About CCSIP

Realizing the Power of Partnership between California and Canada
The Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) is a catalyst for collaborative Research, Development and Delivery (RD&D) between two innovation-intensive jurisdictions: California, one of the most dynamic innovation engines on earth; and Canada, a leading country in university research intensity.

Drawing on an entrepreneurial and informal process of cooperation, CCSIP is a bilateral collaboration initiative that aims to capitalize on the complementary strengths of Canada and California, and to build on a well-established trade relationship valued at over $35 billion in 2007.

With leadership from a highly respected bilateral Steering Committee, and participation from universities, companies and governments on both sides of the border, CCSIP stimulates:

The development of new models of collaboration between Canada and California that leverage key research capabilities, address common priorities, and accelerate the delivery of research results
The launch of revolutionary RD&D projects that aim to bring new products and services to market, and deliver economic and social benefits to citizens in both jurisdictions

It is a partnership that is delivering results. Since its inauguration in 2006, CCSIP has helped to enable:

The launch of the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium, its novel collaboration with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and a pledge of $100 million from Canada
The linkage of Canada's and California's high-speed Internet research infrastructure, enabling a variety of new RD&D projects in health care and digital media

CCSIP aims to build on these initial results and evolve the initiative over the coming year. This includes the launch of CCSIP's first Call for Proposals at the 2008 Summit, representing a major step towards achieving the overall objectives of the partnership.

Building on the strategic objectives of this bilateral RD&D initiative, and sustained attention from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and the State of California, the partnership is garnering interest and support from major Canadian research funding agencies, such as Sustainable Development Technology Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This whole of government approach has led to the identification of a Canadian CCSIP federal government champion, with the potential for regional champions on the horizon.