Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for receiving me today.
I will try to stay within the six or seven minutes that I have, but since I am a little passionate about the subject, I might go over time. Please signal me if that is the case.
CEFRIO is a centre that supports research in social and organizational innovation. Simply put, we research and assess how technologies are used and implemented. We work with 80 associate researchers on how to change the ways of doing things using digital technology. We work in all industry sectors, whether in health, education, or with SMEs, in the transfer of digital competencies, for example.
For over 25 years, we have developed a research model that makes it possible to work systematically on the ground, that is, directly in companies, hospitals and schools. The transfer is continuous. Every time new knowledge is created, it is systematically integrated into the work process and professional practices. As a result, no change management is needed subsequently.
The researchers are experts in the area of the project we are working on. They need to stick to the expected “deliverables”, not to do broad research. We like to say that we have researchers who find, not just researchers who research. We have a network of experts and everyone works systematically together.
Today, let me give you our definition of the word “digital”. For us, digital technology is the Internet, the Internet of things, 3D printing, big data, the advanced manufacturer. When we talk about digital technology, we refer to all those aspects, not just the information and communication technologies.
I really like the two photos on slide 4 of the presentation. In the top right image, from the election of the pope in 2005, we can see only one smartphone. Eight years later, at the election of the new pope, what we see is not candles, but smartphones. Those photos show us the speed of the changes coming our way in the next few years.
The concept of disruptive technologies is captivating, because all these technologies are disruptive to the extent that they require a complete overhaul of the business models that companies have. They are very demanding for a simple reason: they require organizations to have a capacity for innovation.
The fascinating part is that citizens, users and consumers adapt very quickly. However, there is a problem. The digital competencies of individuals are not being used in businesses or institutions, which has a significant impact on Canada's productivity and development. The main reasons that explain this difference between citizens—