Canada lacks a clear policy framework to support the growing clean technology sector, says the Pembina Institute, a non-profit think tank focussed on energy. The sector involves all technology that reduces society’s environmental impact on the world and can including anything from energy generation to infrastructure to agriculture and water management.
Canada ‘losing market share’
“It looks like we are actually losing market share in the global technology market,” says Penelope Comette, a program director at Pembina Institute. She cites research by Analytica Advisors which suggests Canada’s market share dropped by 41 per cent between 2005 and 2013.
“What our research is showing is that we have really strong policy around research and development,” says Comette. “And what we’ve read from other literature is that Canada is super strong in terms of innovation and coming up with ideas.
Listen‘Canadian innovations dies on the white board’
“Where we fall down is around commercialization of our products and really getting them into the marketplace. So what we’re seeing is a lot of great Canadian innovation sort of dies on the white board.”
A coordinated policy approach is what’s needed, she says, “everything from creating demonstration opportunities to research and development to commercialization all the way to export support because the real market for clean tech is global.” She urges federal and provincial governments to work together to better support clean tech industries.
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