Powering a Postsecondary Pivot: Bold ideas to advance national ambitions in Defence and Space, AI and Energy
Canada is preparing for “historic investments to reorient the economy,” according to a new RBC Thought Leadership report, signalling an urgent call for postsecondary institutions to modernize and align with national goals. The federal budget is expected to allocate billions toward “nation-building initiatives like modernizing defence and space infrastructure, expanding computing capacity, and developing renewable energy,” creating both “opportunity and necessity for change.” At a recent summit on Talent, Technology, and a New Economic Order, participants warned that “just as Canada is ramping up, colleges and universities are scaling down,” urging collaboration across government, industry, and education to develop skills in defence, AI, and energy. The report concludes that “Canada has the tools to compete—and lead—but only if we align our systems to meet this moment with urgency and ambition.”
