Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy, 2025

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects information on the strategic decisions, innovation activities, operational tactics and global value chain activities of businesses in Canada.

The results from this survey will be used by governments to better understand the impact of business strategy and innovation decisions, and operational adaptations on the Canadian economy including business competitiveness, efficiency and productivity. This will enable governments to develop policies intended to improve Canada's industrial productivity and competitiveness.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record Linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data sharing agreements

To reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the name of the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Enterprise Statistics
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at infostats or by fax at 1-514-496-4879.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, as well as with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business enterprises located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Who should complete this questionnaire?

This questionnaire should be completed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), owner, senior manager, or the person who is most familiar with the strategic focus, competitive orientation and international commercial activities of this business.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name, and correct information if needed.

Note: Legal name should only be modified to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Legal name
Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization, and correct information if needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

First name
Last name
Title
Preferred language of communication
- English
- French
Mailing address (number and street)
City
Province, territory or state
Postal code or ZIP code
Country
Email address
Telephone number (including area code)
Extension number (if applicable)
Fax number (including area code)

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Operational
Not currently operational
e.g. , temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership
Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
- Seasonal operations
  - When did this business or organization close for the season?
    - Date
  - When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
    - Date
- Ceased operations
  - When did this business or organization cease operations?
    - Date
  - Why did this business or organization cease operations?
    - Bankruptcy
    - Liquidation
    - Dissolution
    - Other - Specify the other reasons why operations ceased
- Sold operations
  - When was this business or organization sold?
    - Date
  - What is the legal name of the buyer?
- Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
  - When did this business or organization amalgamate?
    - Date
  - What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
  - What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
- Temporarily inactive but will reopen
  - When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
    - Date
  - When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
    - Date
  - Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
- No longer operating because of other reasons
  - When did this business or organization cease operations?
    - Date
  - Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System.

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The NAICS is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the "Answering this questionnaire" section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classes; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

NAICS description text
Examples and inclusions/exclusion text

Description and examples

This is the current main activity
This is not the current main activity
Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity
e.g. , breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

5. You indicated that (Prefilled Industry Name) is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as (Prefilled Industry Name)?

Yes
- When did the main activity change?
- Date
No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

Farming or logging operation
Construction company or general contractor
Manufacturer
Wholesaler
Retailer
Provider of passenger or freight transportation
Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
Provider of health care or social services
Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
Other sector

7. You have indicated that the current main activity of this business or organization is: (Prefilled Industry Name)

Are there any other activities that contribute significantly (at least 10%) to this business or organization's revenue?

Yes, there are other activities
Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's secondary activity
e.g. , breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
No, that is the only significant activity

8. Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.

(Prefilled Industry Name) %
(Prefilled Industry Name) %
All other activities %
Total %

Information on the Reference Period

Reference Period

Unless otherwise specified, the reference period for this survey refers to the calendar year, which is from January 1 to December 31.

Fiscal Year

This is the start of a new module. Question numbering will reset to 1 for this section.

Question 1. What is the end date of this business's fiscal year?

This business's fiscal year end date should fall between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.

Day
Month
Year

Business Strategies

Question 2. Over the next five years, 2026 to 2030, which of these long-term strategies is most important to this business?

Main focus on goods or services positioning
e.g. , goods or services leadership, market segmentation, goods or services diversification, improving quality
Main focus on low-price and cost leadership
e.g. , mass market
Both goods or services positioning and low-price and cost leadership are equally important

Question 3. Over the next five years, 2026 to 2030, which of the following statements best describes the strategic focus of this business with respect to its goods or services (products)?

Maintain sales of existing goods or services
Expand the sales of existing goods or services
Introduce new or improved goods or services regularly
Reduce the focus to a niche market or reduced set of goods or services

Question 4. Over the next five years, 2026 to 2030, which of the following statements best describes the strategic focus of this business with respect to its business processes (core activities to produce goods and services and all support business activities)?

Maintain current business processes
Optimize current business processes
Introduce new or improved business processes
Downsize current business processes to focus on areas of advantage
Don't know

Question 5. In 2025, which of the following business practices did this business regularly use?

Product development and control management practices
Select all that apply.

Concurrent engineering (simultaneous design)
Cross-functional design teams
Electronic work order management
Distribution resource planning (DRP)
Practices related to user or customer engagement and intelligence
Product data management (PDM)
Other product development and control management practices

Did not use product development and control management practices

Quality management practices
Select all that apply.

Continuous improvement (including total quality management (TQM))
Business certification or certification renewals
Quality management system (QMS)
Other quality management practices

Did not use other quality management practices

Other business practices
Select all that apply.

Competitive technological intelligence (CTI) or benchmarking
Sustainable development strategy or environmental stewardship plan (ESP)
Life cycle management (LCM)
Intellectual property management
Other business practices

Did not use other business practices

Skills and training

Question 6. In 2025, were skills in any of the following areas required to operate this business?

Select all that apply.

Basic digital
e.g. , email, word processing, spreadsheets
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand basic digital skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Computer science
e.g. , software engineering, artificial intelligence
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand computer science skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Information technology (IT)
e.g. , IT security, database administration
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand IT skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
General data science and analytics
e.g. , data modeling and visualization
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand general data science and analytics skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Natural sciences and engineering
Include hardware engineering.
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand natural sciences and engineering skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Management
e.g. , the ability to implement management practices, leadership, resource management, decision-making, supervision
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand management skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Business
e.g. , marketing, accounting
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand business skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
International business
e.g. , market intelligence, support with trade
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand international business skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Skilled trades
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand skilled trades skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Design
e.g. , creativity, planning, graphics design, arts and illustration
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand design skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Coaching and mentoring skills to meet business needs
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand coaching and mentoring skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
E-commerce or digital trade
e.g. , knowledge of logistics, sales proficiency, electronic support, web design
- Does this business anticipate requiring the need to expand e-commerce or digital trade skills over the next 5 years?
  - Yes
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
OR
No skills are required in these areas

Question 7. In 2025, in which of the following areas did this business encounter skill shortages?

Select all that apply.

