Innovation

Innovation is about making positive change. It's finding creative new ways to tackle problems, react to change, or make something better.

In business, this means coming up with new or improved products or services that you can produce, licence or sell. It also means developing business processes that reduce your costs and boost productivity. Investing wisely in innovation can improve your ability to compete on Canadian and world markets.

The road from developing and testing an original idea to introducing it in the marketplace can be long and costly. Remember that many great ideas never make it off the drawing board. Carefully evaluate your ideas and stick with those offering the most promise and return on your investment.

To innovate, you may need to do research, implement new technologies, train employees, improve productivity, establish partnerships and seek financing. The resources below might help you in the innovation process.

• Research and Development
  Be aware of resources that can help your business design or improve products or services.
• Commercialization: Making money from your innovative products or services
  Introduce new or improved products and services to the marketplace.
• Licensing and Technology Transfer Opportunities
  Leverage the research and development efforts of others.
• Financing for Innovation
  Discover some key government programs that help finance innovation activity.
• Other business activities that can help you innovate
  Find resources to help you support your innovative work.
• Organizations and Resources for Innovation
  Learn about organizations that could help your business innovate.