About – CICan 2024 Applied Research Symposium

Abstract image of circles and other shapes.

CICan’s 2024 Applied Research Symposium will bring together members of the applied research community from across the country to share best practices, network, and reflect on this year’s theme of Growing Impact.

Colleges and institutes are key to advancing Canada’s drive to net-zero, growing labour productivity, and addressing the impediments to sustainable growth facing Canada’s business and not-for-profit community. Colleges and institutes help drive innovation in their communities, their regions, and across Canada.

Held in Ottawa, this event will permit attendees of all levels to foster connections and engage in thoughtful conversation about the future of the sector, as it continues to expand and grow its impact from coast to coast to coast.

What to Expect

20+ engaging sessions featuring leaders from across Canada

Networking opportunities designed to bring the applied research community together

Forward-looking conversation about where the applied research ecosystem goes from here

Multiple keynote speeches and panels, including on the importance of applied research in addressing climate change

Symposium Streams

Over more than two days, delegates from across Canada will discuss applied research as it applies to the following streams.

Streams

Growing Collaboration and Impact in Colleges’ and Institutes’ Research

This stream will highlight discussions focused on growing the college and institute research system and enhancing our impact. Panels will include discussions on the steps external funders could take to better support college and institute research, steps the college and institute research community itself could take, and examples or best practices within the theme of enhancing collaboration and impact. Panels featured under this stream will include a portion of each presentation focused on distilling key takeaways and calls to actions, with room for discussion among attendees.

Growing Excellence in Research Administration

This stream will feature panels focused on topics largely internal to the college and institute research enterprise, including operations, grants administration, human resources, financial practices, and data management. Sessions in this stream will conclude with actionable advice and/or calls to action and provide room for discussion among attendees.

Growing Innovation in Canadian Firms

This stream will highlight the role of college research in supporting collaborations with for-profit entities. Panels will include discussions on successful business innovation projects, strategies for identifying and solidifying business partnerships, unique methods for leveraging funding or encouraging private investment, and other projects and approaches relevant to supporting business-focused innovation services.

Growing Social Innovation

This stream will highlight the role of college research in supporting non-profit organizations, community service organizations, or similar entities. Panels will include discussions on successful social innovation projects, long-term partnerships with relevant partners, innovative ways of leveraging funding for social innovation, and other projects, approaches, and items relevant to social innovation.