Basic digital
e.g. , email, word processing, spreadsheets
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in basic digital?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve basic digital skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve basic digital skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Computer science
e.g. , software engineering, artificial intelligence
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in computer science?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve computer science skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve computer science skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Information technology (IT)
e.g. , IT security, database administration
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in IT?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve IT skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve IT skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
General data science and analytics
e.g. , data modeling and visualization
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in general data science and analytics?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve general data science and analytics skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve general data science and analytics skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Natural sciences and engineering
e.g. , data modeling and visualization
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in natural sciences and engineering?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve natural sciences and engineering skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve natural sciences and engineering skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Management
e.g. , the ability to implement management practices
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in management?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve management skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve management skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Business
e.g. , marketing, accounting
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in business?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve business skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve business skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
International business
e.g. , market intelligence, support with trade
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in international business?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve international business skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve international business skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Skilled trades
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in skilled trades?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve skilled trades?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Design
e.g. , creativity, planning, graphics design, arts and illustration
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in design?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve design skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve design skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
Coaching and mentoring skills to meet the needs of the business
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in coaching and mentoring?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve coaching and mentoring skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve coaching and mentoring skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
E-commerce or digital trade
- How long has this business been experiencing this skill shortage in e-commerce or digital trade?
  - 0 to 3 months
  - 4 to 6 months
  - 7 to 12 months
  - More than 12 months
  - Don't know
- Does this business require a degree or certification standard for any of the vacant positions that involve e-commerce or digital trade skills?
  - Yes
    - Which degree or certification standard is required by this business for any vacant positions that involve e-commerce or digital trade skills?
      Select all that apply.
      - Professional certification
      - Accreditation e.g. , professional association
      - Licensure provided by an administrative body
      - Testing administered by another organization
      - Other
  - No
  - Don't know
  - Not applicable
OR
Did not encounter skill shortages in these areas

Question 8. In 2025, which of the following measures were taken to overcome these skills shortages?

Select all that apply.

Outsourcing work in Canada
Outsourcing is the business practice of contracting a party outside an enterprise to perform services or create goods that were traditionally performed in-house by the enterprise's own employees.
Offshoring of labour
Offshoring is the relocation of a business process from one country to another—typically an operational process, such as manufacturing, or supporting processes, such as accounting.
Measures to increase recruitment of workers in Canada
e.g. , increase wage and work conditions
- Which of the following incentives were involved in the targeted recruitment process?
  Select all that apply.
  - Additional financial incentives
    e.g. , industry competitive compensation
  - Additional non-financial incentives
    e.g. , vacation, flexible work options
    OR
  - Don't know
    OR
  - No additional incentives were involved
Measures to improve retention of current workers
- Which of the following incentives were involved in the retention strategy?
  Select all that apply.
  - Additional financial incentives
    e.g. , industry competitive compensation
  - Additional non-financial incentives
    e.g. , vacation, flexible work options
    OR
  - Don't know
    OR
  - No additional incentives were involved
Hiring of workers from outside of Canada
Student hiring
Include internships both domestic and international, co-ops
Training staff
e.g. , upskilling of current workers
Acquisition of external businesses
Other measures
- Specify other measure:
OR
No measures were taken to overcome these skills shortages

Question 9. How did these measures mitigate skills shortages faced by this business in 2025?

If multiple measures to overcome skill shortages were selected in the previous question and they are not all resolved, please select Partially mitigated.

Fully mitigated
Partially mitigated
In progress, too early to evaluate the results
No impact, unsuccessful

Question 10. Did this business use any government programs to address these shortages?

Select all that apply.

Temporary foreign worker program
Other economic immigration programs
Programs for the training (upskilling) of workers
Other government programs
- Specify other government program:
OR
No, did not use any government programs

Question 11. In 2025, which of the following training activities were arranged or provided by this business to its employees?

Select all that apply.

Job specific training
Managerial training
e.g. , ability to implement management practices
Training in new technology
Training in new business practices
Training in international business
e.g. , market intelligence, support with trade
Digital skills training
Data literacy skills training
e.g. , training on how to read, understand, create or communicate data as information
Coaching and mentoring for employees
Other training activities
OR
None

Main market and competitive landscape

Main market

Main market is the geographical region from which this business derived the highest percentage of total sales revenue.

Question 12. In 2025, what was this business's main market?

Local markets
Include the region in which this business has its main Canadian operations.
Rest of Canada
United States of America (U.S.)
Mexico
Other Latin America and Caribbean markets (LAC)
Europe
Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.
China
Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Other Asian markets
Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.
Another market

Question 13. In 2025, how many competitors did this business face in its main market?

Zero
One
Two to three
Four to five
Six to ten
Eleven and higher
Don't know

Question 14. In 2025, did this business face the following types of competitors in its main markets?

A competitor that is a multinational in this business’s main market

A competitor with roughly equal or greater market share in this business’s main market

A competitor that charges a lower price for similar goods or services

A competitor that sells goods or services of equal or greater quality

A competitor able to offer goods or services at a cost advantage

Question 15. In 2025, did the following events occur in this business's main market?

In 2025, did the following events occur in this business's main market?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No	Don't know
a. Entry of new competitors
b. Exit of competitors
c. Increase in competitive behaviour from existing competitors e.g. , lowering prices, stronger marketing, new goods or services (products) introduction or other
d. Decrease in competitive behaviour from existing competitors e.g. , raising prices, weaker marketing or other

Question 16. In 2025, in response to the change in competition in this business's main market, did this business implement any of the following changes?

In 2025, in response to the change in competition in this business's main market, did this business implement any of the following changes?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. Change the quality of its goods or services (products)
b. Adopt new technology or a new process
c. Change its marketing expenditures or marketing strategy
d. Introduce or accelerate the introduction of new goods or services (products)
e. Change prices of its goods or services (products)
f. Take other actions

Goods or services innovation

Goods or services innovation is a new or improved good or service that differs significantly from the enterprise's previous goods or services with respect to its characteristics, functions or performance specifications and that has been introduced on the market.

Include:

Tangible objects and some knowledge-capturing products over which ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred through market transactions
Significant changes to the design of a good.

Question 17. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were new or improved goods or services introduced onto the market by this business?

Include new or improved goods or services that:

differed significantly from this business's previous goods or services
were new to this business and not necessarily new to its business industry or markets
were developed by this business or other organizations.

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were new or improved goods or services introduced onto the market by this business?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. New or improved goods Include tangible objects and some knowledge-capturing products over which ownership rights can be established and whose ownership can be transferred through market transactions. Include significant changes to the design of a good. Exclude the simple resale of new goods purchased from other businesses and changes of a solely aesthetic nature.
b. New or improved services Services are intangible activities that are produced and consumed simultaneously and that change the conditions ( e.g. , physical, psychological) of users. The engagement of users through their time, availability, attention, transmission of information, or effort is often a necessary condition that leads to the co-production of services by users and the enterprise. The attributes or experience of a service can therefore depend on the input of users. Services can also include some knowledge-capturing products.

