I want to focus my questioning on business and the limited level of participation in Canada from SMEs compared to the United States, for example, and on the changing business models.
You highlighted Netflix. Who would have thought five or six years ago that your local video rental places would virtually be gone? It changed very quickly. Yet in the vast majority of Canadian businesses, we see a resistance to be involved in this changing model of business. What are those barriers?
I want to focus on the report, Mr. Ciobanu. You've said in your report that 731 firms have been participating in the DTAPP. Over 500 of them have received funding, so that's most of the 731, about two-thirds. As of today, 118 have completed the digital adoption projects, so they've received some of their funding. Is there additional funding to come as they complete that adoption? Also, because of the DTAPP, you say that 87% of these firms are more likely to undertake another step in advancing.
My focus is on expanding their market. They have an old model that they're using, and now they have something that could be marketed throughout the world using digital technology. What are those barriers? You've highlighted the lack of experience with this technology, because it takes a risk to move on to this whole new way of doing business. Where is that experience?
You're providing some of that experience due to your programs, but where is the experience we need so that business gets buy-in? Is it through the Chamber of Commerce? Is it through the National Research Council programs? How do we get buy-in from SMEs?