CCI's 2027 Pre-Budget Recommendations for the New Brunswick Government

A government contract can help a New Brunswick technology company prove its product, secure investment and reach new customers. As the province invests in energy, infrastructure, health and other strategic priorities, its purchasing decisions can also help homegrown businesses grow and retain valuable capabilities here.

Budget 2027 offers an opportunity to make those connections more deliberate. An innovation procurement policy would recognize the economic value Canadian companies create, while a dedicated procurement hub would help successful pilots become full-scale contracts. A provincial artificial intelligence (AI) strategy could support wider adoption across government and industry and create opportunities for local technology providers to participate in major projects.

Growth also depends on addressing the barriers companies encounter and protecting the assets behind their success. A regular forum connecting the Premier with chief executive officers (CEOs) would help identify obstacles involving capital, talent and market access. A provincial intellectual property (IP) strategy, supported by Atlantic cooperation, would help more companies protect and commercialize their ideas at home.

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is putting forward four recommendations for Budget 2027 to help New Brunswick turn its strengths into more globally competitive homegrown companies:

1. Scale Canadian Technology Companies Through Innovation Procurement.
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2. Capture AI productivity and Commercialization opportunities through a comprehensive provincial AI strategy.
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3. Remove barriers to scale for innovators through a Premier’s CEO Roundtable.
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4. Retain more commercialization value through a provincial IP strategy and an Atlantic IP agency.

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About the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI)

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is Canada’s business council for the 21st century economy. We are a collective of over 175 of Canada’s fastest-growing and most ambitious companies, and the founders, CEOs, and executives behind them, working together to improve the business conditions that help more homegrown companies scale, compete globally, and drive long-term prosperity. Learn more at canadianinnovators.org.