Question 18. Who developed these goods or services innovations introduced during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025?

Mainly this business, parent, affiliated or subsidiary businesses
Collaboratively, this business together with other businesses or organizations
e.g. , colleges, universities and research centres
Exclude outsourcing or contracting or granting out work.
- Who did this business collaborate with?
  Select all that apply.
  - With Canadian colleges or universities
  - With Canadian research centres
  - With Canadian businesses or organizations
  - With foreign businesses or organizations
Mainly other businesses or organizations
Include colleges, universities, research centres, outsourcing or contracting or granting out work.
- Who developed these goods or services innovations?
  Select all that apply.
  - Mainly other Canadian colleges or universities
  - Mainly other Canadian research centres
  - Mainly other Canadian businesses or organizations
  - Mainly other foreign businesses or organizations

Question 19. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were any of this business's goods or services innovations introduced new to one of its markets or new to this business?

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were any of this business's goods or services innovations introduced new to one of its markets or new to this business?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. New to one of its markets e.g. , introduced a new or improved goods or services onto one of this business's markets before its competitors (it may have already been available in other markets)
b. New to this business only e.g. , introduced a new or improved goods or services that was already available from competitors in this business's markets

Question 20. For this business’s fiscal period ending in 2025, what percentage of total sales came from the following goods or services?

Enter "0" if there is no value to report.

For this business’s fiscal period ending in 2025, what percentage of total sales came from the following goods or services?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
Goods or services innovations introduced during the period 2023 to 2025
	Percentage of sales in 2025
a. New to one of its markets e.g. , introduced a new or improved goods or services onto one of this business's markets before its competitors (it may have already been available in other markets)	%
b. New to this business only e.g. , introduced a new or improved goods or services that was already available from competitors in this business's markets.	%
Goods or services unchanged or only marginally modified during the period 2023 to 2025
c. Unchanged or marginally modified	%
Total	%

Business process innovation

Business process innovation is a new or improved process for one or more business activities or functions that differs significantly from this business's previous business processes and that has been brought into use by this business in its internal or outward-facing operations.

Core business functions or activities refer to the production of goods or services.

Support business functions or activities include distribution and logistics services, marketing and sales services, information and communication technology (ICT) services, professional services, engineering and research and development (R&D) services, general management services.

Question 21. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were new or improved business processes brought into use by this business?

Include new or improved business processes that:

differed significantly from this business's previous business process
were new to this business and not necessarily new to its business industry or markets
were developed by this business or other organizations.

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were new or improved business processes brought into use by this business?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. New or improved production processes for goods or services e.g. , activities that transform inputs into goods or services, including engineering and related technical testing, analysis and certification activities to support production
b. New or improved distribution or logistics processes e.g. , transportation and service delivery, warehousing and order processing
c. New or improved marketing or sales methods e.g. , marketing methods including advertising (product promotion and placement, packaging of products), direct marketing (telemarketing), exhibitions and fairs, market research and other activities to develop new markets, pricing strategies and methods, sales and after-sales activities, including help-desks, other customer support and customer relationship activities
d. New or improved information and communication systems e.g. , hardware and software, data processing and database, maintenance and repair, web-hosting and other computer-related information activities
e. New or improved strategic and general business management practices e.g. , cross-functional decision making, organizing work responsibility, corporate governance (legal, planning and public relations), accounting, book-keeping, auditing, payments and other financial or insurance activities, human resources management (training and education, staff recruitment, workplace organization, provision of temporary personnel, payroll management, health and medical support), procurement, managing external relationships with suppliers, alliances
f. New or improved product or business process development e.g. , activities to scope, identify, develop, or adapt products (goods or services) or business processes

Question 22. Who developed these business process innovations introduced during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025?

Mainly this business, parent, affiliated or subsidiary businesses
Collaboratively, this business together with other businesses or organizations
e.g. , colleges, universities, and research centres
Exclude outsourcing or contracting or granting out work.
- Who did this business collaborate with?
  Select all that apply.
  - With Canadian colleges or universities
  - With Canadian research centres
  - With Canadian businesses or organizations
  - With foreign businesses or organizations
Mainly other businesses or organizations
Include colleges, universities, research centres, outsourcing or contracting or granting out work
- Who developed these business process innovations?
  Select all that apply.
  - Mainly other Canadian colleges or universities
  - Mainly other Canadian research centres
  - Mainly other Canadian businesses or organizations
  - Mainly other foreign businesses or organizations

Question 23. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did any of the business process innovations implemented during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025 result in cost savings?

Include cost savings related to cost of goods or services to support business functions.

Yes
- Resulted in savings related to the overall cost of production of goods or services?
  - Yes
    - What percentage of savings were related to the overall cost of production of goods or services?
      - Less than 5%
      - 5% to 9.9%
      - 10% to 25%
      - More than 25%
      - Don't know
  - No
- Resulted in savings related to overall costs to support business functions?
  - Yes
    - What percentage of savings were related to the overall costs to support business functions?
      - Less than 5%
      - 5% to 9.9%
      - 10% to 25%
      - More than 25%
      - Don’t know
  - No
No
Don't know

Innovation activities

Question 24. Did this business, its parent or an affiliate adopt any strategies to protect the intellectual property (IP) related to any of the goods or services innovations introduced during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, that were developed by this business in Canada?

