Canada-Italy Innovation Round Table

Ms. Roseann O'Reilly Runte, President and vice-chancellor of Carleton University, delivered welcoming remarks at a special innovation forum called Spin-off and Startups: Innovation Partnerships Between Universities, Researchers, Institutions and Industry, at Carleton University.

During his speech, the Governor General stated: "I am passionate about the influence that educational institutions like this one can have over our economic development. Carleton University, for example—which has been at the centre of more than 150 spinoff companies—has been creating programs between many countries, including Italy, to promote the exchange of students and ideas. It is through this increase in sharing that we are able to increase our potential. Utilizing what I call the diplomacy of knowledge, Canada, Carleton and Italy can benefit both our countries."

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), delivered remarks.

His Excellency Andrea Meloni, Ambassador of Italy to Canada, also delivered remarks.

Organized by Carleton University, the Embassy of Italy, the University of Toronto and the Public Policy Forum, this all-day event brought together more than 100 presidents of universities, representatives from leading research centres and venture capitalists from Italy and Canada.

The Governor General was happy to join Ms. Roseann O'Reilly Runte, President and vice-chancellor of Carleton University, and His Excellency Andrea Meloni, Ambassador of Italy to Canada, for this event.