Innovation & Technology-Increasing Canadian Competitiveness

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME?s) are commonly considered the economic and innovation engine of the Canadian economy. A staggering 99.9% of Canadian companies are classified as SMEs, making up 89.9% of all jobs within the Canadian private sector. When SMEs innovate and adopt new technologies, it can have a profound impact on the global competitiveness of Canadian industry. But how can we promote and encourage such a diverse group of organizations to adopt new digital technology and take Canada to the next level?

Join the Conference Boards own Paul Preston as he explores why digital technology adoption matters for all firms, and particularly SMEs, when competing globally. Drawing reference to the findings of the 2014 Conference Board of Canada study titled: "Adopting Digital Technologies: The Path for SMEs" and the Conference Board's Report Card on Innovation, Paul will discuss the role of innovation and productivity in our economy, provide insight into the innovation performance of Canada relative to peer countries, and focus in on the extent of ICT adoption in this country and how it impacts organizational effectiveness and overall Canadian competitiveness.

In this 60 minute webinar, we will: -Outline specific challenges SMEs face in adopting digital technologies -Identify why it is vital that firms seek opportunities to embrace technology and effective technology-driven change management practices. -Explore why the aging population, wage levels, and the productivity gap in Canada is making a call to action for digital technology adoption. -Outline the key barriers that limit investment in digital technologies that can improve productivity and allow for transformation. -Share insights from a series of workshops conducted by the Conference Board with SMEs, and technology and change management experts to understand barriers and approaches to adopting digital technologies.