A few weeks ago I launched https://www.unicornnorth.com . I think the data paints an interesting story that parallels some of the history you tell here.
Reminds me of when the Federal Government (around 2011) told Precarn (30ish year Federal Centre of Excellence in AI and Robotics) that "AI and robotics would not be in Canada's future" and dropped stopped funding the initiative. We asked how this fit Canada's industrial strategy and got crickets. The current world now makes the statement now seem ridiculous. This is not exactly the same, but without a plan for the future... a strategy... silly things can happen.
Strategy is trying to look in to the future and rationalize present goals to meet them. I'm not convinced the government knows what they're doing - what's worse is placing it in-between the AI Ministry and ISED puts it in a gray zone that is difficult to accept.
This is excellent, Matt. It reminds me of the 1980s sale of sale of Connaught Laboratories and Institut Armand-Frappier: The Mulroney administration privatized the internationally renowned Connaught Laboratories, a historically publicly oriented entity that mass-produced insulin, developed polio vaccines, and domestic vaccines at cost. It was eventually absorbed by the French pharma giant Sanofi. Quebec-based Armand-Frappier was a vaccine research and production hub that was privatized and was eventually acquired by GSK. How’d not having a strategy work out here?
Privatizing is not always a bad move - though we've clear bad examples as you've pointed out it needs to be clear what red lines we need. The lack of a strategy just seems so out of place while we make this move I struggle to say I'm for or against this initiative.
You bet… guardrails that protect access to the IP and services? Each case will be different, but in strategically important sectors that are dependent on IP, we should be VERY thoughtful.
Excellent read. Thanks for putting this together!
A few weeks ago I launched https://www.unicornnorth.com . I think the data paints an interesting story that parallels some of the history you tell here.
I love reading your articles Matt. There is so much substance in them, and I learn a ton from every line. Thank you for another quality contribution!
Thanks Shahzad! Appreciate the note.
Reminds me of when the Federal Government (around 2011) told Precarn (30ish year Federal Centre of Excellence in AI and Robotics) that "AI and robotics would not be in Canada's future" and dropped stopped funding the initiative. We asked how this fit Canada's industrial strategy and got crickets. The current world now makes the statement now seem ridiculous. This is not exactly the same, but without a plan for the future... a strategy... silly things can happen.
Strategy is trying to look in to the future and rationalize present goals to meet them. I'm not convinced the government knows what they're doing - what's worse is placing it in-between the AI Ministry and ISED puts it in a gray zone that is difficult to accept.
Canada’s economy is in free fall. 37,121 insolvencies in just Jan-Feb-March. 17 Canadians filing for bankruptcy every single hour.
Canada elected a superstar, central banker Mark Carney who was supposed to “fix” everything
How is his plan going?
Record debt, obliterated savings, families torching their futures.
Tits up eh!
This is excellent, Matt. It reminds me of the 1980s sale of sale of Connaught Laboratories and Institut Armand-Frappier: The Mulroney administration privatized the internationally renowned Connaught Laboratories, a historically publicly oriented entity that mass-produced insulin, developed polio vaccines, and domestic vaccines at cost. It was eventually absorbed by the French pharma giant Sanofi. Quebec-based Armand-Frappier was a vaccine research and production hub that was privatized and was eventually acquired by GSK. How’d not having a strategy work out here?
Privatizing is not always a bad move - though we've clear bad examples as you've pointed out it needs to be clear what red lines we need. The lack of a strategy just seems so out of place while we make this move I struggle to say I'm for or against this initiative.
You bet… guardrails that protect access to the IP and services? Each case will be different, but in strategically important sectors that are dependent on IP, we should be VERY thoughtful.