Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s 2026-27 Departmental Plan

Plans to achieve results

The following section describes the planned results for Companies, Investment and Growth in 2026–27.

Departmental Result: Canadian businesses and industries are innovative and growing

Results we plan to achieve

Supporting industrial transformation and economic resilience

In pursuit of a more competitive and resilient economy, the Government of Canada is advancing a strategic shift in the automotive sector, an industry where over 90% of Canadian made vehicles and 60% of auto parts are exported to the United States, heightening exposure to trade uncertainty and tariff pressures. Strengthened emissions standards, targeting 75% EV sales by 2035 and 90% by 2040, paired with a $2.3 billion EV Affordability Program, will accelerate clean technology adoption and reinforce domestic demand for next generation vehicles. Together, these measures will position the Canadian auto sector to attract investment, create good jobs, and support Canada's broader industrial transformation and economic resilience.As part of this transition, Canada will direct $3 billion in support, alongside $100 million in regional tariff‑response measures through the recently announced Strategic Response Fund (SRF), to help the automotive sector innovate, scale, and diversify into new markets.

Committed to positioning Canada's industry to compete globally and build lasting resilience, ISED will deliver the SRF to support large-scale transformative projects and address key market gaps. The SRF will help Canadian businesses innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy by supporting large-scale R&D, commercialization, and AI compute capacity, while bolstering critical sectors such as manufacturing, steel, aluminum, forest products, defence, clean technologies and autos, ISED will attract investment, create jobs, and build resilient supply chains. This approach ensures that Canadian companies remain competitive, innovative, and well-positioned for sustainable growth domestically and internationally.

The SRF replaces the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) and includes $5 billion in dedicated support for firms and sectors affected by tariffs and trade disruptions. Aligned with Canada's broader economic priorities, the SRF will help companies maintain a strong Canadian presence, withstand economic shocks such as U.S. tariffs, and diversify into new markets. It will also continue SIF's role in de-risking major innovation initiatives. In 2026–27, SRF will:

• Provide supports to sectors most impacted by U.S. tariffs, including automotive manufacturing, steel, aluminum, and forest products to adapt, transform and diversify their capabilities and build long-term economic resilience. It will also have the flexibility to intervene in other high-value sectors where timely action is critical to maintaining investment and capacity in Canada. Eligible projects will include market diversification initiatives, as well as projects that help companies pivot to meet demand in the Canadian market and accelerate trade exports, and that support capacity-building efforts essential to maintaining Canada's industrial and skills base.
• Support innovation and technology development projects that advance large-scale R&D, commercialization, technology adoption, expansion, and first-mover projects. The SRF will continue to support innovation projects traditionally funded through the Strategic Innovation Fund. Continue to advance clean growth investments as part of its innovation and industrial transformation mandate, and fund high-impact projects that reduce emissions, support innovative net-zero technologies and secure good jobs for Canadians.

Enhancing Canada's defence and marine resilience

In support of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), ISED will pursue strategic investments and partnerships in the defence and marine sectors in order to drive innovation and competitiveness. These efforts will reinforce supply chain resilience, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and create opportunities for Canadian businesses.

To enhance defence and marine sectors, Canada will continue to identify opportunities to maximize economic and industrial benefits in the context of major federal procurements and make investments through its suite of programming aimed at establishing a competitive and resilient domestic industrial base. This approach includes new funding outlined in Budget 2025, with the Government committing significant resources through the DIS to bolster Canada's defence capabilities and industry. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Co-publish, with the Department of National Defence and Defence Investment Agency, a comprehensive DIS that seeks to build a strong and competitive defence industrial base in support of the national security needs of Canada and its allies.
• Through existing programs, strengthen Canada's defence industrial base by advancing the development and commercialization of dual civilian-military technologies across a range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, marine, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), biodefence, and life sciences.
• Leverage economic benefits from defense and Canadian Coast Guard procurements through the Industrial Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy to grow Canadian companies, including SMEs, and promote skills development and employment. The ITB Policy is estimated to contribute over $5.04 billion to GDP and over 40,000 jobs annually in Canada. More than 710 Canadian organizations are currently benefitting from active ITB projects, including close to 440 SMBs and over 55 academic and research organizations. The policy advances eligible procurements with the Department of National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada to keep investments in Canada by requiring prime contractors to build domestic capabilities. This approach strengthens the defence industrial base, secures critical technologies and talent, improves supply chain resilience, and ultimately bolsters security readiness, and positions Canadian firms for global competitiveness.
• Stimulate investments in Canada's marine industry through the National Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition (NSS VP), with Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards, and Chantier Davie Canada Inc. forecasting more than $68 million in total investments. Under NSS VP, shipyards with large vessel contracts must invest a value equal to 0.5% of the contracts into Canada's marine sector, helping build long-term capacity, spur innovation, and strengthen sustainability through targeted investments in human resources, technology, and industrial growth.
• In partnership with Natural Resources Canada, support the development of innovative critical minerals processing technologies, facilitate joint investments with allies in Canadian critical minerals projects, and develop a critical mineral stockpiling mechanism to strengthen the national security of Canada and its allies.
• In addition, ISED will co-lead with the Department of National Defence (DND) to establish BOREALIS, a new Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation defence, security, and dual-use technologies. Budget 2025 committed $68.2 million over three years, beginning in 2025-26, to DND, ISED, the National Research Council, and the Communications Security Establishment to support the creation and launch of BOREALIS. This initiative will connect Canada's innovation "push" and "pull" mechanisms and drive breakthroughs through high-security collaborative laboratories, agile R&D support, and pathways to commercialization, ensuring transformative technologies progress from concept to deployment.

Unlocking Canada's AI potential through strategic infrastructure and innovation

To establish Canada as a leader in AI, ISED, through the national AI Strategy, will bolster the country's technological infrastructure, increase computing capacity, cultivate top global talent in AI, and translate cutting –edge AI research into real-word impacts. The Department will support Canadian businesses in developing cutting-edge solutions and enhance productivity as well.

Building on this vision, ISED will implement a refreshed national AI Strategy aligned with the government's priority of building the strongest economy in the G7. A central pillar of this strategy is scaling domestic AI compute capacity to enable advanced research, model development, and the growth of Canadian AI firms. As part of this effort, the SRF will advance the AI Compute Challenge in 2026–27, driving investment in projects that strengthen data sovereignty and provide secure, affordable compute access for Canadian firms. Funding will support initiatives to expand AI data centres in Canada and develop next-generation AI compute technologies, critical to positioning Canada as a global AI leader.

In March 2025, the Government announced that the AI Compute Access Fund will provide up to $300 million for affordable access to compute power for SMEs to develop made-in-Canada AI products and solutions. In 2026–27, the AI Compute Access Fund will:

• Manage contribution agreements for successful recipients by monitoring progress, providing ongoing support, and reporting outcomes.
• Support companies in the AI sector and commercializing new solutions by ensuring they have the resources to accelerate technology adoption and competitiveness. These efforts foster business growth, drive capital investment in Canadian enterprises, and promote innovation across the economy.

The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI) will continue to advance the science and measurement of AI safety risk assessment and mitigation to support Canadian AI businesses and innovators. In 2026–27, CAISI will:

• Undertake government-led projects, in collaboration with Canadian and international partners, to advance AI safety priorities.
• Continue to support cutting-edge AI safety research through the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).

Driving cybersecurity innovation across Canada

Through the Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN), ISED continues to provide funding to the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) to lead world-class cybersecurity innovation and talent development and increase cybersecurity-related economic activity in Canada, including support for 31 new projects across Canadian businesses and academia as part of the NCC's 2025 call for proposals.

Helping Canadian entrepreneurs navigate and grow in a changing economy

In today's rapidly evolving economy, ISED aims to empower Canadian entrepreneurs and SMEs to innovate, scale, and compete globally. Through collaboration across industry, academia, and government, and by providing access to resources and talent, ISED will help businesses overcome barriers, adopt cutting-edge technologies, and diversify into new markets. Through these initiatives, the Department will strengthen supply chains, drive productivity, and help position Canadian firms for sustainable growth.

To foster a more competitive Canadian economy, ISED will continue supporting Canadian SMEs in navigating the business environment by helping them access federal resources and developing sustainable pathways for growth, which is critical toward the reduction of regulatory burden and barriers to trade. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Through Canada's updated automotive strategy, the Government will introduce a modernized duty remission framework that rewards domestic production and investment, using tradeable credits tied to Canadian content and EV manufacturing, to help SMEs reduce costs, strengthen supply chains, and navigate regulatory and trade pressures in a shifting global economy.
• Advance innovation outcomes in 2026–27 through the Global Innovation Clusters (GIC) by delivering on key government priorities, including the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, National Quantum Strategy, and Canadian Genomics Strategy.
• Continue to foster strategic collaborations among industry, academia, not-for-profits, and government to invest in commercializing made-in-Canada AI solutions, advancing genomic applications, and developing quantum technologies. Through their networks and expertise, the clusters develop ecosystems that create a global advantage for Canada by attracting investment, developing a global profile, and collaborating on projects at a national and international scale, accelerating innovation, creating high-quality jobs, investing in promising projects, helping firms scale up, and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader. Canada's Global Innovation Cluster projects, such as the Aids to Navigation (AtoN) project funded through the Ocean Cluster, further demonstrate how Canada is enhancing defence capacity through dual-use technologies, improving maritime safety and efficiency for potential users such as the Canadian Coast Guard, while modernizing the marine industry, demonstrating how the Global Innovation Clusters program is accelerating innovation and economic growth in Canada.
• Support the development and commercialization of cutting-edge Canadian technologies through Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC). ISC will continue funding R&D projects to help companies advance emerging technologies. Following strong industry response to the 2025 Call for Proposals in AI, automation, quantum, and continental defence, departments and agencies are testing a diverse roster of validated pre-commercial innovations such as AI-enabled C4ISR for the Canadian Armed Forces, quantum photonics for defence, and robotic process automation and AI decision-making tools to enhance government operations. ISC's collaborative model enables departments to fund, test, and procure technologies that meet operational needs and advance priorities in defence, dual-use, quantum, genomics, and AI, all supporting the Buy Canadian initiative.
• Continue investing in talent by equipping youth, students, graduates, and workers with skills and experience in cybersecurity, defence, and other priority areas. These investments contribute to Canada's defence capabilities, improve government services, and boost productivity.
• Expand Canada's talent base by partnering with federal granting agencies to help universities recruit exceptional international researchers in sectors critical to science, innovation, and economic growth. These researchers will collaborate with industry, government, and non-profit organizations to accelerate commercialization, strengthen supply chains, and apply research to real-world challenges.
• Support high-potential Canadian firms through the Accelerated Growth Service (AGS), offering tailored guidance to help businesses scale, compete globally, and strengthen value chains. AGS uses a Team Canada, one-window approach to connect firms with coordinated federal and ecosystem supports, reducing duplication and administrative burden. By helping businesses diversify export markets and strengthening value chains, the program tackles regulatory and market-entry challenges that create trade barriers, advancing Canada's competitiveness, resilience and sovereignty.
• Continue providing digital business services through BizPaL, Business Benefits Finder (BBF) and Market Research Products (MPRs), which help businesses navigate licensing and compliance requirements, access government supports and obtain market intelligence. BizPaL support efforts to reduce regulatory burden and internal trade barriers, while BBF streamlines access to funding programs enabling businesses to quickly find the assistance they need. MPRs provide market intelligence with timely insights on industry trends, trade flows, and financial benchmarks to strengthen Canada's competitiveness, support supply chain diversification, lower interprovincial trade barriers, and improve economic resilience.

Building domestic capacity in life sciences and biomanufacturing

A world-class life sciences and biomanufacturing ecosystem is crucial in enhancing health security and fostering sustainable economic growth. Through the Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC) and its Life Sciences Fund (LSF), ISED will accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies, expand biomanufacturing capacity, and foster partnerships across industry, academia, and government. These initiatives will position Canadian firms as global leaders in health innovation while creating jobs and enhancing supply chain resilience.

The HERC is mandated to strengthen Canada's health security by fostering innovation, supporting the development of technologies spanning categories such as vaccines and therapeutics, leveraging partnerships, and building research and industrial capacity within the life sciences sector. The newly announced Life Sciences Fund will drive commercialization and growth of innovative companies, building a resilient domestic ecosystem that strengthens Canada's health emergency response and global supply chain integration. Through expanded medical countermeasures capacity and development of dual-use technologies with defence and health applications, HERC's activities will support market access, business innovation, and regional economic growth. The Fund will also accelerate innovation and reinforce Canada's biomanufacturing and life sciences sector through collaboration across industry, academia, and government. In 2026–27, HERC will:

• Implement new activities to support the federal Government's defence agenda (i.e., biodefence and medical countermeasure readiness).
• Launch its new program, the LSF, and initiate a public call for proposals. Through the program, HERC will provide support for research, development and commercialization activities of domestic life science companies, as well as the operations of five pan-Canadian academic-based research hubs to build expertise in biodefence and contribute to the development of dual-use biotechnologies and medical countermeasures.
• Target outreach and engagement to accelerate innovation and strengthen the life sciences ecosystem. This includes ongoing engagement with the domestic life sciences industry, renewing and refocusing the organization's federal-provincial-territorial and Indigenous engagement strategies, maintaining strategic coordination with Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy-funded research hubs, and hosting sector-wide events such as the HERC Innovation Symposium.
• Enhance Canada's presence at international medical countermeasure (MCM) forums, establish new strategic MCM partnerships in industrial health security, and deliver on a range of collaborative initiatives with international partners. These are expected to include joint tabletop and industrial capacity planning exercises, joint supply chain mapping activities, and funding of co-innovation projects with international counterparts.
• Leverage its international activities to deliver a trade diversification, investment attraction, and supply chain collaboration strategy for the organization.
• Advance health security and national defence objectives by launching a national real-time supply chain monitoring system for critical drugs.

Nurturing the next generation of genomics for a resilient economy

To help meet the growing demand for highly qualified genomics professionals, ISED will continue delivering targeted talent programs that align research training with private sector needs. These initiatives respond to stakeholder-identified challenges and position Canada to lead in genomics innovation and commercialization. ISED, through the Canadian Genomics Strategy, will:

• Provide $96 million over five years to Genome Canada's Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) to accelerate commercialization by supporting projects that embed new genomics tools and products into Canadian businesses.
• Deliver $20 million over six years to the Global Innovation Clusters (GIC), supporting growth-oriented genomics firms and facilitating the translation of research into commercialization opportunities, for example, applications in health, including pharmacogenitics, drug development, precision medicine and in natural resources, including genomic trait selection, microbiome-based productivity, eDNA for regulatory mining, and bioremediation in mining.
• Allocate $15 million over five years through Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) to partner with Canadian small businesses on prototype development, testing, and validation, enabling early-stage genomics innovations to be evaluated and scaled through public sector procurement.

Developing Canada's next generation of skilled talent

The Department will continue to invest in talent development. In particular, ISED will equip youth, students, graduates, and workers with the skills and experience needed in high-demand sectors such as cybersecurity and defence technologies. ISED, with the three federal granting agencies, will also support universities to attract high-performing international research talent to enhance our capacity and talent pipeline in key sectors. These programs and initiatives will ensure that Canadians gain industry-relevant expertise, including working with global leaders in their respective fields, and increase productivity, competitiveness, and the adoption of new innovative technologies in the Canadian economy. ISED will:

• Provide practical on-job experience across Canada and increase employability through internships targeting digital skills development.
• As part of the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), continue to create work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students and strengthen the talent pipeline for Canadian businesses.
• As part of the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative (Impact+ Initiative), support universities (via the federal granting agencies) to attract over a thousand researchers across all career stages to bolster the country's research and innovation talent pool and to partner with industry, government, non-profit organizations and other entities to translate discoveries into economic and societal benefits.

