The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today witnessed the signing of the Canada-Italy Joint Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Action Plan during his visit to Rome, Italy, as part of a trade mission to Europe to promote the Canada-European Union free trade agreement. The STI Action Plan will enhance collaboration between Canadians and Italians in key economic sectors, leading to innovative new products and jobs.
The new action plan builds on the Canada-Italy Tavolo Canada initiative. Launched in 2007, Tavolo Canada yielded over 100 STI agreements, partnerships and initiatives. Recent successes include the launch of scientific cooperation on Arctic research between Italy’s National Research Council and the Canadian Polar Commission.
The new action plan establishes five priority sectors: marine sciences, the Arctic, aerospace, agriculture and agrifood, and life sciences. International STI collaboration is a key element of Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan—the Harper government’s pro-export, pro-jobs plan—and the International Education Strategy, designed to attract innovative researchers and students to Canada, and to deepen research links with foreign educational institutions, creating opportunity for innovation and jobs.
The STI Action Plan strengthens Canada’s innovation and competitiveness by fostering government, researcher, industry and other stakeholder collaboration and leverages research and development and technological advancements, leading to greater prosperity.
Quick Facts
Canada generates over four percent of the world’s research papers yet accounts for only 0.5 percent of the world’s population, according to the Council of Canadian Academies.
Italy’s National Research Council has identified Canada as one of its four priority countries for research collaboration worldwide.
There are currently approximately 900 Italian students studying at Canadian academic institutions.
Quotes
“Canada and Italy share a rich relationship in fostering research and development. The Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan is the next step in building this partnership and bringing it to the next level by supporting greater collaboration between Canada and Italy. The STI Action Plan will create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and researchers, leading to more jobs and economic growth in both countries.”
– Ed Fast,
Minister of International Trade
Contacts
Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada