--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/innovation-in-canadian-natural-resource-industries-a-system-based-analysis-of-performance-policy-and-emerging-challenges/" title: "Innovation in Canadian Natural Resource Industries: A System-Based Analysis of Performance, Policy and Emerging Challenges" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:17:04+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:17:04+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "ICT" - "innovation" - "natural resources" - "productivity" - "R&D" - "skills" - "systems of innovation" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Sector/Industry Analysis" - "Technology and Innovation" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Innovation in Canadian Natural Resource Industries: A System-Based Analysis of Performance, Policy and Emerging Challenges Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/innovation-in-canadian-natural-resource-industries-a-system-based-analysis-of-performance-policy-and-emerging-challenges/ # Innovation in Canadian Natural Resource Industries: A System-Based Analysis of Performance, Policy and Emerging Challenges [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2012-06-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Sharpe, Andrew, and Blair Long. 2012. “Innovation in Canadian Natural Resource Industries: A System-Based Analysis of Performance, Policy and Emerging Challenges.” CSLS Research Report 2012-06. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/innovation-in-canadian-natural-resource-industries-a-system-based-analysis-of-performance-policy-and-emerging-challenges/ ## Authors: - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Blair Long Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2012-06 June 2012 98 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? Andrew Sharpe December 1999 | Report 1999-03 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-in-canadaa-training-system-under-siege/) [A Survey of Indicators of Economic and Social Well-being Andrew Sharpe July 1999 | Report 1999-cprn | 72 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-survey-of-indicators-of-economic-and-social-well-being/) [Creating a More Efficient Labour Market Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2001 | Report 2001-02 | 147 pages](https://csls.ca/research/creating-a-more-efficient-labour-market/) [The Impact of the National Child Benefit Supplement on the Low Income Status of Canadian Families with Children: The SPSD/M Results Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2002 | Report 2002-01 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-the-national-child-benefit-supplement-on-the-low-income-status-of-canadian-families-with-children-the-spsd-m-results/) [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) [Productivity in the Forest Products Sector: A Review of the Literature Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-02 | 28 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-in-the-forest-products-sector-a-review-of-the-literature/) [An Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01b | 64 pages](https://csls.ca/research/an-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-canada/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn Innovation is an important driver of productivity growth, which in turn is a major source of improvement in living standards. Given the growing importance of the natural resources sector in the Canadian economy, innovation in this sector is particularly relevant. This report, using a systems-of-innovation approach, analyzes the innovation performance of the Canadian natural resources sector by comparing it to that of the Canadian business sector as a whole. Among the many indicators discussed, the report looks at R&D expenditures, workers’ education and skills, machinery and equipment investment, and the use of information and communication technologies. The key conclusion of the report is that the overall innovation performance of the Canadian natural resources sector is strong and has improved in recent years. However, there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of R&D intensity and labour force skills. L’innovation est un moteur important de la croissance de la productivité, qui constitue à son tour une source majeure d’amélioration du niveau de vie. Étant donné l’importance croissante du secteur des ressources naturelles dans l’économie canadienne, l’innovation dans ce secteur revêt une pertinence particulière. Ce rapport, à l’aide d’une approche fondée sur les systèmes d’innovation, analyse la performance en matière d’innovation du secteur canadien des ressources naturelles en la comparant à celle de l’ensemble du secteur des entreprises canadien. Parmi les nombreux indicateurs examinés, le rapport étudie les dépenses en R-D, la scolarité et les compétences des travailleurs, l’investissement en machines et matériel, ainsi que l’utilisation des technologies de l’information et des communications. La principale conclusion du rapport est que la performance globale en matière d’innovation du secteur canadien des ressources naturelles est solide et s’est améliorée au cours des dernières années. Toutefois, il existe encore une marge d’amélioration, particulièrement en ce qui concerne l’intensité de la R-D et les compétences de la main-d’œuvre. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2012-06-1.pdf)