Supporting the quantum ecosystem to grow Canadian champions

Quantum is a critical emerging technology with important industrial and defence applications and has been identified as a sovereign capability under Canada's new DIS. ISED will continue investing in the quantum ecosystem so that Canada's world-leading research and IP is commercialized here for the benefit of all Canadians.

To support Canada's National Quantum Strategy and the DIS, ISED will Implement Phase 1 of the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (CQCP) to invest in four promising Canadian quantum computing firms. Phase 1 was announced in December 2025, and provides $92 million, or up to $23 million to each company (Anyon Systems, Nord Quantique, Photonic and Xanadu Quantum Technologies) to anchor high-performing companies in the country and build Canada's sovereign capacities in quantum computing. As part of the CQCP, the National Research Council of Canada will establish the Benchmarking Quantum Platform initiative to undertake the expert assessment of the underlying quantum technologies.

Supporting the tourism industry

In alignment with the national tourism strategy, ISED will continue to advance initiatives that strengthen Canada's tourism sector, support communities, and drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In 2026-27, ISED will continue to:

• Work with federal partners, stakeholders, Indigenous Peoples, and provincial and territorial governments to help create the conditions for tourism businesses and the broader sector to innovate, grow, and strengthen Canada's visitor economy.
• Lead and advance its secretariat function for the Canadian Council of Tourism Ministers (CCTM) forum. ISED will continue modernizing the CCTM Secretariat's operations through improved planning and governance tools, including the development of a multi-year strategic framework to guide thematic work.
• Collaborate with other federal departments, including at the Ministerial level, to advance horizontal tourism priorities and target key issues that impact the tourism sector, including climate emergency preparedness; arts, culture and events including sporting events; transportation; and workforce and skills.
• Represent Canada in global tourism fora, helping to reinforce Canada's global leadership in shaping international tourism policy. This is reflected in multilateral fora such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• Work with Destination Canada to advance tourism objectives, representing the shareholder's interest for this Crown corporation.

Departmental Result: Canada has a clean and sustainable economy

Results we plan to achieve

Investing in sustainable innovation for a climate resilient future

ISED will continue to support Canada transition to a competitive, clean and sustainable economy by advancing innovation and global leadership in clean technologies and hard to abate industrial sectors. ISED will accelerate the commercialization of clean technology, strengthen supply chains, and expand market opportunities to lower costs. In alignment with Canada's commitment toward a green economy and ambition to foster a globally competitive clean technology sector. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Position Canada as a leader in clean technology through advancing clean technology policies that deliver benefits such as lowering the costs of living across Canada through solutions such as electric vehicles and heat pumps; creating more affordable and sustainable housing through clean tech innovations in modular housing and mass timber, and strengthening Canada's sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources. Overall, these efforts will improve climate resilience and foster long-term economic growth.
• Support leading research, policy development and strategic initiatives for a sustainable economy and clean growth. Lead or co-lead Canada's participation in domestic and international initiatives that drive clean technology development, commercialization and trade, support decarbonization and open new markets for Canadian innovators. ISED will continue representing Canada as the co-chair of the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough, with the United Arab Emirates, engaging 13+ governments, and contributing to efforts such as the Methane Centre of Excellence, the First Movers Coalition, and programs like Advancing Indo-Pacific Clean Technology Demonstration Projects.
• Collect and analyze clean technology data, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, to track the economic, environmental and social contributions of the cleantech sector through the Clean Technology Data Strategy – a joint initiative with Natural Resources Canada. The data provides information on the growth of clean technology in Canada and contributes to the development of more effective policies for the cleantech landscape and the adoption of clean technologies.

Departmental Result: Businesses, investors and consumers are confident in the Canadian marketplace, including the digital economy

Results we plan to achieve

Building a Trusted and Accessible IP Framework for Canadian Enterprises

An accessible IP framework is essential to fostering confidence in Canada's marketplace and digital economy. The Department advances initiatives that help Canadian businesses protect and leverage their innovations, expand commercialization opportunities, and strengthen global competitiveness. By improving IP awareness and supporting inclusive IP participation, ISED will help Canadian firms innovate, attract investment, and thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

Along with ensuring accessibility, ISED continues to work to modernize the IP ecosystem and expand access to IP resources for Canadian SMEs. This will help support priorities in AI, defence, international trade, and sovereignty through domestically developed IP solutions. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Offer IP support to SMEs across Canada through ElevateIP, including government priority sectors like defence, AI, and life sciences to help them strategically manage and utilize their IP assets. Specifically, the program will continue to provide Canadian SMEs IP awareness and education opportunities and provide access to IP experts who can help them develop and implement IP strategies. It will continue to enable IP capacity building within Business Accelerators and Incubators and other leading business and innovation support organizations across Canada. By coordinating with other federal and provincial initiatives and increasing knowledge sharing at the national level, ElevateIP aims to streamline delivery and enhance efficiency, leading to improved program outcomes.
• Grow the IP Centre of Expertise's advisory and training services, including with expanded tools and resources to help programs incorporate IP in all aspects of their operations including through the launch of advanced IP training and guidance resources for program officers. Expanded offerings will enable ISED's innovation and science programs, along with all federal organizations and public servants working in areas such as funding programs, federal research and procurement, to address IP more strategically.
• Support Canadian businesses to identify and access existing technologies and IP owned or developed by government, academia, and public funding via ExploreIP. Building on results from a successful pilot with IP developed through federally funded networks, the program will increase outreach to IP holders that are now eligible to be featured on the platform, including IP developed through federal funding and procurement activities. The program will also leverage AI and other platform enhancements to better showcase Canadian-made solutions and help generate increased economic benefits from publicly funded IP. Businesses and entrepreneurs can directly connect with institutions to license solutions or collaborate on R&D. ExploreIP bridges the gap between Canadian SMEs and publicly supported IP and technologies, promoting commercialization and R&D collaborations.
• Continue to support Canadian Law and Business Schools under the IP Clinics Program with $400,000 in grants towards projects that develop or enhance clinical activities that support businesses, particularly those led by women and Indigenous entrepreneurs, and that provide encouragement to students to pursue IP-oriented careers.
• Strengthen inclusion in Canada's IP system by supporting Indigenous organizations to build awareness, capability, and engagement. Through the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP), modest, targeted grants fund practical activities that help Indigenous communities participate in the IP framework and protect their interests. The program offers three streams: Travel (up to $6,000), Small-Scale Initiatives (up to $15,000), and Projects (up to $50,000), with a goal of distributing 95 percent of the annual $150,000 allocation. The reporting requirements are simple to ensure accessibility while enabling Indigenous communities to increase IP knowledge and participation.
• Conduct an IP Performance Review to improve the conditions in Canada for partnering with IP-intensive firms, and for IP investment and commercialization.
• In collaboration with Department of Canadian Heritage, amend the Copyright Act to create an Artist's Resale Right in Canada, creating a new revenue stream for Canadian visual artists by allowing them to benefit from future sales of their work.

In support of a more innovative and competitive economy, CIPO will advance initiatives in 2026–27 that aim to strengthen intellectual property (IP) IP awareness and accessibility, while promoting international harmonization. These efforts are rooted in Canadian service excellence, education and outreach, global cooperation, and policy modernization, all designed to help Canadian innovators navigate and benefit from a robust IP framework.

CIPO is responsible for administering IP rights in Canada, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs. In 2026–27, CIPO will:

• Continue to strengthen IP awareness among Canadian businesses by expanding the IP Awareness and Education Program, part of the National IP Strategy, to deliver more accessible digital and educational services, broadening its reach through ongoing collaboration with industry stakeholders, and deepening partnerships with industry and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) partners to support Canadians throughout their business and IP journey. These efforts will help Canadians better understand and leverage IP in support of business growth and innovation.
• Continue strengthening client-facing services by enhancing the Next Generation Patents system and modernizing back-end trademark IT infrastructure to strengthen service delivery, while further integrating automation and emerging technologies in operations. These initiatives aim to enhance efficiency, quality, and predictability across all IP services.
• Strengthen international collaboration and Canada's global IP presence by representing Canada's interests in international forums, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly, and collaborating with Global Affairs Canada to ensure Canada's IP priorities are reflected in international trade negotiations. This will strengthen Canada's ability to protect and commercialize Canadian innovation in global markets.
• Examine ways to streamline CIPO's fee structure in order to reduce complexity, promote use of the IP system and increase efficiency for both the organization and its stakeholders. This initiative aims to promote confidence in the Canadian marketplace and foster innovation.

Modernizing spectrum and satellite frameworks to enable a competitive digital economy

ISED will strengthen confidence in Canada's digital marketplace by advancing coherent and predictable telecom governance, promoting affordability, and protecting consumer interests. The Department will provide expert policy advice on key regulatory decisions, enhance the resilience of critical telecom infrastructure, and represent Canada in global internet governance to help ensure the Internet remains open, secure, and interoperable.

To foster a more competitive digital economy, ISED will modernize spectrum and satellite regulatory frameworks, improve licensing service delivery, and continue preparations for millimetre-wave spectrum licensing. This very high-frequency band of radio waves can carry large amounts of data over short distances and is a key building block for faster wireless services, such as advanced 5G networks. Additional efforts will include expanding non-competitive local licensing, advancing a regulatory framework for in-space activities, and deploying enhanced spectrum monitoring capabilities to safeguard Canada's wireless ecosystem and provide greater certainty for innovators. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Prepare for the millimetre-wave spectrum auction by developing auction software, evaluating bidder applications, and training qualified participants. The Department will also make the 28 GHz band available through non-competitive local licensing. This high frequency spectrum will enable innovative use cases such as private networks for advance mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.
• Take steps to develop a modernized regulatory framework for satellite licensing and in-space activities that closes gaps for currently unregulated space activities and streamlines existing outdated or overlapping regulations.
• Reduce red tape by streamlining and automating spectrum licensing (where applicable), modernizing policies for licensees.
• Continuing its grant agreement with the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) to inform technical decisions on the use of spectrum in Canada.
• Deploy advanced spectrum monitoring and analytics capabilities for field workers, compliance experts and policy planners. This includes integration of equipment into the renewed vehicle fleet and mobile platforms to support interference investigations and 4G/5G network monitoring.
• Monitor the telecommunications sector and provide expert policy advice to balance innovation and affordability. The Department will support the Minister and Governor in Council on petitions of CRTC decisions under the Telecommunications Act to uphold a predictable, pro-competition framework. It will publish the annual telecommunications price-comparison study to track affordability and guide targeted interventions, advance a "dig-once" policy to support increased investment, and advance Bill C-8 (ARCS) to enhance the security and resilience of Canada's telecom infrastructure as well.
• Represent Canada at the International Telecommunication Union, including the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), to shape global rules on spectrum access, satellite orbits, and ICT standards, campaign for election to the Council to influence international digital standards affecting Canadian firms, and complete consultations on space-debris mitigation licence conditions; the Department will also advance Canada's objectives in global internet governance through active participation in ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee and WSIS/IGF processes, helping to safeguard an open, secure, and interoperable internet.

Enhancing transparency and accountability in Canada's marketplace

The Competition Bureau (the Bureau) will continue to play a central role in protecting and promoting competitive markets that support affordability, innovation, and consumer confidence in Canada. Building on recent legislative updates to the Competition Act, the Bureau will continue to focus its efforts on sectors with the greatest impact on Canadians while advancing a modern, transparent, and collaborative approach to competition policy and pursing vigorous enforcement against anti-competitive conduct. In 2026–27, the Bureau will:

• Continue to implement the changes that were made to the Competition Act, which include provisions for more effective merger control, strengthening our ability to address anti-competitive activity and acting against deceptive marketing, while ensuring that our guidance provides clarity and transparency to stakeholders.
• Prioritize enforcement actions in sectors that have a direct impact on affordability for Canadians, particularly those affecting food and housing costs.
• Advance a pro-competition agenda through the Bureau's market study on financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Support digital marketplace regulation by continuing active participation in the Canadian Digital Regulators Forum alongside the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and the Copyright Board.

Additionally, as part of ISED's Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services (SBTMS) sector, marketplace regulators Corporations Canada and Measurement Canada, and working at arm's length, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, help keep Canada's economy fair, transparent and predictable for consumers and businesses. Together they uphold corporate accountability, accurate trade measurement, and a predictable insolvency system, reinforcing confidence in the Canadian marketplace and enabling honest competition:

• Corporations Canada supports a fair and competitive marketplace by maintaining the federal corporations registry and advancing beneficial ownership (BO) transparency. These measures improve corporate accountability, help prevent misuse of federally incorporated companies, and support law enforcement and due diligence by financial institutions and businesses.
• Measurement Canada helps ensure Canadians get what they pay for by enforcing laws related to the accuracy of measurement in the marketplace. It sets minimum performance and safety requirements for measuring devices and investigates complaints to protect consumers and ensure businesses compete on a level playing field.
• The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB oversees the return of approximately $1 billion to the economy through dividends to creditors and accepts over 120,000 insolvencies on behalf of Canadian consumers and businesses each year. A fair and predictable insolvency system helps viable businesses restructure or, where necessary, return assets to productive use in the economy, gives honest but unfortunate debtors access to a fresh financial start and supports creditor and investor confidence. To maintain the integrity of the Canadian insolvency system, the OSB supervises stakeholders, including Licensed Insolvency Trustees, debtors and creditors, and pursues civil and criminal enforcement where warranted, leveraging AI, IT modernization and regulatory reviews for enhanced efficiency and reduced administrative burden. The OSB is also taking action to limit the adverse effects of the debt advisory marketplace on Canada's insolvency system.
• The Office of Consumer Affairs and the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative (CCPI) enhance consumer empowerment and provide information to help Canadians make better informed choices in the marketplace. In 2026-27, through CCPI, up to $5 million will be provided to Canadian not-for-profit organizations representing the consumer interest to conduct research projects, advocacy initiatives, innovations or communication projects to advance consumer interests.

In addition, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation has stated his intention to table legislation to modernize the law governing the collection, use and disclosure of personal information in the course of commercial activities (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act or PIPEDA) to address and mitigate privacy risks associated with AI, enhance protections for children, and ensure that privacy obligations keep pace with today's data-driven economy.

Supporting small business

The Canada Small Business Financing program (CSBFP) and the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative align with the Government's priorities to help build Canada into the strongest economy in the G7 by supporting access to capital for innovative Canadian businesses and catalyzing private sector investment in Canadian venture capital (VC).

• Through the Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP), ISED will continue to assist Canadian small businesses in accessing financing that might otherwise be unavailable or offered only under less favorable conditions, enabling them to start-up, expand, and modernize their operations. In 2026-27, ISED will continue to prepare for the transfer of delivery of the program to the Business Development Bank of Canada, as announced in Budget 2025. The CSBFP aims to facilitate over 6,300 loans with an estimated value of $1.8B. ISED will continue to enhance awareness and understanding of the program to encourage more small businesses to apply for financing tailored to their specific needs and secure the capital necessary to start-up and grow their operations.
• Budget 2025 announced a new $1 billion Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative, to leverage private investment by incentivizing pension funds and institutional investors, and to support emerging fund managers and the life sciences sector. During 2026-27, ISED will work with the Business Development Bank of Canada to design and launch this new initiative. ISED will also continue to monitor the progress of previous Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI 2017 and 2021) recipients as they continue to make investments in innovative high-potential Canadian companies (and VC funds in the case of recipients under the funds-of-funds stream).

Gender-based Analysis Plus

The Department will advance GBA Plus across its programs, policies, and service delivery to ensure inclusive and equitable outcomes for all Canadians. Through targeted data collection, inclusive program design, and strategic partnerships, ISED is working to identify and reduce systemic barriers faced by underrepresented groups. These efforts will ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion are foundational to Canada's economic growth and innovation ecosystem. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Integrate GBA Plus and EDI across innovation programs to promote inclusive growth. The SRF will require recipients to implement considerations supporting equity-deserving groups, with progress tracked through the Annual Performance Benefits Report (APBR). AI Compute initiatives will seek to enable Indigenous and official language minority communities benefit from emerging technologies.
• Collect voluntary self-identification data to assess ownership diversity and measure impacts such as revenue growth and R&D activity. Programs like ElevateIP will improve outreach to underrepresented innovators and businesses and continue to ensure accessibility while also ensuring that reporting requirements ensure sufficient data granularity to allow for proper analyses. The IP Centre of Expertise and ExploreIP will use annual surveys to identify participation gaps and inform tailored programming.
• Through AGS and related programs, ISED will support demographic data collection and representation of firms owned or led by women and other equity-deserving groups. Initiatives such as BBF will support self-identification processes, while the ITB Policy will advance inclusive procurement through gender and diversity plans. Rural business initiatives will leverage Statistics Canada data to close gaps and tailor supports for equity-deserving groups.
• Analyze regulatory impacts on diverse groups, expand IP awareness initiatives, and embed accessibility in digital services through CIPO's "accessibility by default" approach. Demographic research with Statistics Canada will inform evidence-based policies to increase participation and visibility of equity-deserving communities.
• Through the Competition Bureau, refine and expand internal expertise and tools to apply GBA Plus in merger reviews and enforcement. This could include incorporating demographic analysis to assess labour market impacts. The Bureau will build internal capacity through guidance and training to incorporate demographic analysis into cases. Such analysis was demonstrated in its airline industry market study. The Bureau will also develop a voluntary self-identification tool in its public reporting form, and use disaggregated data to evaluate market impacts on vulnerable populations as relevant in their competition enforcement and advocacy cases. Through the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB), continue to leverage voluntary self-identification data collected from individuals filing for insolvency under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) to assess possible challenges and solutions to ensure fair access and treatment of all Canadians in the insolvency system, as well as collect gender identity and diversity data on Licensed Insolvency Trustees (LITs) and LIT candidates to analyze trends and identify any unintended barriers within the system which could be addressed to ensure a more diverse and inclusive pool of candidates with a wide range of skills and perspectives.

Planned resources to achieve results

Complete financial and human resources information for the ISED's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Program inventory

Companies, Investment and Growth is supported by the following programs:

• Business Innovation
• Spectrum and Telecommunications
• Digital Service
• Economic Outcomes from Procurement
• Tourism
• Support for Small Business
• Talent Development
• Intellectual Property
• Competition Law Enforcement and Promotion
• Marketplace Protection and Promotion
• Clean Technology and Clean Growth

Additional information related to the program inventory for Companies, Investment and Growth is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Summary of changes to reporting framework since last year

As part of the 2026-27 planning cycle, ISED has amended its DRF to remove three indicators, revise three indicators, add three new indicators and remove one program under the Core Responsibility "Companies, Investments, and Growth".

Indicators with limited data availability, weak attribution, or diminished relevance due to program changes were removed or replaced, while new indicators were introduced to strengthen links between ISED program activities and outcomes, improve the Department's results narrative, and ensure alignment with applicable policies. Revisions to existing indicators focus on measurability, consistent definitions, and improved clarity to support results-based decision-making and more meaningful public reporting.

Specific changes include:

Removed Indicators

• Canada's rank on World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index
• Canada's score on the Global Competitiveness Index
• Annual incremental reductions in Greenhouse Gas emissions attributable to ISED-supported technologies

New Indicators

• Average Business Expenditure in Research and Development (BERD) by firms receiving ISED funding (in dollars) relative to national average.
• Number of patents resulting from ISED-supported projects
• Entry rates of Canadian businesses

Updated Indicators

• Business Expenditures in Research and Development (BERD) as a percentage of GDP (BERD intensity)
• Business investment per worker in Canada (in dollars)]
• Number of patent applications, trademark filings, and industrial design filings in Canada

Program Inventory Change:

Removal of the Digital Services Program

Most of the Digital Services programming has moved under Industry Sector to better align with the expected outcomes. The program had no external facing services or activities.

Description

Support and enable business-led investment and strategic collaborations for leading-edge technology development and commercialization; maintain and strengthen Canada's research excellence, including support for fundamental science, experimentation and exploration to address global challenges.

Quality of life impacts

The Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization core responsibility aligns with the Prosperity domain in Canada's Quality of Life Framework. The program within this core responsibility focuses on maintaining and strengthening Canada's research excellence, including through support for fundamental science, experimentation and exploration to address global challenges.

Under the Prosperity domain, the "investment in in-house research and development" indicator aligns with the "percentage of Canada's higher education research and development funded by business" departmental results indicator. Both indicators show the importance of investments in R&D to support innovation and the commercialization of new products, services and technologies. ISED also tracks Canada's score on the average of relative citation indicator for science and research publications. Key initiatives under this core responsibility focus on the transfer of knowledge within the Canadian research ecosystem.

Indicators, results and targets

This section presents details on the department's indicators, the actual results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates for Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization. Details are presented by departmental result.

Plans to achieve results

The following section describes the planned results for Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization in 2026–2027.

Departmental Result: Canadian science, technology and innovation (STIn) Research contributes to knowledge transfer

Results we plan to achieve

Building Canada's research capacity through infrastructure, talent, research, and scientific literacy

To support Canada's position as a global leader in science and innovation, ISED will provide funding to research-performing organizations and academic institutions across the country. In 2026–27, this will include: working with the granting agencies to support universities' recruitment of top global research talent in priority areas, strengthening Canada's research ecosystem and supporting partnerships that drive the application and commercialization of research; enabling AI-driven research in not-for-profit sectors; supporting inclusive STEM education that empowers underrepresented communities; funding top-tier research infrastructure at Canadian universities; building state-of-the-art high-performance supercomputing system for research through the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program; and maintaining national research platforms such as the Canadian Light Source. These investments directly equip Canadian researchers, students, and innovators with the tools and environments needed to advance discoveries in fields such as health sciences, engineering, and social sciences.

Through $1.7 billion Impact+ Initiative, ISED will:

• Support, via the granting agencies, the recruitment of over a thousand top international researchers, including research chairs focused on transformational and translational research ($1 billion over 13 years), early career researchers ($120 million over 12 years), and doctoral and post-doctoral researchers ($133.6 million over three years), to drive knowledge, discovery, and innovation in key areas that foster national prosperity and resilience.
• Provide enhanced research infrastructure funding ($400 million over 6 years) to the recruited chairs to support them in setting up world-leading labs.

Through the Strategic Science Fund (SSF), and other planned activities from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), ISED will:

• Strengthen Canada's research and innovation landscape by supporting SSF-funded not-for-profit organizations advancing work in areas such as health sciences and AI, and helping to train and retain talent, build new partnerships in multisectoral projects and increase commercialization opportunities that benefit Canadians.
• Through the SSF, expand science literacy and public engagement by funding recipients that promote inclusive STEM learning and equip communities with the knowledge needed to make evidence-informed decisions – building a stronger culture of science across Canada.
• Enable Canadian universities to attract and retain top-tier research talent by allocating up to $270 million through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, complemented by up to $81 million from the Infrastructure Operating Fund, to support state-of-the-art research infrastructure and associated costs.
• Enhance Canada's research capacity and global competitiveness by addressing critical infrastructure needs across all disciplines through the CFI Innovation Fund 2025, which will invest up to $425 million in research infrastructure and up to $127.5 million through the associated Infrastructure Operating Fund, to enable world-class discoveries and innovation.
• Support the Canadian Light Source, a national research facility, by providing up to $83.5 million through the CFI Major Science Initiatives Fund, ensuring continued access to cutting-edge synchrotron capabilities for Canadian and international researchers.

