How does IDEaS engage innovators?

Saskatoon, Moncton, Victoria, and Sherbrooke are only a few of the many Canadian cities, from coast to coast, visited by the IDEaS team during this first year of activity. A key driver of IDEaS’ success so far has been a proactive focus on engaging innovators, and attracting and encouraging non-traditional players to join the innovation community. In order to generate innovative solutions across industry, academia, and other organizations, IDEaS has conducted hundreds of meetings, conferences and tradeshows, one-on-one sessions, webinars, and focus groups. IDEaS also uses its website page (Canada.ca/Defence-IDEaS) and subscriber emails to provide program information updates. In addition, IDEaS leverages partnerships with established organizations – such as the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, the National Research Council, the Industrial Research Assistance Program, and regional development agencies – to extend its reach throughout Canada.

IDEaS engagement and outreach

IDEaS makes direct contact with clients, academia, associations, and organizations all across Canada.

• Text version of graphic

  The graphic represents the program’s outreach and how IDEaS makes direct contact with clients, academia, associations, and organizations all across Canada via several arrows leaving from Ottawa, going toward the following cities: Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, North Bay, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Charlottetown, St. John’s

2018-2019 highlights

• Engaged in collaboration with academia, industry, for-profit and not-for profit sectors, as well as all levels of government.
• Built a network of more than 3,000 stakeholders.
• Outreach efforts have helped drive more than 40,000 innovators to the IDEaS website.
• More than 850 proposals were submitted through five CFPs.
• More than 170 contracts/contribution agreements have been signed and initiated with Canadian innovators.