Make Canada Great Again!

In “The Relational Organization of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems” Ben Spigel explains that ecosystems are comprised of cultural, social and material attributes (Spigel, 2015). I’ve found that an article posted in the Globe and Mail titled “Six Easy Steps for a Better Canadian Tech Ecosystem” matches quite well with the content of Spigel’s argument.

Cultural attitudes involve the underlying attitudes towards innovation in our environment. The article begins by mentioning that Justin Trudeau speaks favourably of innovation, and believes that we should want to create and support it because it has the ability to improve people’s lives (Kelleher and McGee, 2016). It is clear then, that the PM has a focus on technology and innovation, considering they are engines for our economic growth in the future. Already, then, we can see that cultural attitudes in Canada, Ontario especially, are favourable towards tech ecosystems. Another article mentions that Canada ranks second in attitudes toward entrepreneurship and that Canadians see many opportunities to start businesses in the areas in which they live (Invest in Ontario, 2015). Canada also ranked well in terms of cultural support, meaning that our inhabitants believe that entrepreneurship is a valuable career choice (Invest in Ontario, 2015). Spigel (2015) claims that cultural beliefs can normalize entrepreneurship, making it seem like a viable career choice, and this appears to be the case in Canada.

The article also harmonizes with Spigel’s emphasis on social networks, which can spawn many resources such as knowledge and opportunities for those within the industry. It claims that the “Canadian startup community needs to develop a closer sense of kinship that emphasizes connections, connectivity and idea-sharing” (Kelleher and McGee, 2016). It also mentions that it has helped SV, and there is no doubt that it could be beneficial here in Waterloo and in other regions within Canada.

Finally, material attributes include resources like universities. In Waterloo, the UOW has clearly been an advantage for many tech companies, and Laurier is attempting to join in on the fun. According to the article, though, we need national strategies that can be used to commercialize the well-rounded research that has been conducted in Canada’s labs and universities (Kelleher and McGee, 2016). If greater emphasis and importance is placed on the resources that these institutes offer, it is possible that our tech ecosystem in the country could truly flourish.

So, what do you guys think? It appears that we currently have many of the resources needed to strengthen our tech ecosystems. Is it possible that, if greater emphasis is placed on some of the areas in which we lack, we could truly be in a position to compete with areas like Silicon Valley?

To read more about some of the strategies mentioned in the article, that have been omitted in this post, click here.

Invest in Ontario. “Canadian Business Ecosystem Places Second in the Global Entrepreneurship Index.” 25 Nov. 2015. http://www.investinontario.com/spotlights/canadian-business-ecosystem-places-second-global-entrepreneurship-index#request-conversation

Kelleher, J. & McGee, L. “Six Easy Steps for a Better Canadian Tech Ecosystem.” The Globe and Mail, 1 Feb. 2016, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/five-easy-steps-for-a-better-canadian-tech-ecosystem/article28486192/

Spigel, B. (2015). “The Relational Organization of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(1), 49-72.