To safeguard Canada's research advantages, ISED will strengthen the protection of Canadian research from foreign interference by continuing to implement the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships and the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. In 2026–27, this will include expanding due diligence efforts to Canada's college sector and deepening collaboration with international governments to align research security measures with trusted global partners.

Genomics – the study of genes, their functions, and their influence on health and the environment – offers transformative potential across sectors including medicine, agriculture, and clean technology. Unlocking its full impact requires coordinated national leadership, modern infrastructure, and broad access to genomic data and tools. ISED has established the Canadian Genomics Strategy Secretariat within ISED to lead coordination across Canada's genomics ecosystem. Working in collaboration with partners including Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Global Innovation Clusters, Innovative Solutions Canada, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Secretariat has a mandate to strengthen the commercialization and adoption of genomics applications, improve the accessibility, interoperability and security of genomics data, and support the development of highly qualified talent across the genomics sector.

To advance the science of AI safety, Canadian AI Safety Institute will continue to support government directed and investigator-initiated research projects to be able to tackle the existing and emerging risks of the AI technology and to ensure its safe and responsible adoption across wide array of sectors. In 2026-2027, this will include building capacity for AI Safety Assurance laboratory at the National Research Council and continuing to support the AI Institutes through CIFAR.

Global collaboration to amplify Canada's science and innovation impact

International engagement remains a cornerstone of Canada's science and research ecosystem because it reinforces Canada's reputation as a responsive and trusted partner. Through deepening ties with partners, participating in global research frameworks, and promoting Canadian leadership in multilateral science fora, ISED will expand opportunities for Canadian researchers, align with shared global priorities, and strengthen the visibility of Canadian scientific excellence. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Support Canadian participation in Horizon Europe, the EU's main research and innovation funding program, to support projects by coordinating training workshops and proposal support for researchers applying to Pillar 2 funding calls, especially in health, climate, and digital technologies – aligned with Canada's science and innovation priorities.
• Shape upcoming Horizon Europe work programs and funding priorities through active collaboration with Canada's National Contact Points and European Commission partners, ensuring Canadian interests are reflected in challenge-driven research topics.
• Deepen bilateral science engagement through collaboration with South Africa under the Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on shared research priorities that support innovation and inclusive growth.
• Influence global science policy by actively participating in international forums such as the G7, G20, APEC, and OECD, where Canada will support consensus-driven outcomes that reflect its ST&I values while navigating geopolitical dynamics.
• Finalize the work of the G7 Science Communication Working Group, producing practical guidance for policymakers on building public trust in science through transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based communication practices.
• As part of Canada's commitment to deepen collaboration on quantum with G7 countries outlined in the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies:
  • Support NSERC's efforts to launch quantum research funding calls with counterparts in G7 countries, and support the NRC's delivery of a quantum commercialization funding call with Germany; and,
  • Fund Quantum Industry Canada to support a G7 Quantum Commercialization fund by enhancing Canada's international profile and advancing Canada's quantum sector through attracted investment and enhanced technology adoption.

Establishing research leadership at home and abroad

To position Canada as a global leader in research excellence and responsible technological advancement, ISED will, via the granting agencies, support universities to actively recruit global research talent in target areas associated with the future economy and current areas of strength, support the creation and growth of expert-led bodies that guide national science and innovation priorities, and, advance the modernization of the federal research support system to enhance Canada's global competitiveness and enable more strategic approaches to forge international partnerships with like-minded allies to enhance sovereign capabilities. These initiatives will align federal research investments with long-term economic, societal, and environmental outcomes, while embedding Canadian expertise into international research networks. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Launch the Science and Innovation Advisory Council under the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) to provide expert advice to the Minister of Industry on setting national research priorities. The Council will include leaders from academia, industry, and non-profits, and will recommend strategies to align federal investments with Canada's long-term economic, environmental, and societal objectives.
• Lead and coordinate the ongoing work of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI) to advance research on safe and responsible AI development and deployment. CAISI's activities include investigator-led research funded through the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and government-directed work through the National Research Council. ISED also leads Canada's participation in the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science (previously the International Network of AI Safety Institutes) through CAISI, further embedding Canadian leadership in the global AI safety ecosystem.
• Advance Canada's ability to recruit top-tier research talent in target areas vital to national prosperity and resilience via the Impact+ Initiative. This new talent attraction initiative, delivered by the three federal granting agencies, will complement Canada's existing research talent, contributing to a robust talent pipeline and positioning Canada as world-leading science and innovation hub.
• Collaborate with Health Canada to further the Budget 2025 commitment to modernize the federal research support system through the introduction of the capstone organization. The capstone will better prepare Canada to shape and lead mission-oriented and multidisciplinary science and research in the twenty-first century and provide a more unified Canadian voice on the world stage to enhance strategic international alliances and the access to knowledge, talent and technologies they bring.

Gender-based Analysis Plus

ISED is committed to ensuring that its investments in science and research contribute to a more inclusive, equitable innovation ecosystem. By integrating gender-based analysis across program design and delivery, ISED aims to broaden access and ensure the benefits of emerging technologies and research that are shared by all Canadians. ISED encourages greater representation in Canadian research, industry, and innovation. To support these goals, ISED will:

• Build inclusive innovation capacity by ensuring that the expansion of Canada's AI compute infrastructure supports all Canadians, including Indigenous and official language minority communities. Increased access to AI compute may enable the development of culturally and linguistically tailored AI tools, enhancing participation in the digital economy.
• Support inclusive research and development by encouraging SSF recipients to integrate EDI principles across governance and operations. Recipients will continue to engage underrepresented groups and collect self-identification data across funded activities to assess impact and inform future priorities.
• Embed GBA Plus principles across all science and research programs by drawing on broader departmental initiatives.
• Strengthen data-driven decision-making by collaborating with Statistics Canada and other partners to collect and analyze demographic data. These insights will help track GBA Plus outcomes in the genomics and quantum sectors and support more inclusive program design.

Planned resources to achieve results

Table 6: Planned resources to achieve results for Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization

Complete financial and human resources information for the ISED's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Program inventory

Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization is supported by the following programs:

• Science and Research

Additional information related to the program inventory for Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Summary of changes to reporting framework since last year

As part of the 2026-27 planning cycle, ISED has amended its DRF to revise one indicator under the Core Responsibility "Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization". The revision is focused on measurability and improved clarity to support results-based decision-making and more meaningful public reporting.

Specific changes include:

Updated Indicator

• Average relative citation (ARC) score of science research publications from Canadian-based researchers in the sciences

Description

Support the creation, transfer and diffusion of knowledge to ensure that Canadians, including under-represented individuals, are equipped with the skills and tools to participate in an innovative, high-growth economy; advance a culture of innovation where Canadians are driven to address local, regional, national and/or global challenges; benefit from growth of the middle class across communities; have increased access to affordable broadband and mobile Internet, including in rural and remote regions; and are protected and informed consumers.

Quality of life impacts

People, Skills and Communities core responsibility seeks to advance Canadians' quality of life primarily through the Prosperity domain by expanding affordable, reliable high-speed Internet, and strengthening inclusive entrepreneurship supports. The UBF will continue to support more households connected at 50/10 and above, paired with lower monthly costs and working devices, enabling fuller participation in online learning, work, health, and civic services. Programs such as the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), Futurpreneur, and the Business Data Lab (BDL) broaden access to capital, mentoring, and practical market intelligence so more entrepreneurs and businesses can start, sustain, and grow businesses.

