Toronto Global Forum to address: Leveraging Innovation and Technology for Tomorrow's Growth

TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - In its latest Global Competitiveness Report, the World Economic Forum gave Canada its lowest global competitiveness ranking since 2006: 15^th out of 144 countries, down one position from last year. High profile business leaders will discuss how Canada could gain a greater competitive edge on innovation at the Toronto Global Forum on October 27-28 at the Fairmont Royal York.

Canada's poor innovation record is the result of a number of factors, ranging from a lack of access to financing to insufficient company spending on R&D. Canada's relatively small domestic market size and trade barriers are also contributing to the country's low performance.

"Leveraging technology in order to support tomorrow's economic growth is a pressing issue. Canadian economic growth is predicted to plateau within the next ten years. Supporting the innovation sector is critical for the long-term economic health of the country," said the President and CEO of the Forum, Nicholas Rémillard.

The rapid commercialization of high-technology innovations, used in highly sophisticated equipment and advanced engineering techniques (microelectronics, genetic engineering, or telecommunications), has a profound impact on the global business ecosystem. Recent economic reports show that Canada is losing ground internationally in this area.

"Businesses need to constantly innovate or their products and services will become commoditized," said Sophie Vandebroek, Xerox Chief Technology Officer. "Xerox scientists and engineers co-innovate with clients. We are unlocking the powerful capabilities of prescriptive analytics to deliver agile and personalized services for tomorrow's healthcare, transportation and financial services consumers."

"Around the world, companies traditionally sitting outside the tech sector are seeing technology enter their businesses in dramatic ways – reshaping their internal operating models, their offerings to customers, and their analytic requirements in a big data world," said Rich Lesser, President and CEO of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).  "We are working with clients not just to help them respond, but to build the capabilities and businesses they need to win in this rapidly changing environment."

Mrs. Vandebroek and Mr. Lesser will join an impressive roster of business leaders, politicians, and dignitaries who will gather in Toronto to discuss ways Canada can increase its competitiveness through leveraging technology and innovation.

Other speakers include:

• Henry Kissinger,  56^th Secretary of State, United States;
• Joe Oliver, Federal Minister of Finance,
• Maxime Bernier, Federal Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture;
• Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank Group (ADB);
• Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec;
• Al Monaco, President and CEO, Enbridge;
• Daniel L. Doctoroff, President and CEO,  Bloomberg; and
• Fareed Zakaria, Host, CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS Show, Editor-at-Large, TIME Magazine

The Forum also recently confirmed that the newly elected President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, along with his Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Minister of International Trade, will participate in this year's Forum.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

For more information and for accreditation of national and international journalists and media professionals, or to arrange an interview with one of the speakers, please contact us at: [email protected] or 416-797-8194.

Preliminary program and full list of keynote speakers: http://forum-americas.org/toronto

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THE TORONTO GLOBAL FORUM

The Toronto Global Forum is a non-profit organization committed to heightening knowledge and awareness of the major issues concerning economic globalization, with a particular emphasis on the relations between the Americas and other continents. Over the years, the Toronto Global Forum has increasingly developed into a strategic platform for business development through significant opportunities for synergies between stakeholders, speakers, business delegations and attendees onsite. The Forum is held under the auspices of the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA) which organizes annual summits bringing together Heads of States, the private sector, international organizations, politicians, global economic decision makers and civil society.

PARTNERS

The Toronto Global Forum wishes to thank its partners: City of Toronto, Government of Ontario, Aecon, EDC, Manulife, Scotiabank, Cisco, Sun Life Investment Management, Cummins Eastern Canada, Desjardins Assurances, BDC, BMO Capital Markets, BNP Paribas (Canada), Garda World, GDF SUEZ, Magna, Ontario Power Authority, Invest in Canada, TD Bank, Toronto Financial Services Alliance, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, Cogeco Data Services, SNC-Lavalin, Siemens, Toronto Port Authority, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Global Public Affairs, AGF, Avis Budget Group, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Capstone Infrastructure, The Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, InstarAGF, Tourisme Montréal, KLM – Royal Dutch Airlines, Florida Realtors, Porter Airlines, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Globe and Mail, CNW, Worth, ReNew Canada, and iPolitics.

SOURCE: Décision Forums et événements

[email protected] or 416-797-8194