Canadian Science Policy Centre

What Canadian Science Policy Centre does

Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-advocate organization established in 2009 in Richmond Hill, Ontario, that operates Canada's largest annual science and innovation policy conference alongside a portfolio of interconnected programs. The organization's flagship offering is the annual Canadian Science and Innovation Policy Conference, in its 18th iteration in 2026 (CSPC 2026, scheduled November 24-27, 2026 at the Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa), drawing 1,000+ attendees, 300+ speakers, and 50+ panel sessions. Around the conference, CSPC runs Science Meets Parliament (now expanded to federal, Ontario, and British Columbia), the Canadian Science Policy Magazine (annual), SciPol Digest Podcast, an Awards program, workshops in science policy, communication, diplomacy, and entrepreneurship, the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation, the National Conversation on Canada's Innovation Strategy, the Cercle Francophone (with Fonds de Recherche du Québec), the Survey of Parliamentarians, editorial publications, and the AI, Democracy & Digital Rights Forum.

CSPC operates as a community-led platform organization rather than a technology company. Its core technology is a digital platform for conference management, editorial publications, and virtual events. A volunteer program has engaged 1,500+ graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career professionals across program committees, functioning as a talent pipeline that enables the four-person core staff to deliver programming at significant scale. Distribution is multi-channel: a website (53,000+ visitors in 2025), newsletter (6,000+ subscribers), and social media (13,000+ Twitter/X, 10,000+ LinkedIn, 2,000+ Facebook, 1,000+ Bluesky followers), augmented by an annual conference and earned media in Science, Nature, Globe and Mail, CBC, TVO, CPAC, Hill Times, and iPolitics.

CSPC's revenue model is sponsorship- and event-driven. A six-tier partnership program (Exhibitor $3,500, Collaborator $7,500, Thinker $12,500, Influencer $17,500, Innovator $25,000, Leader $50,000) provides recurring annual revenue from public, private, and not-for-profit sector stakeholders, supplemented by conference registration fees, program memberships, and targeted program sponsorships (e.g., Science Meets Parliament). Customer segments span government/policy makers, academia/researchers, industry/innovation sector partners, and students/early-career professionals. Strategic partnerships include the European Union Delegation to Canada (Horizon program), Fonds de Recherche du Québec, Future Earth, and Sustainability in the Digital Age. A Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 titled 'Imagining Canada's Future: Connecting Science, Innovation and Policy for Greater Prosperity' guides current organizational direction.

Name

Canadian Science Policy Centre

Legal name

Canadian Science Policy Centre

Website

https://sciencepolicy.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Canadian Science Policy Centre is a non-profit organization that runs Canada's largest annual science and innovation policy conference alongside programs connecting scientists with parliamentarians, training early-career professionals, and convening cross-sectoral STI policy dialogue across academia, government, and industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science and Innovation Policy Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Science policy research
• Policy conferences
• Nonprofit programs
• Public engagement
• Science communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership/Sponsorship Revenue: Tiered partnership program with six levels ranging from $3,500 (Exhibitor) to $50,000 (Leader), providing various benefits including complimentary passes, booth space, logo recognition, magazine ads, and networking opportunities.
2. Conference Revenue: Registration fees for annual Canadian Science and Innovation Policy Conference, the largest gathering of Canada's science policy community with 1000+ attendees.
3. Membership Fees: Program membership for organizations that benefit from and shape CSPC's mission, programs, and activities throughout the year.
4. Program Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities for specific programs including Science Meets Parliament and workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is a non-profit, non-partisan science and innovation policy community that hosts Canada's largest annual science policy conference and operates interconnected programs including the Science Meets Parliament program, editorial publications, podcasts, workshops, awards, and volunteer engagement. The organization connects government, academia, industry, and civil society stakeholders to advance Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy ecosystem.

Product overview

The Canadian Science Policy Centre operates as a platform-plus-programs organization offering Canada's largest science and innovation policy conference alongside multiple interconnected programs. The core offering is the Annual Canadian Science and Innovation Policy Conference (CSPC), held since 2009, complemented by the Science Meets Parliament Program for connecting scientists with policymakers, the Canadian Science Policy Magazine for editorial content, the SciPol Digest Podcast Series for audio content, and the Science Policy Awards Program for recognition. Additional programs include Workshops for training, a Volunteer Program engaging 1500+ participants, Editorials for opinion pieces, the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation, the National Conversation on Canada's Innovation Strategy, Cercle Francophone for French-language engagement, Virtual Events for online discussions, Survey of Parliamentarians for research, and specialized forums on Science Diplomacy, AI/Digital Rights, and EU-Canada collaboration. The organization serves as an inclusive Connection Hub, Knowledge Mobilizer, and Talent Incubator for the Canadian STI ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science Meets Parliament: A program designed to foster stronger connections between the science and policy communities
• Canadian Science Policy Magazine
• SciPol Digest Podcast Series
• Canadian Forum for Social Innovation
• Cercle Francophone