All of the goods or services innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- Which of the following strategies were adopted?
  Select all that apply.
  - Apply for patents
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for trademarks
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for industrial designs
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Register for copyright
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Trade secrets
  - Non-disclosure agreements
  - Other forms of formal IP protection
    e.g. , plant breeders rights, integrated circuits topographies, geographical indications
  - Other informal IP protections
Some goods or services innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- For the goods or services innovations that were protected, which of the following strategies were adopted?
  Select all that apply.
  - Apply for patents
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for trademarks
    Who filed the application?
    Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for industrial designs
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Register for copyright
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Trade secrets
  - Non-disclosure agreements
  - Other forms of formal IP protection
    e.g. , plant breeders rights, integrated circuits topographies, geographical indications
  - Other informal IP protections
- For the goods or services innovations that were not protected, why did the business choose to not implement any innovation protection strategies?
  Select all that apply.
  - Strategic decision not to protect the innovation
  - The innovation does not qualify for formal IP protection
  - Formal protection requires too much disclosure, which could benefit competitors
  - The financial costs of obtaining and maintaining IP rights are too high
  - The innovation lifecycle is too rapid to justify IP protection
  - Prioritizing speed to market and first-mover advantage over protection
  - Difficulty in enforcing IP rights
  - Established industry standards or norms discourage or limit the use of IP protection
  - The business uses an open innovation strategy
  - No observed benefits in protecting IP
  - Lack of knowledge or expertise about IP
  - Lack of awareness about IP protection
  - The innovation is the result of a partnership and thus IP protection is being sought by this business’s collaborators
None of the goods or services innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- For the goods or services innovations that were not protected, why did the business choose to not implement any innovation protection strategies?
  Select all that apply.
  - Strategic decision not to protect the innovation
  - The innovation does not qualify for formal IP protection
  - Formal protection requires too much disclosure, which could benefit competitors
  - The financial costs of obtaining and maintaining IP rights are too high
  - The innovation lifecycle is too rapid to justify IP protection
  - Prioritizing speed to market and first-mover advantage over protection
  - Difficulty in enforcing IP rights
  - Established industry standards or norms discourage or limit the use of IP protection
  - The business uses an open innovation strategy
  - No observed benefits in protecting IP
  - Lack of knowledge or expertise about IP
  - Lack of awareness about IP protection
  - The innovation is the result of a partnership and thus IP protection is being sought by this business’s collaborators
The business did not develop any of the goods or services innovations

Question 25. Did this business, its parent or an affiliate adopt any strategies to protect the intellectual property related to any of the business process innovations introduced during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, that were developed by this business in Canada?

All of the business process innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- Which of the following strategies were adopted?
  Select all that apply.
  - Apply for patents
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for trademarks
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Trade secrets
  - Non-disclosure agreements
  - Other forms of IP protection
Some business process innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- For the business process innovations that were protected, which of the following strategies were adopted?
  Select all that apply.
  - Apply for patents
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Apply for trademarks
    Who filed the application?
    - Select all that apply.
    - This business, its Canadian parent, or affiliate
    - A foreign parent or affiliate of this business
  - Trade secrets
  - Non-disclosure agreements
  - Other forms of formal IP protection
- For the business process innovations that were not protected, why did the business choose to not implement any innovation protection strategies?
  Select all that apply.
  - Strategic decision not to protect the innovation
  - Business process innovation do not qualify for formal IP protection
  - Formal protection requires too much disclosure, which could benefit competitors
  - The financial costs of obtaining and maintaining IP rights are too high
  - The innovation lifecycle is too rapid, prioritizing speed to market over protection
  - Difficulty in enforcing IP rights
  - Established industry standards or norms discourage or limit the use of IP protection
  - The business uses an open innovation strategy
  - No observed benefits in IP protection
  - Lack of knowledge or expertise about IP
  - Lack of awareness about IP protection
  - The innovation is the result of a partnership and thus IP protection is being sought by this business’s collaborators
None of the business process innovations developed by this business in Canada were protected
- For the business process innovations that were not protected, why did the business choose to not implement any innovation protection strategies?
  Select all that apply.
  - Strategic decision not to protect the innovation
  - Business process innovation do not qualify for formal IP protection
  - Formal protection requires too much disclosure, which could benefit competitors
  - The financial costs of obtaining and maintaining IP rights are too high
  - The innovation lifecycle is too rapid, prioritizing speed to market over protection
  - Difficulty in enforcing IP rights
  - Established industry standards or norms discourage or limit the use of IP protection
  - The business uses an open innovation strategy
  - No observed benefits in IP protection
  - Lack of knowledge or expertise about IP
  - Lack of awareness about IP protection
  - The innovation is the result of a partnership and thus IP protection is being sought by this business’s collaborators
The business did not develop any of the business process innovations

Question 26. Does this business own any of the following intellectual property (IP) assets in Canada or outside of Canada?

Select all that apply.

Patents
Trademarks
Industrial design
Trade secrets
Copyrights
Non-disclosure agreements
Other types of IP
OR
Does not own any IP assets in Canada or outside of Canada

Question 27. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business conduct any of the following innovation activities?

Innovation activities include all developmental, financial and commercial activities undertaken by a business that are intended to result in an innovation.

Include business activities undertaken to generate innovations in goods, services or business processes.

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business conduct any of the following innovation activities?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	2023	2024	2025
a. Research and development ( R&D ), both in-house and outsourced (contracted out or granted) to other organizations	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes/No
b. Engineering, design and other creative work Exclude engineering, design and other creative work reported as R&D .
c. Intellectual property activities to realize innovation projects Exclude intellectual property activities reported as R&D . Include applications, licensing, litigations, etc.
d. Software development and database activities Exclude development and database activities reported as R&D .
e. Acquisition or development of advanced technology including machinery, equipment, facilities and other tangible assets Exclude acquisition or development of advanced technologies reported as R&D .
f. Employee training specifically for innovation projects
g. Marketing and brand equity activities linked to the introduction of new goods, services or business processes Include market research and market testing, methods for pricing, product placement and promotion. Exclude development and database activities reported as R&D .
h. Innovation management Exclude development and database activities reported as R&D .
i. Other innovation activities

Question 28. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what were this business's total expenditures for innovation activities?

Innovation expenditures include labour costs and investments for activities, previously listed in question 27, that led or contributed to the development and introduction of new or improved goods, services or business processes.

If exact figures are not available, provide your best estimate.

Provide the total expenditure and best estimate of percentage.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what were this business's total expenditures for innovation activities?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Percentage	Expenditures (CAN$ '000)
a. Research and experimental development, both in-house and outsourced (contracted out or granted) to other organizations	%
b. Engineering, design and other creative work Exclude engineering, design and other creative work reported as R&D .	%
c. Intellectual property activities to realize innovation projects Exclude intellectual property activities reported as R&D . Include applications, licensing, litigations, etc.	%
d. Software development and database activities Exclude development and database activities reported as R&D .	%
e. Acquisition or development of advanced technology including machinery, equipment, facilities and other tangible assets Exclude acquisition or development of advanced technologies reported as R&D .	%
f. Employee training specifically for innovation projects	%
g. Marketing and brand equity activities linked to the introduction of new goods, services or business processes Include market research and market testing, methods for pricing, product placement and product promotion. Exclude acquisition or development of advanced technologies reported as R&D .	%
h. Innovation management Exclude acquisition or development of advanced technologies reported as R&D .	%
i. Other innovation activities	%
Total	%	$ '000

Question 29. Of the total of this business’s innovation expenditures, please estimate the percentage attributable to the development or introduction of each type of innovation.

