Canadian economist Rob Atkinson calls for a more confident and aggressive approach to innovation in Canada to address productivity challenges. Embracing big businesses and foreign firms as opportunities for growth and innovation can help Canada catch up with other nations. Atkinson's Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness aims to offer solutions to Canada's perennial problems around productivity and innovation.
Canada's Productivity Woes: A Call for a Cultural Shift
( Credit to: Betakit )
Canadian-American economist Rob Atkinson is urging Canada to embrace big business and foreign firms as a means to address the country's productivity woes. Atkinson, known for his confident and articulate voice, recently launched the Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness in Ottawa. He believes that Canada needs to adopt a more confident and aggressive approach to innovation in order to catch up with other countries, particularly the United States.
During a panel discussion, Atkinson acknowledged that the American mindset of being the "greatest country in the world" has its drawbacks, but he also noted that Canada is already taking steps towards recognizing and addressing its challenges. According to Atkinson, the first and most important step is acknowledging the need for improvement, and then finding ways to make it happen.
In an interview with BetaKit, Atkinson expressed his concerns about Canada's lagging productivity compared to other nations, particularly the United States. However, he did highlight Canada's visa program as a positive aspect. It's worth noting that Atkinson may not have been aware of the recent news regarding new caps being imposed on the Startup Visa Program.
Embracing Big Businesses and Foreign Firms for Growth and Innovation
Atkinson believes that Canada needs to develop a "killer instinct" and embrace a more ambitious and aggressive approach to innovation. He is critical of how Canada has fallen behind in terms of productivity and sees a need for a cultural shift in the country's innovation economy.
To address these challenges, Atkinson calls for Canada to view big businesses, including foreign firms, as "beautiful." He believes that Canada should not shy away from embracing these entities and instead see them as opportunities for growth and innovation.
Atkinson's Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness aims to address Canada's perennial problems around productivity and innovation. The launch of the center was accompanied by the release of a comprehensive report, which delves into Canada's challenges and offers potential solutions.
The Tech Community's Demand for Government Support
Canada's innovation sector has been grappling with various headwinds, leading many in the tech community to demand better from the government. In response, BetaKit has organized a special Town Hall event, featuring Tobi Lütke, CEO and co-founder of Shopify, as the headline speaker. The event aims to provide a platform for Canadian founders and tech leaders to discuss the state of innovation, productivity, and optimism in the country.
Closing the Gap: Striving Towards a Vibrant and Competitive Innovation Ecosystem
In conclusion, Atkinson's call for a cultural shift in Canada's innovation economy highlights the need for a more confident and aggressive approach to address the country's productivity woes. By embracing big businesses and foreign firms as opportunities for growth, Canada can strive towards closing the gap with other nations and fostering a more vibrant and competitive innovation ecosystem.
