INSIGHT
Understanding the Functional Innovation System: Achieving a Critical Balance
At the most rudimentary level, a Functional Innovation System (FIS) must balance the push forces of knowledge creation with the forces that pull ideas and technologies toward health application and impact.
This paper, authored by Shift Health in collaboration with Research Canada, represents the culmination of an extensive national consultation with stakeholders. It introduces Research Canada’s model of the FIS as a basis for understanding how Canada can fully capitalize on its health research investments.
It aims to:
- Begin defining the underlying principles that enable balanced investments in health innovation;
- Highlight the roles of stakeholders across sectors; and
- Delineate measurable success factors that operate at each stage of the innovation system.
The FIS provides an evidence-based framework for identifying and addressing critical gaps, helping to chart a rational course toward achieving a robust innovation system in Canada.