2018-19 Departmental Plan
Plans at a glance

In 2018-19, and in coming years, ACOA will work on fuelling an innovative, inclusive, modern economy in Atlantic Canada, in line with the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan as well as with its regional component, the Investing in Regional Innovation and Development framework. ACOA, in collaboration with the other regional development agencies (RDAs), will support the delivery of the next steps of the Innovation and Skills Plan across all regions of Canada. This includes regionally tailored support for women entrepreneurs as part of the new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, to support investments in women-led businesses, helping them scale and grow. The RDAs have been identified as one of four national flagship platforms for innovation programming. Over the coming year, ACOA and the other RDAs will streamline access to innovation program funding. The RDAs will also provide support for regional innovation ecosystems, including incubators and accelerators, and other third-party programs supporting mentorship, networking and skills development. In addition, funding will be dedicated to supporting skills development and economic diversification activities to help workers and communities in the Atlantic region adapt to Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Supporting a whole-of-government approach, the Agency, through its four regional offices, will work closely with other federal departments and the Atlantic provincial governments on collaborative and targeted efforts that build on the region’s strengths and competitive advantages. This includes continued collaboration on the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a unique initiative for Atlantic Canada with a particular focus on innovation, clean growth and climate change, tourism, and trade and investment. The following activities support these government priorities. They are also aligned with the goal to help Canadian businesses grow, innovate and export, as stated in the mandate letter for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Investing in the development, commercialization and adoption of innovative technologies

The Agency will support the efforts of businesses to invest in new technology, by making calculated contributions to share the risk and boost their chances of success. ACOA will:

• Help businesses innovate, compete and leverage industrial and technological benefits by developing new technologies, including clean technologies, and taking them to market.
• Assist businesses to increase productivity and better compete through the adoption of transformative manufacturing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, robotics and additive manufacturing.
• Invest in the commercialization of products, processes and services resulting from research and development to generate value-added opportunities in resource-based industries such as the fisheries, forestry and agriculture.

Helping to grow globally competitive businesses and sectors

The Agency will invest in the innovation, productivity and growth of businesses and key industry sectors in Atlantic Canada, such as oceans, food, and information and communications technology (ICT), to position them to take advantage of global opportunities. ACOA will:

• Work with federal and provincial partners to target strategic support for high-potential firms through the Accelerated Growth Service and support business start-up growth and scale-up through incubators and accelerators.
• Maximize international business opportunities through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy, aimed at expanding business activities between Atlantic Canada and international markets as well as at attracting new investments to the region, including a plan to promote business opportunities for clean growth in the region.
• Work with federal and provincial partners through the Atlantic Canada Tourism Agreement to help tourism operators expand their offerings to target profitable international markets and position the region as a top tourism destination.
• Identify ways in which companies in Atlantic Canada can better access federal programs.

Helping communities diversify

The Agency will invest in inclusive growth and support measures to build a strong pool of skilled workers to strengthen communities and businesses for generations to come. ACOA will:

• Support business owners to invest in acquiring key skills.
• In partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the four Atlantic provincial governments, help attract and retain skilled global talent, including international students that have completed their postsecondary degrees, for example by promoting the Atlantic Immigration Pilot with Atlantic businesses.
• Support strategic investments in key sectors and emerging regional clusters that build on the region’s competitive advantages.
• Engage with governments, businesses and community stakeholders to help communities adapt to changing economic circumstances and to support economic growth in Indigenous communities.

For more information on ACOA’s plans, priorities and planned results, see the “Planned results” section of this report.