It’s a term that’s been front and centre this fall, as the federal government considers ways to shepherd Canada out of the economic downturn caused by COVID: intellectual property. But what exactly is IP -- and how could it be central to the recovery?

On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse sits down for a no-holds-barred conversation with one of Canada’s most outspoken tech and innovation advocates: Jim Balsillie, a businessman, philanthropist, former co-CEO of Research in Motion, and Chair of Council of Canadian Innovators. Balsillie believes there’s simply too much at stake to continue the Canada’s current approach to innovation, which he says has allowed foreign companies to cannibalize our businesses, pulling the benefits of IP research and development out of the country. Balsillie believes we’re at a pivotal moment, in which our economic prosperity, digital sovereignty, even our national security, could be impacted for years to come.

Over the course of the conversation, Jim and John will also hear from CCI’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, Dana O’Born, and from a Canadian business leader who has successfully leveraged IP to grow his company. Jason Tham, the CEO of Nulogy will touch on the lessons he learned and discuss what needs to be done differently if Canada is indeed to become an IP powerhouse.

Notes:

Click the following links to learn more about the Canadian Council of Innovators, its recent open letter to the Prime Minister about nation building, and its plan for economic recovery. To read the Government of Canada’s National IP Strategy, click HERE. Jim Balsillie’s call for a national data strategy made headlines in the Financial Post and Toronto Star back in 2018.For more information about the businesses mentioned in this episode, visit Nulogy.com and Geocomply.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, you may also want to listen to these previous Disruptors episodes: Beyond Silicon Valley: Why We Need a Global Playbook For Innovation, and Global Canadians: The Tech Sector’s Secret weapon.

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