Marc Fortin on Rethinking University Research to Drive Canadian Innovation | Canada's National Observer

July 11, 2025 | In an opinion piece published in Canada’s National Observer, Marc Fortin, alongside Richard Gold, Evan Henry, and Martin Bader, argue that Canada should seize the moment created by U.S. research setbacks to build a stronger, more collaborative innovation ecosystem. With American universities facing cuts and instability, the authors call on Canada to rethink how they support research, moving away from patent sales toward long-term industry partnerships, open data, and simplified licensing.

They highlight that university-industry collaborations not only generate far more revenue than patents but also support local innovation, higher wages, and global competitiveness. To take advantage, universities must reward collaborative research, adopt tools like standard licensing agreements, and invest in accessible resources like AI training datasets. Fortin and his co-authors make the case that by embracing a bold, partnership-driven model, Canada can turn global disruption into long-term national advantage.