assistant Deputy Ministers from across the government at the Canada School of Public Service | École de la fonction publique du Canada to talk about how to make Canada better We had a chance to discuss innovation and productivity and why we need a prosperity strategy for every generation. My message to our public service partners was simple: without smart industrial policy, strong investment, pathways to commercialization, and the collaboration of government and industry, Canadians' prosperity will continue to erode. Canadians per capita are now 25% poorer than Americans, 20% poorer than Australians and 20% poorer than Danes. Now is the time for Canada to catch up with its peers and be strategic about scaling our most promising firms. When examining policy, programming, and funding, Canada's innovation policy just needs a simple framing. Does it lead to 1 or these 3 things: Is it generating ideas (IP) for Canada, retaining ideas (IP) in Canada, and commercializing those ideas (IP) through domestic firms in Canada? If you orientate around those three premises, you get most of the innovation policy stuff right. Wealth and prosperity in the twenty-first century is possible for Canada - as a nation, we just need to fix our orientation!

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Great to see my 2022 report "Canada's Moonshot: Solving Grand Challenges Through Transformational Innovation" cited in this blog by Tim Draimin for Social Innovation Canada. As Tim argues "Our innovation policy will ultimately determine how well our country navigates a very complex global and national future buffeted by a polycrisis rippling with environmental, social, economic and geo-strategic challenges". I couldn't agree more. In the report, I argued for a shift towards a more intentional approach to our innovation policy toolkit - understanding that not all innovation is equal in its outcomes, and some of the challenges we face will never be profitable areas to focus on unless the government plays a more hands-on market-shaping role. The case for this shift is as strong as ever. You can read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/gBdPskvh And can read my original report for the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship (now The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University) here: https://lnkd.in/gQwxtY_C

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New from The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, check out our collaboration with Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures the first Canada-wide company-level look at how AI is impacting productivity. And thanks to The Logic for covering this work. Stay tuned for our next report in collaboration with the Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures in January, on how and which workers are best positioned to take advantage of the AI opportunity https://lnkd.in/ergBxhnw

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For those interested, I am doing a talk this afternoon in downtown Toronto, for the Ulyssean Society for Lifelong Learning, on Climate Change & Innovation (for the non-specialist). Attendance is open to all; details to attend in person or via Zoom are below: The Ulyssean Society presents: Climate Change: Why we must and how we can embrace innovative solutions. Sunday, July 21st, 2024, 2 - 4 pm, 15 McMurrich St., Toronto (near Yonge and Davenport) Zoom: https://lnkd.in/gewB3mGV In person or by Zoom (details below) We are now hearing about climate change almost every day and it is being associated with heat waves, early hurricane seasons, and immense wildfires. How does climate change happen and, more importantly, what can we do to turn things around? Brian Jantzi will introduce greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect, describe how climate change happens, and its key causes and drivers. He will discuss the consequences of inaction, and difficulties we face in modifying how we do things, the politics of change and economic tools that can help grease the wheels of change. He will discuss and illustrate opportunities for new ways of doing things that springboard multiple benefits for people beyond the climate benefits. And importantly, he will discuss simple, non-rocket-science things a person can do to help reduce greenhouse emissions. Brian Jantzi is a chemist, economist, mathematician, educator and singer-songwriter, who over a lifetime has helped change the world with his imaginative inter-connected cross-sectoral approaches to solving problems of air pollution, climate change and related social inequity. He is considered to be the Canadian godfather-pioneer of the international greenhouse gas (carbon) credit market and smog-related pollution reduction trading market. His pioneering climate change mitigation work has prevented the atmospheric accumulation of 2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases (equivalent to the total emissions from every Canadian person’s & organization’s activity over three years). Please RSVP… Let us know if you are coming in person or by zoom. The cost is $5 or pay what you can. You can pay at the door or by e-transfer to [email protected] We hope to see you there, Eleanor Eleanor Friedland President, The Ulyssean Society “Commit yourself to life-long learning. The most valuable asset you will ever have is your mind and what you put into it.” – Albert Einstein In Person 15 McMurrich St, Toronto Near Davenport and Yonge Paid parking available next door. To Join the Zoom Meeting By computer or zoom app on your phone: https://lnkd.in/gewB3mGV By Phone: • +1 647 374 4685 Canada • +1 647 558 0588 Canada Find your local number: https://lnkd.in/g-qCdUr5 Meeting ID: 727 764 8735 Passcode: 111238