The core responsibility also contributes to the Society domain by delivering with and through communities, including Indigenous partners, official language minority communities, and rural, remote, and Northern regions, which can build trust and a stronger sense of belonging. Delivery follows privacy-by-design and accessibility standards, with results disaggregated under GBA Plus to show who benefits. Performance will track adoption and retention of connectivity, affordability savings, devices deployed, participation in training and mentorship, financing disbursed, and outcomes such as business formation, survival, and growth, all considered through the Framework's fairness and inclusion lens.

Indicators, results and targets

This section presents details on the department's indicators, the actual results from the three most recently reported fiscal years, the targets and target dates for People, Skills and Communities. Details are presented by departmental result.

Plans to achieve results

The following section describes the planned results for People, Skills and Communities in 2026–2027.

Departmental Result: People and communities from all segments of Canadian society participate in the economy

Results we plan to achieve

Bridging digital divides

Bridging digital divides helps ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they live or their income level, can access reliable and affordable connectivity so they can work, learn, access services and fully participate in the digital economy. In 2026-27, ISED will help more people and small businesses participate in the digital economy by keeping home Internet affordable, and expanding reliable high-speed Internet coverage in underserved regions. At the same time, ISED will support inclusive entrepreneurship with better access to capital, mentorship, and skills, plus practical data tools and training so small businesses can make informed decisions and grow. In 2026–27, ISED will:

• Provide affordable connectivity for eligible low-income families and seniors through the Connecting Families Initiative, by partnering with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer low-cost home Internet plans. Through privacy-protected intake and targeted outreach with community partners, these plans help households maintain stable access for learning, work, job search, telehealth, and public services, reducing monthly cost pressures.
• Continue delivery of high-speed Internet access buildout in underserved regions under the Universal Broadband Fund by supporting the funded recipients' work in advancing approved projects to ready-for-service, coordinating permits and schedules with provinces, municipalities and Indigenous partners, and tracking milestones as households come online, while prioritizing rural, remote and Indigenous communities where improved access enables telehealth, online learning, participation in government services and local e-commerce.
• Support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity arrangements to extend high-speed access in the Far North and remote areas by integrating satellite and terrestrial solutions where appropriate, partnering with community ISPs and Indigenous organizations to set up community Wi-Fi and last-mile solutions where fibre is not feasible and improving reliability compared with legacy satellite, enabling essential services such as telemedicine consults, distance education, emergency communications and small-business e-commerce by pairing LEO access with local training and device support, and piloting hybrid models (LEO backhaul with fixed wireless or fibre-to-the-home where practical) to lower per-household costs and speed deployment timelines.

Participation across all communities

ISED will continue to support participation in the economy across communities through initiatives such as the Black Entrepreneurship Program, Futurpreneur, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. By ensuring participation across all communities, Canadians from different regions, backgrounds and circumstances can have a voice in decisions, benefit from programs and services, and contribute to Canada's economic, social and cultural life. This leads to more inclusive policies and outcomes that better reflect the realities and priorities of the people they serve.

For example, in 2026-27, ISED will support inclusive entrepreneurship by expanding access to capital and wrap-around supports for Black business owners through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP). Delivery focuses on financing, mentorship, and knowledge creation with community partners so more entrepreneurs and businesses can start, grow, and sustain viable firms. The program is delivered in partnership between ISED and the regional development agencies. In 2026–27, BEP will:

• Continue to work with the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), who serve as the administrator for the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, to build on the success of this program component to-date and continue to ensure that Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country have access to the financing and expertise they need to start, grow and maintain their businesses.
• Continue to work with Carleton University's Sprott School of Business and the Dream Legacy Foundation to strengthen the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. The Hub will conduct research on the state of Black entrepreneurship in Canada and help identify Black entrepreneurs' barriers to success as well as opportunities for growth. The Knowledge Hub will also serve as a convening body for the BEP ecosystem and other partner organizations with the view of fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Collaborate with the regional development agencies (RDAs) as they deliver the BEP Ecosystem Fund, which supports not-for-profit Black-led business organizations across the country in their capacity to provide support services such as mentorship, financial planning and business training for Black entrepreneurs. This collaboration will help bring the program's three pillars together to maximize results and show their impact.

ISED will boost youth entrepreneurship by supporting Futurpreneur, which is administered by Futurepreneur Canada (FC). In 2026–27, FC will:

• Continue providing financing, mentoring, and support tools to young Canadian entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 39.
• Assist young entrepreneurs in reaching entrepreneurial success by developing their business acumen, assisting them sharpen their ability to assess clients' needs and market opportunities, enhancing their skills, improving their readiness levels, and securing additional financial and mentoring resources to initiate and expand their ventures. Over 2023-24 to 2028-29, FC plans to that this investment enable approximately 6,250 Canadian youth to launch and scale up their businesses – averaging about 1,250 entrepreneurs per year.
• In addition to its existing programs such as the Core Startup Program, Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (BESP) and the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP), Futurpreneur will continue to prioritize expanding support for, and outreach to, equity-deserving entrepreneurs in remote, rural, and minority communities; conduct targeted outreach to Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs); and increase outreach and engagement with newcomer agencies and entrepreneurs. Moreover, ISED will advance inclusive program delivery through initiatives such as Rock My Business, the Growth Accelerator, Women in Entrepreneurship, and DoorDash Founders Socials.

ISED will improve decision-making for small businesses by providing access to timely, user-friendly market intelligence through the Business Data Lab (BDL). Easy-to-use dashboards and insights will help entrepreneurs understand conditions, spot opportunities, and compete more effectively. In 2026–27, BDL will:

• Continue work towards enhancing the understanding of Canadian business conditions, and towards democratizing data that will empower Canadian small businesses and entrepreneurs, including underrepresented entrepreneurs.
• Provide small businesses, entrepreneurs and equity deserving groups with high-quality statistical information and tools to help them understand evolving market conditions, conduct research on Canadian business competitiveness, and support education through hosting seminars and conferences.

Gender-based Analysis Plus

In 2026–27, ISED will apply an intersectional GBA Plus lens across connectivity, device access, and entrepreneurship programming to reduce persistent digital and economic gaps, with a focus on affordability, accessible program design, reliable high-speed service in underserved regions, and practical financing, mentorship, skills, and data tools that help underrepresented founders start and grow businesses. In 2026-27, ISED will:

• Prioritize groups at higher risk of exclusion (for example, low-income families and seniors, newcomers, youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and official language minority communities), with tailored approaches for rural, remote and northern contexts.
• Embed accessibility and privacy by design in intake, reporting and communications, including plain language, alternative formats, multilingual materials, data minimization, de-identified aggregation, and clear consent and opt-out processes.
• Expand community-based outreach and onboarding so that, as new high-speed internet projects go live, households in need can access to affordable internet services and provide programming to expand young Canadians' digital skills.
• Provide inclusive entrepreneurship supports that combine targeted financing, microloans, mentorship, advisory services and accelerator programming for equity-deserving founders and youth and complement these with accessible business data tools and training that help small businesses interpret market signals and apply insights to pricing, hiring, expansion and risk management.
• Strengthen data and measurement practices by standardizing de-identified demographic and regional categories across programs and partners, tracking both reach and outcomes (for example activation and retention, loan uptake and repayment health, business formation and survival), and closing data gaps through aligned surveys, a concise GBA Plus data dictionary and reporting calendar, and privacy-preserving techniques that enable aggregated comparisons across delivery partners.
• Maintain strong governance and quality controls, including lightweight templates for consent and disclosure, periodic checks for data quality, bias and accessibility, and public summaries of what was tested and how issues were addressed.
• Use the Black Entrepreneurship Program as a key platform for disaggregated data on Black entrepreneurs, working with FACE and regional development agencies so that loan and ecosystem funding recipients report on applicants and clients by gender, age and other identity factors, and on the share of businesses majority-owned by Black Canadians, disaggregated by diversity characteristics.
• Support Futurpreneur to continue robust data tracking and evaluation, including ongoing data collection and periodic surveys, and to report on the number of young entrepreneurs accessing financial and mentorship support by target group (such as women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ community members, Indigenous Peoples and newcomers).
• Leverage the Business Data Lab to generate new data and insights on small businesses and entrepreneurs, including underrepresented entrepreneurs, and to expand the number of diversity, equity and inclusion-related indicators available on its platform, providing an evidence base for inclusive entrepreneurship and small business policies.

