Sarah Lubik to advise on Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda

Sarah Lubik, Director of Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University, has been named one of Canada’s ten Innovation Leaders who will help form the nation’s Innovation Agenda.

Each of the Innovation Leaders will host round-table discussions across the country, which will allow the government to gather information and feedback from experts, networks, and individuals involved in innovation.

“I have spent my entire adult life working in and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, so to be given the opportunity to help shape Canada’s future in this respect is an enormous honour and privilege,” says Lubik.

“We need the Innovation Agenda to spark creativity and ambition, but it is equally important to receive buy-in from the public and from experts alike. It is inspiring to hear that our government is taking an inclusive ecosystem approach, focusing on key drivers that are also driving action here at SFU: changing mindsets, creating entrepreneurs and change makers, leveraging networks, and commercializing science.”

Spearheaded by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Canada’s Innovation Agenda is intended to build the nation as a global centre of innovation. It will focus on creating jobs, driving growth across all industries, and improving the lives of all Canadians.

The ten Innovation Leaders represent the private sector, universities and colleges, the not-for-profit sector, social entrepreneurs, and businesses owned and operated by Indigenous people.

Lubik was selected for the role after being part of a delegation from SFU that presented the SFU Innovates strategy to government officials in Ottawa.

“My appointment recognizes SFU’s leadership in the innovation and entrepreneurship space and the power of our new SFU Innovates strategy,” says Lubik.

“SFU had all the necessary pieces – world class research; innovative, interdisciplinary education; incubation; and an entrepreneurial, radical spirit – but it took finding champions, aligning the whole ecosystem, and setting an ambitious vision to accelerate us toward our potential. SFU’s vision and strategy is very much aligned with what Canada’s government is trying to achieve in innovation.”

As Director of Entrepreneurship for SFU, Lubik develops, aligns, and accelerates the University’s innovation ecosystem from entrepreneurial education across disciplines through to early stage incubation and commercialization.

A lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, Lubik is also co-director of the Tech Entrepreneurship@SFU program, and a member of the advisory boards of SFU’s social innovation lab RADIUS, and the Health Tech Innovation Foundation. She is also a founder and marketing director of high-tech startup Lungfish Dive Systems, which develops and sells an innovative re-breather system for divers.

For more information on Canada’s Innovation Agenda, visit news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1084439