Canada's Superclusters Going Global
Canada and the European Union Transatlantic Collaborations
June 2019, Canda's Supercluster initiative is going global. Canada and the European Union extended their CETA Free-trade agreement to working together and enable Canada's five innovation Superclusters to work with Europe more closely paving the way for new strategic partnership tieing more than 25 European clusters and organizations.
What are innovation suprtclusters?
As governments are aiming to accelerate national economic transformation, they are investing in building and scaling innovation superclusters as large scale programs. Superclusters are dense areas of business activity. Where people with diverse skills work together. Where companies large and small work with universities, colleges and technical schools. Where people get inspired. Problems solved. Life reimagined.
Superclusters are places that create new business opportunities.
Canada's 5 Superclusters
The five innovation clusters, each with a distinct focus on a key economic sector, are spaced throughout the country.
1. Digital Technology Supercluster (British Columbia)
the Digital Technology Supercluster will use bigger, better datasets and cutting-edge applications of augmented reality, cloud computing and machine learning to improve service delivery in the natural resources, precision health, and manufacturing sectors. Employing digital technologies will save time and money and improve the health and lives of Canadians.
2. Protein Industries Supercluster (Prairie provinces)
the Protein Industries Supercluster will use plant genomics and novel processing technology to increase the value of key Canadian crops, such as canola, wheat and pulses that are coveted in high-growth foreign markets, such as China and India, as well as to satisfy growing markets in North America and Europe for plant-based meat alternatives and new food products. Building on Canada's worldwide reputation as a leader in agricultural production, this supercluster will make Canada a leading source for plant proteins and, ultimately, feed the world.
3. Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster (Ontario)
the Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster will build up next-generation manufacturing capabilities, incorporating technologies like advanced robotics and 3D printing. By focusing on training and technology adoption, this supercluster will help make the words “Made in Canada” synonymous with “innovative” and “value added.”
4. AI-Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (SCALE.AI) (Quebec)
The AI-Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (SCALE.AI) will bring the retail, manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, and information and communications technology sectors together to build intelligent supply chains through artificial intelligence and robotics. This supercluster will help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses scale up and help ensure Canada is a globally competitive export leader.
5. Ocean Supercluster (Atlantic Canada)
The Ocean Supercluster will harness emerging technologies to strengthen Canada's ocean industries—industries like marine renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, oil and gas, defence, shipbuilding, and transportation. This supercluster will ensure Canada's future prosperity as a source of jobs and solutions to global challenges, such as how to meet the energy demands of the 21st century.
In 2017, the Canadian government allotted C$950 million for the new initiative aiming to help companies to innovate and boost the economy creating new jobs and more business opportunities. The new agreement will connect the Canadian Superclusters with clusters in the EU that take part in the European Cluster Collaboration Platforf (ECCP), a networking community of more than 1,000 clusters across Europe.