Enter “0” if there is no value to report.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2022, did this business conduct any of the following innovation activities?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Percentage
a. New or improved goods or services	%
b. New or improved business processes	%
Total	%

Question 30. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business co-operate on any innovation activities with other businesses or organizations?

Cooperation or partnership is the active participation with other businesses or organizations in innovation activities. All partners do not need to commercially benefit.

Exclude outsourcing or contracting or granting out work.

Yes
- Please indicate the type of innovation cooperation partner of this business.
  Select all that apply.
  - Parent, affiliated or subsidiary businesses
  - Suppliers of equipment, materials, components or software
  - Clients or customers from the private sector
  - Clients or customers from the public sector
  - Competitors or other businesses in the sector
  - Consultants and commercial laboratories
  - Universities
  - Colleges
  - Government, public or private research institutes
  - Non-profit organizations
  - Households or individuals
  - Other partners
- No

Government support programs for innovation-related activities

Question 31. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business use any of the following types of government programs (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal or Indigenous) to aid innovation-related activities?

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business use any of the following types of government programs (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal or Indigenous) to aid innovation-related activities?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. Federal government tax incentive or tax credit programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as research and development or capital expenditures.
b. Other levels of government tax incentive or tax credit programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as research and development or capital expenditures.
c. Federal government grants and contributions programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as research and development, business development or commercialization of intellectual property.
d. Other levels of government grants and contributions programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as research and development, business development or commercialization of intellectual property.
e. Federal government training and hiring programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as hiring and training of researchers, interns, immigrants or upskilling workers to support the needs of the business. Upskilling is the process of providing employees with more advanced skills through additional education and training.
f. Other levels of government training and hiring programs Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as hiring and training of researchers, interns, immigrants or upskilling workers to support the needs of the business. Upskilling is the process of providing employees with more advanced skills through additional education and training.
g. Federal government procurement Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as the procurement of new or improved goods, services or business processes.
h. Other levels of government procurement Include programs intended to support innovation activities such as the procurement of new or improved goods, services or business processes.
i. Federal government advisory services Include networking, introduction to potential partners, clarification on accessing programs and services from innovation network.
j. Other levels of government advisory services Include networking, introduction to potential partners, clarification on accessing programs and services from innovation network.
k. Other government programs Include programs and activities not included elsewhere such as access to facilities or export incentives.

Question 32. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, which type of government program did this business find was the most critical for its innovation activities?

Note: Refers to activities undertaken to develop or implement innovations during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025.

Federal government tax incentive or tax credit programs
Other levels of government tax incentive or tax credit programs
Federal government grants and contributions programs
Other levels of government grants and contributions programs
Federal government training and hiring programs
Other levels of government training and hiring programs
Federal government procurement
Other levels of government procurement
Federal government advisory services
Other levels of government advisory services
Other government programs

Obstacles to innovation

Question 33. In 2025, which of the following obstacles to innovation did this business face?

Select all that apply.

Market size
External financing
e.g. , banks, government, venture capital, investors
Internal financing
e.g. , funding from parents, affiliates
Lack of skills
Finding and reaching agreements with external collaborators
Uncertainty and risk
Regulatory or government competition policy
Difficulties obtaining or enforcing IP rights
Other obstacles to innovation
- Specify other obstacle:
OR
Did not face obstacles to innovation

Question 34. In 2025, were measures taken to overcome the obstacles to innovation?

Yes
- For which of the following obstacles were measures taken?
  Select all that apply.
- Market size
- External financing
  e.g. , banks, government, venture capital, investors
- Internal financing
  e.g. , funding from parents, affiliates
- Lack of skills
- Finding and reaching agreements with external collaborators
- Uncertainty and risk
- Regulatory or government competition policy
- Difficulties obtaining or enforcing IP rights
- Other obstacles to innovation
  Specify other obstacle:
No

Question 35. In 2025, were these measures successful in mitigating the obstacles to innovation?

Yes
- Which of the following obstacles were mitigated by the measures?
  Select all that apply.
  - Market size
  - External financing
    e.g. , banks, government, venture capital, investors
  - Internal financing
    e.g. , funding from parents, affiliates
  - Lack of skills
  - Finding and reaching agreements with external collaborators
  - Uncertainty and risk
  - Regulatory or government competition policy
  - Difficulties obtaining or enforcing IP rights
  - Other obstacles to innovation
    Specify other obstacle:
No

Question 36. In 2025, were any government programs used to overcome the obstacles to innovation?

Yes
- For which of the following obstacles were government programs used?
  Select all that apply.
  - Market size
  - External financing
    e.g. , banks, government, venture capital, investors
  - Internal financing
    e.g. , funding from parents, affiliates
  - Lack of skills
  - Finding and reaching agreements with external collaborators
  - Uncertainty and risk
  - Regulatory or government competition policy
  - Difficulties obtaining or enforcing IP rights
  - Other obstacles to innovation
    - Specify other obstacle:
No

Innovations related to the environment

Question 37. In 2025, did your business use any renewable energies, or any goods, services, or processes that are part of clean technology?

Use of renewable or low carbon energy

Include clean electricity provided by public utilities.

Use electricity from renewable or low-carbon sources
e.g. , Hydro, solar, wind, nuclear
- Yes
- No
Use of electric, hybrid electric or hydrogen vehicles
Include automobile, trucking, rail, marine applications.
Exclude biofuel.
- Yes
- No
Use of biofuels vehicles
Include automobile, trucking, rail, marine applications.
e.g. , bioethanol, biodiesel
- Yes
- No
Use of biofuels and hydrogen as a fuel other than for transportation
e.g. , bioethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen
Exclude use in vehicles.
- Yes
- No

Technologies or services to mitigate direct environmental impact of activities

Technologies to capture or sequester GHG
Include Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Soil Carbon Sequestration, Direct Air Capture (DAC) or, Ocean Fertilization.
Exclude technologies to reduce air emissions of GHG by other means than capture or sequestration.
- Yes
- No
Other technologies to reduce air emissions of GHG
Exclude technologies to capture or sequester GHG reported under the previous item.
- Yes
- No
Technologies to reduce or treat air emissions of other contaminants
Exclude GHG.
e.g. , fine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), ozone (O3)
- Yes
- No
Technologies or services to reduce or treat water or soil pollution
- Yes
- No
Technologies or services to reduce solid waste pollution
Exclude waste collection services destined to landfill.
Include the substitution of long-life waste, such as plastics, by bioproduct, recycling and re-valorization.
Include secure disposal of hazardous waste.
- Yes
- No
Technologies or services to reduce impact on biodiversity
- Yes
- No

Improvement to resource efficiency

Systems to improve energy-use efficiency
e.g. , energy management systems, automated demand responses, Smart grid
Exclude systems to improve energy efficiency of transportation.
- Yes
- No
Energy storage systems
- Yes
- No
Systems to improve water-use efficiency
e.g. , systems for smart-irrigation, rain harvesting, leak detection, reuse of greywater
- Yes
- No
Systems to improve material-use efficiency
- Yes
- No
Systems to improve energy efficiency of transportation
e.g. , Fleet Management Systems, Charging Infrastructure for charging vehicles, Eco-driving Systems
- Yes
- No

Question 38. In 2025, which of the following factors drove your business’s adoption of clean technologies the most?