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Really interesting blog on economic complexity and Canada's weaknesses and opportunities. The Atlas of Economic Complexity from Harvard's Growth Lab is a great resource to explore this: https://lnkd.in/gyYjR-e5 It includes a ton of data and some really interesting visualizations to explore every country's export basket, its economic complexity, their product space and potential growth opportunities. It recommends a "Parsimonious Industrial Policy Approach" for Canada that addresses bottlenecks and helps jump short distances into related, and more complex, products.

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Great opinion piece. "...it is increasingly clear that you can’t have a thriving innovation economy without industrial policy." (FYI - Industrial policy is government policy to encourage the development and growth of part of the economy in pursuit of some public goal.) For the future of Canada: AI, the environment, food security, housing, military, education, and healthcare all need industrial policy that is focused on the public goal of protecting the natural world. A larger discussion, but this public goal definitely includes the military, space exploration, education and healthcare.

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🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Quebec takes a historic step towards national digital identity! #Bill82 #DigitalQuebec 🌟 Quebec modernizes its digital services! #DigitalTransformation #Innovation Minister @ÉricCaire has just tabled Bill 82 on national digital identity, a major transformation for digital Quebec. 📱 A digital revolution for citizens: 🎯 Major investment of $101.8 million over 5 years 🔐 Enhanced government cybersecurity ⚡ Improved user experience for online services 💡 Major transformation axes: ✅ Unified government authentication ✅ Enhanced personal data protection ✅ More accessible and efficient digital services ✅ Modernized technological infrastructure 🛠️ Key objectives: 📌 Simplify access to government services 📌 Strengthen citizen data security 📌 Optimize public service efficiency 📌 Reduce environmental footprint 🌿 An important step towards a greener and more efficient government! This initiative positions Quebec as a leader in government digital transformation! 🚀 Share to inform your network about this major digital transformation in Quebec! 🔄 #DigitalQuebec #PublicService #DigitalGovernment #Innovation #Cybersecurity #DigitalTransformation #PublicModernization #TechQC #DigitalIdentity #SmartGov #OnlineServices #QuebecTech #Administration2_0 #ResponsibleDigital #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #InfoSecurity #QuebecGovernment #DigitalSecurity #DigitalTransformation #CyberSecurityQC #Tech #Digital #QuebecInnovation #PublicService #CyberSécurité #InfoSec #InfoSecurity

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Well worth a read for those in the Public Sector leading digital transformation.

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A new and thought-provoking report by Desjardins Economic Studies on the economic impact of AI in Canada. While there isn't much new, some of the points made are worth noting. You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/ghSK6Mqx One key takeaway that resonates is that "While Canada boasts top AI talent, its AI ecosystem was not built with adoption in mind". Having built up such a strong research ecosystem, we not only need to maintain that foundation but turn to how we can support companies to make the most of AI. The report also emphasizes the potential of AI in addressing societal challenges: "Unleashing AI to tackle pressing social issues like energy efficiency, homebuilding acceleration and aging‑related health challenges is another way governments could leverage local firms that specialize in AI. This would drive commercialization of homemade AI solutions adapted to local needs." This aligns perfectly with my arguments in "Canada's Moonshot: Solving grand challenges through transformational innovation". https://lnkd.in/gYQ95QUU In the report, I argue that we need to use our "innovation policy toolkit to intentionally direct, support, and fund innovation that solves the challenges we face" by making proper use of demand-side as well as supply-side tools. Doing that thoughtfully and with proper care to support the development and adoption of AI that addresses societal challenges would be a win-win. Another critical point from Desjardins is that "when it comes to attracting top AI talent, Canadian SMEs struggle to compete with large foreign tech companies on compensation, and SME surveys show that a lack of specialized skills are among the primary barriers to AI adoption." Programs like those offered by Mitacs can be game-changers here. By hosting exceptional talent from our universities and colleges for work-integrated learning placements, SMEs gain access to top-tier AI talent without the hefty costs and risks of direct hiring. This not only boosts AI adoption among SMEs but also provides invaluable industry experience to the next generation of innovation leaders. A win-win for everyone involved! With the right vision we can unlock the potential of AI to not only drive economic growth but also address some of our most pressing societal challenges. We need to push for policies and programs that support AI adoption - not just for its own sake but also to create solutions and markets where they are desperately needed.

