I would say that it is primarily companies that do not invest enough internally in research and development.
Several studies have been done on this. One of them, from the Council of Canadian Academies, simply said that companies have been innovative to the point where they should be. In short, when you have access to support programs, it's often better to take the grants that come your way than to become very competitive and invest in research and development. That was in the early 2000s and 2010s, perhaps.
What we need to do now is to give the industrial sector a new boost. In addition, as I referred to earlier, we need to review the research assistance program, the so‑called SR&ED tax credits, and modify it slightly. Some have suggested that it be modified to provide ad hoc assistance to certain companies in certain sectors.
I always say that there are three important elements to activate industrial research.
First, we must invest in places where there is expertise in Canada. We must build on the expertise we have.
Secondly, we must ensure that these are large markets. We are talking about billions of dollars and hundreds of millions of dollars.
Finally, we want to ensure that these investments are profitable in Canada. If it is a manufactured product, we must ensure that it is manufactured in Canada so that it can create jobs in Canada. There is little point in developing new knowledge if it is to be exploited elsewhere, in other countries.
For me, these are three elements that have served other countries well, such as Germany and England. We have good models to follow in these countries.
I also think it is important to encourage and foster partnerships between industry and universities. My field of research is also water, as I work in wastewater treatment. As a researcher, you have to make sure that what you are developing can benefit society, and having these partnerships between industry and universities is crucial.