Improve profitability or cost efficiency or attract investors and partners who prioritize sustainability
Compliance with regulatory standards
Business values
Only option available

Question 39. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business introduce an innovation with any of the following environmental benefits?

Include innovations introduced where environmental benefits were either intentional or incidental.

Benefits from production through efficient use of resources

Improved resource efficiency through reduced material use per unit of output
- Yes
- No
Use of electric, hybrid electric or hydrogen vehicles
- Yes
- No
Improved resource efficiency by replacing material with less greenhouse gas intensive alternatives
- Yes
- No
Reduced consumption of resources through recycling (water, waste or material)
- Yes
- No
Renewable fuels: ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biochar, hydrogen
- Yes
- No

Benefits related to increased environmental protection activities

Reduced air, water, soil or noise pollution
- Yes
- No
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Yes
- No

Benefits related to consumer or end user

Reduced energy use or increased energy efficiency for the consumer or end user
- Yes
- No
Reduced material use or increased recycling for the consumer or end user
- Yes
- No
Reduced air, water, soil or noise pollution for the consumer or end user
- Yes
- No
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions for the consumer or end user
e.g. , carbon capture and storage, carbon capture and utilization, carbon removal, clean coal processing
- Yes
- No

Other environmental benefits

Other environmental benefits
- Yes
- No

Advanced technologies

Question 40. Has this business ever used any artificial intelligence (AI) technologies?

Please respond by field of application.

Exclude use by consultants or contractors.

Select all that apply.

Automation of Production Processes
Include the use of AI for production, supply chain management and quality control.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Research and Development
Include the use of AI for research and development, product testing and validation and innovation.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Pricing, Customer Risk Assessment, Marketing and Sales
Include the use of AI for market research, advertising, price optimization and insurance or credit customer risk assessment.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Data Analysis and Business Intelligence
Include the use of AI for data analysis to anticipate future trends, forecast demand and make data-driven decisions.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Human Resources Management
Include the use of AI to manage hiring, retention and performance management.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Customer Service and Support
Include the use of AI for customer or technical support, feedback and satisfaction monitoring.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Security and Surveillance, Fraud, and Cyberthreat Detection and Prevention
Include the use of AI systems to mitigate security risks and prevent fraud.
- When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
Other applications of AI
- Specify other application:
  When did you start using AI technologies in this field?
  - In 2019 or earlier
  - Between 2020 and 2024
  - In 2025
    OR
Did not ever use or plan to use AI technologies within the next 3 years
OR
Did not ever use, but plan to use AI technologies within the next 3 years

Question 41. Which of the following statements best describes the use of AI in your business?

The business has formally integrated AI technologies into its activities and production processes
Employees only use publicly available AI tools without the business being involved in their use
e.g. , ChatGPT

Question 42. Which of the following obstacles are significant factors for your business choosing not to adopt AI technologies?

Select all that apply.

Not convinced that potential increases in revenue or cost savings justify the associated costs of adoption
Cost of implementation
Difficulty in accessing financial support
Difficulty in accessing non-financial support
Lack of the required technical skills or labour
Regulatory context or concerns about privacy or security
Employees resistance to change
Customer resistance
Decisions made elsewhere in the organization and not in the enterprise itself
Challenges in identifying appropriate technologies
Difficulty in integrating new artificial intelligence technologies with existing systems, standards and processes
Disruption of production for the integration of new technologies
Other obstacles
OR
No obstacles were significant factors in not adopting AI technologies

Question 43. Since AI technology was adopted, has its use led to any of the following changes?

Select all that apply.

Automatization of tasks previously done by employee
- To what extent has this business saved overall work hours through automation tasks using AI?
  - Large extent
  - Moderate extent
  - Small extent
  - Don't know
- How were positions with automated tasks affected?
  - Many positions were affected and were completely or near completely automated
  - Some positions were affected and were completely or near completely automated
  - Few positions were affected and were completely or near completely automated
  - No positions were affected
  - Don’t know
Change in workforce
- How has the use of AI impacted overall employment levels in this business?
  - Net increase in employment
  - Net decrease in employment
  - Don’t know
Change in skill requirements
- To what extent have new skill requirements resulted in employee churn?
  - Large extent
  - Moderate extent
  - Small extent
  - No extent
  - Don't know
Development of new goods or services
Increased profitability through optimized pricing management
e.g. , better price optimization, dynamic pricing and personalized pricing
Change in customer base
Include any changes in the group of customers, i.e., in terms of size, demographics, geography, preferences or behaviours.
- How has AI impacted the customer base of this business?
  - Increased the customer base
  - Decreased the customer base
  - Type of customers changed but the size of the customer base stayed the same
  - Don’t know
OR
The adoption of AI technology didn't lead to these changes

Question 44. Has this business developed, is developing or plans to develop AI technologies for own use or for sale?

Yes
- Has this business developed, is developing or plans to develop AI technologies for own use?
  - Yes
    - Developed for own use
    - Developing for own use
    - Plans to begin developing for own use
  - No
- Has this business developed, is developing or plans to develop AI technologies for sale?
  - Yes
    - Developed for sale
    - Developing for sale
    - Plans to begin developing for sale
  - No
No

Question 45. In 2025, did this business use, develop or produce for sale any of the following types of advanced technologies?

Technology is broadly defined to include the technical means and know-how required for the production of goods or services. It takes the form of equipment, materials, processes, blueprints and knowledge.

Advanced technologies are technologies (equipment and software) that perform a new function or improve some function significantly better than commonly used technologies in the industry or by competitors.

