Canada California Innovation Partnership

The Canada - California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) is an important element of the Canadian and Californian science and technology agendas.

Peter Van Loan, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, recently announced 15 research initiatives of cooperation with the Government of California, which "will help move ideas from the laboratory to the real world, and will contribute to a cleaner environment and improved healthcare."

Minister Van Loan continued, "Our joint projects will lead to advances in many fields, from carbon storage and new biofuels to energy-efficient computers and better border crossings."

Nine of the 15 initiatives are collaborative events and six are research and development projects. They involve 21 Canadian universities in partnership with eight University of California campuses.

"This collaborative partnership is great news for both California and Canada. These projects will help speed up progress in many key areas important to both California and Canada, including climate change, renewable energy, infectious disease control and stem cell research," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"CCSIP will bring together some of the best researchers and innovators to find solutions that will protect our environment while growing our economy."

The Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership, which was inaugurated four years ago, is a catalyst for collaborative research, development and delivery between Canada and California --- two very innovative jurisdictions.

The CCSIP's first call for proposals was administered by the University of California’s Office of the President and by International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTP Canada).

"The funding of these novel and mutually beneficial collaborative projects reflects the important role played by both governments in promoting world-class research and innovation," said Henri Rothschild, President and Chief Executive Officer of ISTP Canada.

"These bilateral initiatives promise to provide a strategic agenda for enhanced cooperation between Canada and California in priority areas, accelerate the delivery of research results and help to stimulate our economies."

"The CCSIP offers a valuable framework for international research cooperation, beginning with a strong innovation partner—Canada," said Mark Yudof, President of the University of California.

"In these challenging times, cooperation is essential to broaden the impact of our research, and accelerate innovation that stimulates economic growth in California and Canada."

The approved innovation projects will involve 425 personnel at the universities.  Funding is split between participating universities in both Canada and California.

California and Canada share a productive and well-established relationship:

• Trade between Canada and California averages $35 billion per year.
• Canada is California's second largest trade partner.
• 840,000 California jobs are supported by trade with Canada.
• Canadians average 1.3 million annual visits to California, spending $1 billion.
• Californians average 800,000 annual visits to Canada, spending $600 million.

It's fantastic to know that the Bear is totally cool with the Maple Leaf.