GNWT releases Innovation Action Plan to prepare NWT for knowledge economy

May 31, 2023

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released an Innovation Action Plan to serve as a stepping stone towards the development of an NWT-based knowledge economy.

The plan identifies goals and actions in five priority areas, critical to the eventual development of the NWT’s knowledge economy. The five priority areas are:

– Greater collaboration

– Development and attraction of skilled workers

– Research, development, and commercialization of knowledge

– Entrepreneur and business development

– Improved connectivity

The GNWT will integrate innovation into community Regional Economic Development Plans, which are designed to help identify areas for development and growth in communities across the NWT.  The department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will also work with other GNWT departments to encourage them to consider areas of future training, recruitment and research with an innovation lens.

Public engagements in 2022 highlighted that a transitional approach to developing the NWT’s knowledge economy, focused on maximizing the economic value of northern ingenuity and ideas and fostering innovation across all sectors, would be more readily understood, and embraced by residents and governments. The Innovation Action Plan is a result of this engagement.

Developing a vibrant and competitive territorial knowledge economy based on the talent, determination and ingenuity of NWT residents will help create a more diversified economy in all regions and communities.

Quote(s)

“Living in the North has given NWT residents unique insights and knowledge in many areas, including managing and remediating resource development, mitigating and adapting to climate change, environmental management, Indigenous partnerships and modern treaties, and more, that can make the NWT a more competitive and attractive destination for knowledge-based businesses and sectors. We need to capitalize on this knowledge and spirit so that the problem-solvers of the north are the drivers of change, growth and opportunity in the NWT.”

– Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry Tourism and Investment

Quick facts

• The GNWT’s 2019-2023 Mandate committed to Advancing the Knowledge Economy to Increase economic diversification through the growth of non-extractive sectors and setting regional diversification targets.
• In addition to performance measures identified to track and measure its implementation, the Innovation Action Plan introduces an innovation index designed to measure the level of innovation that exists in the NWT economy.

Related links

• NWT Innovation Action Plan
• Advancing the NWT Knowledge Economy – Discussion Paper
• Advancing the NWT Knowledge Economy – What We Heard
• Knowledge Economy | Industry, Tourism and Investment

For media requests, please contact:

Drew Williams

Asst. Director, Strategic Communications

Industry, Tourism and Investment

Government of the Northwest Territories

drew_williams@gov.nt.ca

(867) 767-9202 ext. 63037

NT5