Material handling, supply chain or logistics technologies
e.g. , automated storage and retrieval systems and transportation management systems
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Design or information control technologies
e.g. , computer aided design, building information modelling and graphic design software
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Processing or fabrication technologies
e.g. , digital fabrication and laser cutting
Exclude additive manufacturing.
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Security or advanced authentication systems
e.g. , multifactor authentication and biometric authentication
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Business intelligence technologies
e.g. , cloud-based computing systems and big data analytic tools
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Nanotechnology
e.g. , the manufacturing of devices and products from molecular or nano-scale components with extraordinary properties
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Biotechnology
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Geomatics or geospatial technologies
e.g. , geographic information systems and remote sensing
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Virtual, mixed or augmented reality
e.g. , virtual reality, augmented reality
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Integrated Internet of Things (IoT) systems
Include systems where devices and objects have the networking capability that allow for information to be sent and received using the Internet.
e.g. , fixtures and kitchen appliances
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Blockchain technologies option
e.g. , crypto-currency, distributed ledgers, secure value exchange protocols, smart contracts
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Additive manufacturing
e.g. , 3D printing
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Robotics
Robotics refers to the use of automated, programmable machines, known as robots, to perform various tasks in manufacturing, production environments or other. These robots are often designed to handle repetitive, precise, or hazardous jobs such as assembly, welding, painting, material handling and quality inspection.
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Quantum technology
e.g. , quantum computers, software, sensors and communications
- Yes
  Please select the different types of use.
  - Select all that apply.
  - Use in operations but developed by other organizations
  - Develop in-house for own use in operations
  - Produce for sale
- No
Other types of advanced technologies
- Yes
  - Specify other type of advanced technology:
- No

Question 46. In 2025, why did this business not adopt or use advanced technologies?

Select all that apply.

Not convinced of economic benefit
Difficulty in obtaining financing
High cost of advanced technologies
Investment not necessary for continuing operations
Lack of technical skills required to support this type of investment
Decisions made by parent, affiliates or subsidiary businesses
Lack of technical support or services (from consultants or vendors)
Lack of information regarding advanced or emerging technologies
Difficulty in integrating new technologies with existing systems, standards and processes
Other reasons for not adopting or using advanced technologies
e.g. , regulatory aspects
OR
Advanced technologies are not applicable to this business's activities

Imports and Exports

Question 47. In 2025, did this business make payments to suppliers outside of Canada for the purchase of goods or services?

Include the purchase of goods or services from both foreign affiliates and foreign unaffiliated businesses. Foreign affiliates are foreign entities in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls 10% or more of the voting power.

Yes
- In 2025, how were these purchases from suppliers outside of Canada used by this business?
  Select all that apply.
  - Used in production of other goods or services in Canada (intermediary goods or services)
  - Resold "as-is" in Canada
  - Resold "as-is" in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale
    Include goods that were simply repackaged, relabelled, or cleaned without any change in physical form.
    Exclude goods made or processed based on the specifications or personalized requirements provided by this business or on behalf of its clients.
  - Resold "as-is" in foreign markets (including the U.S.) without altering the goods, and with the goods entering Canada before the sale
  - Used to support business activities in Canada
    Support business functions or activities include distribution and logistics services, marketing and sales services, ICT services, professional services, engineering and R&D services, general management services.
    OR
  - Don't know
No

Question 48. In 2025, did this business receive revenue from clients outside of Canada for the sale of goods or services?

Yes
- In 2025, did this business attempt to sell any additional goods or services outside of Canada, but was not successful?
  - Yes
  - No
- In 2025, did this business attempt to sell goods or services to any additional market outside of Canada, but was not successful?
  - Yes
  - No
No
- In 2025, did this business attempt to sell goods or services to any market outside of Canada?
  - Yes
  - No

Question 49. In 2025, did this business sell goods or services to another business operating in Canada that were then exported “as-is”?

Yes
No
Don’t Know

Question 50. In 2025, did this business sell goods or services to another business operating in Canada that used the goods as intermediate inputs in final goods that was then sold to clients outside Canada?

Yes
No
Don’t Know

Question 51. In 2025, how difficult were the following obstacles related to exporting or attempting to export goods or services?

Administrative obstacles and resource limitations

Canadian legal or administrative obstacles
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Foreign legal or administrative obstacles
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Foreign tariffs
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Trade barriers
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Difficulties obtaining or enforcing IP rights
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Access to financing
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Lack of skills
e.g. , sales, marketing, and technical talent
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Lack of funds
e.g. , funds or capital
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Lack of management know-how
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable

External barriers

Efficiency, capacity or reliability of transportation infrastructures
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Shipping costs
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable

Market obstacles

Identifying foreign customers
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Obtaining knowledge on markets of interest
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Identifying foreign partners, suppliers or distributers
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Uncertainty of foreign or international standards
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Receiving payments from foreign customers
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable
Requirements for product adaptation
e.g. , market needs, customer preferences, etc.
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable

Other obstacles

All other obstacles related to exporting or attempting to export
- Very difficult
- Difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Not at all difficult
- Not applicable

Business structure and Ownership

Question 52. In 2025, was this business an affiliate of a foreign parent?

A foreign parent is a foreign entity capable of exercising control of the reporting entity by owning or controlling more than 50% of this business’s voting power on an ultimate basis.

An investor is considered to be the ultimate control investor if it is at the head of a chain of companies and directly or indirectly controls all the enterprises in the chain without itself being controlled by another investor.

Yes
- In 2025, where was this business's ultimate parent company located?
  - United States of America
  - Mexico
  - Other Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC)
  - Europe
    Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.
  - China
    Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.
  - Other Asian countries
    Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.
  - All other countries
No

Question 53. In 2025, did this business have affiliates located outside of Canada?

Foreign affiliates are foreign entities in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls 10% or more of the voting power.

Yes
- Did this business have at least one majority-owned foreign affiliate in 2025?
  - Yes, this business had at least one majority-owned foreign affiliate in 2025
    e.g. , more than 50% of the voting power
  - No, this business did not have a majority-owned foreign affiliate in 2025
  - Don’t know
No

Purchased goods or services

Question 54. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did this business purchase any of the following goods or services?

Include both Canadian and foreign sources.

Select all that apply.

Goods for use as intermediate input for domestic production
Goods for resale “as-is”
- Where were the goods resold “as-is”?
  Select all that apply
  - Resold “as-is” in Canada
  - Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.) without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale
  - Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.) without altering the goods, and with the goods entering Canada before the sale
    OR
  - Don’t know
Distribution and logistics services
Call and help centre services
Marketing and sales services
ICT services
Include software development, data processing or other.
Professional services
Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.
Engineering and R&D services
Other goods or services
OR
None

Question 55. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the total value of the goods or services purchased from Canadian and foreign sources?