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🌟 Key insights into Canadian tech companies 🌟 In collaboration with Leger, OVHcloud delved into the priorities and challenges shaping the future of Canadian tech companies as they strive for more efficiency and technological freedom. Key takeaways reveal that local data storage remains a top priority, transparency around cloud providers’ carbon footprints is in high demand, and many tech leaders feel constrained by US cloud providers. 📊 Discover more insights in the full report: 🔗 Download now https://lnkd.in/ds7JU9Ak #Innovation #DataSovereignty #AI #Sustainability #Cloud #Tech #DigitalTransformation

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This announcement is a day late and a dollar short. After 5 years of research into lies and misinformation, I can tell you the data is clear. Fighting misinformation online is never a bad thing to do (or fund), but pointing it out is well... pointless. Our federal and provincial governments must invest in educating our children K-12 to be curious, ask questions, and learn critical thinking. Our future will be based on how well our children and theirs identify and manage their biases and the embrace the joy of discovery and asking questions. Only then will "fighting misinformation online" see results. The close to $300,000 in funding signals, I hope, a beginning (and not an attempt to fund a little Dutch boy to plug the flow of misinformation with his finger). We live in a Theater of Lies. Freedom from it comes from becoming andinformed audience. #misinformation #propaganda #education https://lnkd.in/gwVquKRK

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BDC has launched a new program to help SMEs seize AI opportunities - listen to my colleague Samuel Easto-Lefebvre as he describes the new offering - and the doors it opens for small businesses from coast to coast !

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Have you commented on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat | Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du Canada's call for feedback on the Government of Canada's AI Strategy for the Federal Public Service? If you haven't it's not too late! Here at the Info-Tech Research Group our diverse team of AI and Canadian Public Sector analysts, counselors, and consultants are distributed coast to coast. We estimated traditional approaches to collect the feedback, analyze, and produce a report that covers ethics, governance, security, priorities, use cases and so forth would take hundreds of hours. However, by making smart use of Info-Tech's AI toolkit my co-author Andy Neill and I were able to reduce the total effort across all participants to less than 20 hours! This highlights how AI can drive productivity and effectiveness for the Federal Government and organizations across Canada. Productivity is Canada's Achilles Heel according to the Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. When we combine Canadians' natural ingenuity with AI our potential goes exponential! Comments are open until October 31 at this link: https://lnkd.in/gvbXAJDQ Dominic Rochon Stephen Burt Peter Bruce Hayley Spivey Jordan Reed Alaisdar Graham Erika-Kirsten Easton Graham Price PMP ITIL Expert Matthew Bourne Benjamin Selmani Arzu Ozciftci Amelia Spiers Parminder S. Jim Fitzsimmons Sylvain Bélanger, PMP Jean-Paul Lalonde https://lnkd.in/gvbXAJDQ

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Budget Day 🇨🇦 Canada scores a “C” in innovation. Today, we release the 2024 Innovation Report Card. A National Standard for Measuring Canada’s Innovation Performance. If you believe that innovation drives productivity and prosperity. Then we must measure how Canada performs against top innovation nations. We must understand where we perform well, and where we need transformational intervention. The report was led by Zafer Sonmez, PhD and co-authored by Dan Carpenter , Nicholas Palaschuk , Michael Bassett. The Innovation Report Card (IRC) is free to all Canadians as a publication of the Canadian Centre of the Innovation Economy (CCIE) at The Conference Board of Canada MaRS Discovery District Alberta Innovates DMZ CCRM Ontario Genomics Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Canada's Ocean Supercluster NGen Canada SCALE AI | Canada's AI Global Innovation Cluster Reach out for inquiries, presentations, and media. And join the effort to improve Canada’s innovation performance. #Innovation #Canada #budget2024 #cdnpoli https://lnkd.in/g-gRqQQy

