There is a growing interest in developing a more robust clean innovation framework in Canada. The federal and provincial governments have committed to increasing investment in this area, and the March 2016 First Ministers meeting struck a working group on “clean technology, innovation, and jobs”.

This report undertakes a review of existing knowledge within Canada and internationally to answer three questions. First, how do we understand innovation and what are the analytical frameworks that guide innovation policy? Second, what is unique about the Canadian context and what are the country’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities? This includes considering the role of Canada’s natural resource sectors in clean innovation. Third, what policy actions can accelerate clean innovation and what types of policy structures should be created?