Message from the Minister
As committed by our government in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, I am pleased to present Newfoundland and Labrador’s Business Innovation Agenda: Accelerating Business Growth. The goal of this agenda is to help grow the number of new innovative firms as well as the capacity of individual firms to pursue innovation-driven business growth and global expansion.
This agenda is a result of an engagement process with industry, academic, government, and community stakeholders on how to help create the conditions for companies to grow, enabling firms to capitalize on new ideas, processes, methodologies, services, or products. This is a living document which will continue to evolve with the changing business environment. We will be flexible in our approach and adapt to needs as they arise.
We have not waited for this agenda to be finalized before implementing priorities. On July 20, 2017, our government announced the creation of InnovateNL in response to stakeholders identifying a need through the engagement process for one-stop coordinated advice and access to financial and non-financial supports. We look forward to consulting with the NL Innovation Council on the implementation of the Business Innovation Agenda.
This agenda identifies four priorities:
- Product Development and Commercialization;
- Productivity;
- Growth and Internationalization; and,
- Workforce Skills and Talent.
I would like to thank all of those that played a role in the development of this agenda, including members of the Private Sector Advisory Committee as well as all participants of the engagement process. Your ideas will continue to be welcome as we work to reset the innovation agenda. It is through a collaborative effort and by working together that we will ensure a more innovate and prosperous province.
The Business Innovation Agenda will help firms accelerate business growth and strive for business excellence by removing critical barriers and identifying new opportunities to become more productive, competitive, and international. I look forward to what we can achieve in the coming months.
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
