CCI Statement on Canada and the European Union Building an Alliance for the Future

Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the Canada–EU Alliance for the Future. In response, Skaidra Puodziunas, Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy, at the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI), issued the following statement:

"The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) welcomes the launch of the Canada–EU Alliance for the Future. The EU is one of the world’s largest consumer markets. This agreement offers a significant opportunity to deepen our ties with a critical trading partner, giving Canadian scale-ups a new platform to reach new customers and compete across the Atlantic. As Canada looks to diversify trade and strengthen its economic sovereignty, Canadian innovators will be among the first to unlock new markets, fuel growth at home, and build closer ties abroad.

"Concrete steps such as providing Canadians access to advanced compute and plans for cooperation on AI and digital trade can help Canadian innovators scale. To be a success, this Alliance must create more direct access for Canadian innovators to enter European markets, win public and private sector customers, and commercialize their IP abroad.

"To ensure this partnership delivers tangible outcomes, industry needs to be at the table in measuring progress, and cooperation has to turn into real cross-border contracts.

“Deepening our technological partnership with Europe is important to strengthening our sovereignty. By focusing on interoperability, shared capabilities, and deeper market access, Canadian companies can better anchor their growth here while competing globally. CCI will continue working with the federal government and our European counterparts to support a partnership that make Canada and Europe better places for Canadian innovators to scale.”
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Media Contact

Lisa Brody Hoffman
Director of Communications
‍lhoffman@canadianinnovators.org