Products and services

• Annual Canadian Science and Innovation Policy Conference (CSPC) Canada's largest and most comprehensive science and innovation policy conference, held annually since 2009, bringing together 1,000+ attendees, 300+ speakers, and 50+ panel sessions from government, academia, industry, and civil society. Conference attendance is via registration fees, with the 18th edition (CSPC 2026) scheduled for November 24-27, 2026 in Ottawa.
• CSPC Partnership Program Tiered annual partnership program for organizations seeking visibility with Canada's STI ecosystem, with six levels: Leader ($50,000), Innovator ($25,000), Influencer ($17,500), Thinker ($12,500), Collaborator ($7,500), and Exhibitor ($3,500). Benefits include complimentary conference and gala passes, exhibit booth space, logo recognition, magazine ads, social media mentions, networking breaks, virtual panel sessions, and workshop discounts.
• CSPC Program Membership Annual program membership for organizations that benefit from and shape CSPC's mission, programs, and activities throughout the year. Members engage with the organization across multiple programs including workshops, Science Meets Parliament, and the annual conference.
• Science Meets Parliament Program Program strengthening systematic connections between scientists and parliamentarians at federal and provincial levels, facilitating dialogue and mutual learning. The 2026 editions are scheduled for federal, Ontario, and British Columbia legislatures, with sponsorship opportunities offered to organizations.
• CSPC Workshops Training sessions and customized workshops in Science Policy, Innovation Policy, Science Communication, Science Diplomacy, and Science Entrepreneurship, designed to develop the next generation of science policy experts and provide capacity building for partner organizations.
• Canadian Science Policy Magazine Annual magazine featuring editorials and insights on key science and innovation policy topics, currently in its 8th issue, distributed to the CSPC community and partners.
• SciPol Digest Podcast Series Podcast series featuring expert insights on topics shaping Canada's science and innovation landscape, with episodes covering key science and innovation policy issues.
• Canadian Forum for Social Innovation Program bringing together stakeholders from higher education, industry, social sector, community organizations, nonprofits, and government to advance cross-sector dialogue on Canada's innovation ecosystem.
• National Conversation on Canada's Innovation Strategy Multi-year initiative generating national discussions led by the private sector on Canada's long-term innovation strategy, with associated publications including the 2025 Canada's Innovation Strategy Magazine.
• Cercle Francophone Program in collaboration with Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) fostering collaboration between CSPC and Francophone communities and promoting French-language participation in science and innovation policy.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• European Union (Delegation to Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPC's partnership with the European Union brings together European and Canadian leaders in research, innovation, and policy for transatlantic scientific collaboration through Horizon programs.
• Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through the Cercle Francophone, fostering collaboration between CSPC and Francophone communities, promoting French-language participation in science and innovation policy.
• Future EarthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Future Earth and Sustainability in the Digital Age to carry out a national, online dialogue series on digital action for sustainability targets.
• Sustainability in the Digital AgesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Future Earth and Sustainability in the Digital Age to carry out a national, online dialogue series on digital action for sustainability targets (Canada's Sustainable Future program).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): AAAS is the largest non-profit science society in the United States, operating the Annual Meeting and Science Meets Congress-style programs. It is the closest international functional peer to CSPC, running a similar conference-plus-advocacy model for the science policy community.
• Royal Society of Canada (RSC): The RSC is Canada's national academy of distinguished Canadian scholars and scientists, providing policy advice and convening Canada's research community. It is a direct Canadian peer with overlapping convening and policy-advisory functions, though historically more elite-focused than CSPC's open membership model.
• Council of Canadian Academies (CCA): CCA is a Canadian non-profit that produces independent, evidence-based assessments of leading science policy issues for governments. It shares CSPC's focus on bridging science and Canadian policy, though its primary output is commissioned expert panel reports rather than conferences.
• Public Policy Forum: Public Policy Forum is a Canadian non-profit that convenes senior leaders across sectors to address public policy challenges. It shares CSPC's cross-sectoral convening model in Canada and is directly comparable on the 'connection hub' value proposition, though focused more broadly across all policy domains.
• Science Media Centre of Canada: Science Media Centre of Canada helps journalists access scientific expertise and convenes scientists and reporters. It overlaps with CSPC's Science Communication workshops and editorial programming, sharing the mission of connecting science with broader public and policy audiences in Canada.

Emerging players

• Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR): CIFAR is a Canadian-based global research organization that convenes researchers and informs science policy across long-term horizons. While more research-grant-focused than CSPC, it is a comparable Canadian organization operating at the science-policy interface and convening elite researchers.
• Partnership Group for Science and Technology (Public Policy Forum affiliate): The Partnership Group for Science and Technology is a Canadian coalition focused on federal science and technology policy. It overlaps directly with CSPC's parliamentary engagement and STI policy convening agenda, though structured as a coalition rather than a membership non-profit.
• Evidence for Democracy: Evidence for Democracy is a Canadian non-profit advocating for evidence-based government decision-making. It overlaps with CSPC's mission of connecting science and policy in Canada, though takes a more explicit advocacy posture than CSPC's non-advocate stance.

Regional players

• EuroScience: EuroScience is a European association for the advancement of science that convenes researchers and advocates for science policy across Europe. It is a regional peer operating with a similar association-led, conference-driven model in a different geography.
• N8 Research Partnership: N8 Research Partnership is a UK-based collaboration of eight research-intensive universities that convenes researchers and informs regional and national science policy. It is a regional peer offering a comparable university-to-policy bridging model in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sciencepolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-science-policy-centre
• Facebookfacebook.com/canadiansciencepolicy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sciencepolicycentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Science Policy Centre