Planned resources to achieve results

Table 8: Planned resources to achieve results for People, Skills and Communities

Complete financialand human resources informationfor the ISED's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Program inventory

People, Skills and Communities is supported by the following programs:

• Support for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs
• Bridging Digital Divides

Additional information related to the program inventory for People, Skills and Communities is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Summary of changes to reporting framework since last year

As part of the 2026-27 planning cycle, ISED has amended its DRF to revise two indicators under the Core Responsibility "People, Skills and Communities". Revisions to existing indicators focus on measurability, consistent definitions, and improved clarity to support results-based decision-making and more meaningful public reporting.

Specific changes include:

Updated Indicators

• Number of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs
• Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including SMEs, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, women, youth, visible minorities (including Black Canadians), and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals

Description

Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

• acquisition management services
• communications services
• financial management services
• human resources management services
• information management services
• information technology services
• legal services
• material management services
• management and oversight services
• real property management services

Plans to achieve results

In 2026-27, internal services will play a central role in helping ISED implement Government of Canada Budget 2025 priorities and decisions arising from the Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER). By aligning corporate services, workforce planning and financial management with government-wide savings and reallocation measures, internal services will support the sustainable delivery of ISED programs and help ensure that all areas of the department adapt to these decisions in a coordinated, transparent and fiscally responsible way. In 2026-27, internal services will:

• Lead workforce planning, re-skilling, upskilling and internal mobility efforts through human resources management using an inclusive and equitable lens. Provide guidance on organizational design and labour relations, and support change management so that sectors can implement Budget 2025 and CER decisions while maintaining a healthy, inclusive and psychologically safe workplace.
• Provide costing and scenario analysis through financial management, strengthen financial planning and monitoring, and work with sectors to identify savings and reallocation options so that ISED can implement Budget 2025 and CER decisions while continuing to deliver priority programs and services for Canadians.

Our workplace

In 2026-27, ISED will continue ongoing projects that focus on optimizing and improving our office space by applying fit-up standards, removing physical barriers to accessibility, and integrating inclusive shared space. We will:

• Optimize our physical office space to support departmental operations and ensure equitable access to all ISED office spaces.
• Increase building occupancy by implementing GC Workplace Fit-up Standards.
• Address or remove the remaining physical workplace barriers that we identified under our Accessibility Action Plan to improve accessibility of our built environment.
• Support shared, multi-use spaces, such as Indigenous ceremonial spaces, prayer rooms, and all access washrooms to make our office spaces more inclusive.

Our workforce

In 2026-27, ISED will continue to invest in a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workforce that delivers results for Canadians. Through strong and inclusive leadership, modern and equitable people management practices, and the responsible use of data and technology, the department will foster a respectful, values-based, and resilient organization. We will:

• Strengthen our culture of respect and psychological safety by advancing the 2024–27 Mental Health Strategy and the modernized Accommodation Resource Centre, ensuring timely and barrier-free support for employees. We will continue to foster integrity and accountability in performance management by recognizing excellence, fairness and ethical leadership across all levels. Advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility by implementing relevant strategies with an aim to removing barriers for full participation. This includes inclusive recruitment, leadership development, and ongoing support for Indigenous, Black, and other equity-seeking employees to increase representation in leadership.
• Build a future-ready workforce, by promoting internal mobility, re-skilling and upskilling to navigate change and remain resilient in a transforming workplace, and the use of modern tools and data, AI and analytics to plan effectively and manage resources responsibly. We will continue to refine hybrid and digital ways of working to strengthen collaboration, inclusion, and productivity across teams.
• Promote open communication and employee engagement, to support a trusted, transparent, and collaborative workplace that reflects the values and diversity of the Canadians we serve.

Our work

In 2026-27, ISED will continue to reinforce financial accountabilities and controls, improve our cyber security posture, and improve our analytical capacity by maturing our data and AI practices and leveraging regional intelligence. We will:

• Reinforce financial accountabilities and modernize our financial management structure, in line with the TB Policy on Financial Management.
• Shorten procurement cycles and increase cost savings by updating our service standards and implementing new controls for the procurement of professional services.
• Implement new processes and procedures for booking travel as we transition from the existing travel request process to a new Expense Management Tool, continuing to ensure that all travel expenditures are justified and provide good value for Canadians.
• Advance key Government of Canada priorities, including the 2023–2026 Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service and the 2025–2027 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, by improving data and information maturity.
• Ensure that ISED's data and information assets are strategically managed, providing a strong foundation for responsible, secure, and effective AI adoption.
• Continue working with Shared Services Canada to migrate IT applications from outdated legacy data centers to new SSC End State Data Centers and to the Cloud.

Develop, and begin to implement, a rationalization plan with the goal of reducing the current size of ISED's IT application portfolio.

• Undertake a department-wide exercise to improve the administration of Grants and Contributions, to ensure that the organization can deliver on expected results while positioning itself to meet current and future Government of Canada savings targets.
• Implement ISED's three-year Departmental Security plan to improve cyber threat prevention, detection and response capabilities leveraging AI and automation to gain efficiencies.
• Integrate service, application, and business intake data to provide real-time insights, and identify aging IT risks and opportunities for consolidation and cost-savings to ensure alignment with the Government of Canada's Enterprise Cyber Security Strategy.
• Implement departmental Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Accessibility Plan to deliver services that are accessible, equitable and inclusive. Equity-gap assessments of programs will identify and address systemic barriers, ensuring fair access for all communities. Applying an accessibility lens will drive reductions in physical, digital, and procedural barriers for programs, fostering more inclusive participation and service delivery for all Canadian businesses.
• Provide Canadians with clear, accurate, accessible in both official languages, and timely communications on government policies, programs and priorities, with a focus on reinforcing how our investments support us in achieving objectives under Canada's industrial strategy. Additionally, we will ensure that strategic communications are integrated into departmental initiatives and projects from the outset, using modern communications platforms and technologies, including the integration of AI to enhance reach and effectiveness.
• Through our regional offices, continue to strengthen regional stakeholder relationships through outreach and engagement, and provide regional intelligence and analysis to support Departmental programs, priorities, and policy development.

Planned resources to achieve results

Table 9: Planned resources to achieve results for internal services this year

Complete financial and human resources information for ISED's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planning for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses

To support economic reconciliation and exceed the 5% Indigenous procurement target, ISED is taking the following actions:

• Actively promoting ISED's Indigenous Procurement Policy and related processes to increase Indigenous business participation.
• Requiring mandatory training for Procurement Specialists, Acquisition Cardholders, and staff with low-dollar authority.
• Engaging early with program areas through annual procurement planning to identify potential Indigenous opportunities.
• Leveraging the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB).
• Awarding contracts to Indigenous firms where viable capacity exists.
• Using corporate controls and regular reporting to monitor compliance and track progress.

ISED sets annual targets using historical data and procurement forecasts. Opportunities are validated against the Indigenous Business Directory (IBD), and Deputy Minister approval is sought for exemptions where no Indigenous capacity exists. Exemptions are reviewed and updated each year based on changes in the IBD.

For 2026–27, ISED will continue to expand opportunities by:

• Promoting tools such as contract unbundling, Requests For Information (RFI), and social or economic impact criteria; and
• Tracking acquisition card purchases with Indigenous suppliers.

Overall, these measures strengthen ISED's Indigenous procurement performance, address ongoing challenges, and align with federal best practices.

Table 10: Percentage of contracts planned and awarded to Indigenous businesses