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Public Sector Managers Can Drive Innovation (In Ottawa and elsewhere) As an innovation coach and workshop facilitator living in the Ottawa area (Canada's capital, just in case...), I am surrounded by thousands of public sector and non-profit managers. Really nice people, with their ❤ in the right place! But I know that dealing with the complexities of a government or an organization isn't easy. It takes more than just traditional management skills. Or having a good ❤ (or a good 🧠, for that matter). You need to be able to lead through uncertainty and drive innovation. Especially in this unpredictable, complex and, let's admit it, highly political environment. So here are 4 interesting subjects I think my friends, neighbours (maybe you?) and I can talk about: ✅ Embracing the unknown In the public sector, uncertainty is part of the game. Yet, great leaders use it to explore new ideas and innovate. So finding ways to encourage experimentation in your team and see failures as learning opportunities to turn the unknown into growth is a nice place to start the conversation! ✅ Teaming up Complex problems need teamwork. And diverse perspectives help uncover insights and co-create effective solutions. Let's see how breaking down silos and collaborating across functions and with different groups can be a way for you and your team to achieve their goal! ✅ Making an impact Innovation is all about making a difference. And focusing on projects that have a measurable impact on communities. So, prioritize initiatives that address key issues and deliver results for your communities and constituents, and (maybe) your boss' boss' boss' boss will appreciate it too! 😉 ✅ Empowering your people Empowered teams drive innovation. And when individuals feel ownership and accountability, they’re motivated to drive change. So trust your crew, delegate all the authority that you can to them, and provide support and they may amaze you with the innovation they come up with! In these demanding times, and in every capital in the world, public sector and non-profit managers can achieve new heights by embracing change, collaborating, focusing on impact, and empowering their teams. And remember this: Uncertainty fuels innovation! In the public sector, non-profit organizations, or anywhere else. #Innovation #PublicSector #Ottawa

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Public Sector Managers Can Drive Innovation (In Ottawa and elsewhere) As an innovation coach and workshop facilitator living in the Ottawa area (Canada's capital, just in case...), I am surrounded by thousands of public sector and non-profit managers. Really nice people, with their ❤ in the right place! But I know that dealing with the complexities of a government or an organization isn't easy. It takes more than just traditional management skills. Or having a good ❤ (or a good 🧠, for that matter). You need to be able to lead through uncertainty and drive innovation. Especially in this unpredictable, complex and, let's admit it, highly political environment. So here are 4 interesting subjects I think my friends, neighbours (maybe you?) and I can talk about: ✅ Embracing the unknown In the public sector, uncertainty is part of the game. Yet, great leaders use it to explore new ideas and innovate. So finding ways to encourage experimentation in your team and see failures as learning opportunities to turn the unknown into growth is a nice place to start the conversation! ✅ Teaming up Complex problems need teamwork. And diverse perspectives help uncover insights and co-create effective solutions. Let's see how breaking down silos and collaborating across functions and with different groups can be a way for you and your team to achieve their goal! ✅ Making an impact Innovation is all about making a difference. And focusing on projects that have a measurable impact on communities. So, prioritize initiatives that address key issues and deliver results for your communities and constituents, and (maybe) your boss' boss' boss' boss will appreciate it too! 😉 ✅ Empowering your people Empowered teams drive innovation. And when individuals feel ownership and accountability, they’re motivated to drive change. So trust your crew, delegate all the authority that you can to them, and provide support and they may amaze you with the innovation they come up with! In these challenging times, and in every capital in the world, public sector and non-profit managers can achieve new heights by embracing change, collaborating, focusing on impact, and empowering their teams. And remember this: Uncertainty fuels innovation! In the public sector, non-profit organizations, or anywhere else. #Innovation #PublicSector #Ottawa

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