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the total value of the goods or services purchased from Canadian and foreign sources?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
Goods
	Value (CAN$ '000)
a. Goods for use as intermediate input for domestic production	$ ‘000
Goods for resale “as-is”
b. Resold “as-is” in Canada	$ ‘000
c. Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale	$ ‘000
d. Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and with the goods entering Canada before the sale	$ ‘000
Total goods for resale “as-is”
Services
e. Distribution and logistics services	$ ‘000
f. Call and help centre services	$ ‘000
g. Marketing and sales services	$ ‘000
h. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other	$ ‘000
i. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other	$ ‘000
j. Engineering and R&D services	$ ‘000
Other goods or services
k. Other types of goods or services	$ ‘000
Total

Question 56. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what proportions of goods or services were purchased from Canadian and foreign sources?

Foreign affiliated parties include both foreign affiliates and foreign parents and their subsidiaries.

Foreign affiliates are foreign entities in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls 10% or more of the voting power.

This reporting business could also be owned or controlled by a foreign parent.

A foreign parent is a foreign entity capable of exercising control of the reporting entity by owning or controlling more than 50% of this business’s voting power.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what proportions of goods or services were purchased from Canadian and foreign sources?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Canadian sources in percentage	Foreign affiliated parties in percentage	Foreign unaffiliated parties in percentage	Total in percentage
Goods
a. Goods for use as intermediate input for domestic production	%	%	%	%
Goods for resale “as-is”
b. Resold “as-is” in Canada	%	%	%	%
c. Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale	%	%	%	%
d. Resold “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and with the goods entering Canada before the sale	%	%	%	%
Services
e. Distribution and logistics services	%	%	%	%
f. Call and help centre services	%	%	%	%
g. Marketing and sales services	%	%	%	%
h. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other.	%	%	%	%
i. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.	%	%	%	%
j. Engineering and R&D services	%	%	%	%
Other goods or services
k. Other types of goods or services	%	%	%	%

Question 57. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, how important were the following reasons for purchasing goods or services from an unaffiliated (other foreign) business outside of Canada?

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, how important were the following reasons for purchasing goods or services from an unaffiliated (other foreign) business outside of Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Very important	Important	Somewhat important	Not at all important	Not applicable
a. Reduce labour costs
b. Reduce costs other than labour costs
c. Better quality goods or services
d. No suppliers available in Canada
e. Reduce delivery times
f. Increase access to supply chains or regional trade networks
g. Access to specialized knowledge or technologies
h. Tax or other financial incentives
i. Lack of available labour in Canada
j. Requirements for product inputs as a result of Free Trade Agreements and the rules of origin
k. Other reasons for purchasing goods or services from an unaffiliated business outside of Canada

Employment in Canada and Abroad

Question 58. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in Canada and outside of Canada?

Full-time equivalent (FTE) is the ratio of total hours worked within the calendar year on an activity by all employees divided by the total hours conventionally worked in the calendar year by a full-time employee.

Include personnel that are employed by majority-owned foreign affiliates.

Exclude personnel that are employed by a foreign parent company.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in Canada and outside of Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Number of FTE personnel
a. Canada
b. United States of America
c. Mexico
d. Other Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC)
e. Europe Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.
f. China Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.
g. Other Asian countries Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.
h. All other markets
Total

Question 59. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in the following activities in Canada and outside of Canada?

Full-time equivalent (FTE) is the ratio of total hours worked within calendar year on an activity by all employees divided by the total hours conventionally worked in the calendar year by a full-time employee.

Exclude personnel that are employed by a foreign parent company. Please only report for personnel that are employed by the Canadian business or its majority-owned foreign affiliates, in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls greater than 50% of the voting power.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in the following activities in Canada and outside of Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Number of FTE personnel in Canada	Number of FTE personnel outside of Canada	Total
a. Production of goods Include manufacturing, assembly, resource extraction and all positions related to maintaining production equipment.
b. Distribution and logistics services
c. Call and help centres services
d. Marketing and sales services
e. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other.
f. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.
g. Engineering and R&D services
h. General management services
i. All other business activities
Total

Question 60. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in the following activities outside of Canada?

Core business activities are activities of an enterprise yielding income: the production of final goods or services intended for the market or for third parties. Usually the core business functions make up the primary activity of the enterprise.

Support business activities are ancillary (supporting) activities carried out by the enterprise in order to permit or to facilitate the core business functions of an enterprise, which is the production activity. The outputs are not themselves intended directly for the market or for third parties.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the approximate number of full-time equivalent personnel employed by this business in the following activities outside of Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Core activities number of FTE personnel outside of Canada	Support activities number of FTE personnel outside of Canada
a. Production of goods Include manufacturing, assembly, resource extraction and all positions related to maintaining production equipment.
b. Distribution and logistics services
c. Call and help centres services
d. Marketing and sales services
e. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other.
f. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.
g. Engineering and R&D services
h. General management services
i. All other business activities
Total

Question 61. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, how important were the following reasons for this business to employ personnel outside of Canada?

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, how important were the following reasons for this business to employ personnel outside of Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Very important	Important	Somewhat important	Not at all important	Not applicable
a. Reduce labour costs
b. Reduce costs other than labour costs
c. Access to new markets
d. Increase access to supply chains or regional trade networks
e. Increase sales
f. Proximity to important customers
g. Access to specialized knowledge or technologies
h. Tax or other financial incentives
i. Improve logistics
j. Lack of available labour in Canada
k. Other reasons for employing personnel outside of Canada

Adjustment to Canadian activities

Question 62. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, did this business start or expand any activities in Canada?

Question 63. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were any of the following activities started or expanded by your business in Canada?

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, were any of the following activities started or expanded by your business in Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Yes	No
a. Production of goods Include manufacturing, assembly, resource extraction and all positions related to maintaining production equipment.
b. Distribution and logistics services
c. Call and help centre services
d. Marketing and sales services
e. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other.
f. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.
g. Engineering and R&D services
h. General management services
i. All other business activities

Question 64. During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, what is the most important reason for starting or expanding these activities by your business in Canada?

Note: Refers to activities moved to Canada during the three-year period of 2023 to 2025.

During the three-year period of 2023 to 2025, what is the most important reason for starting or expanding these activities by your business in Canada?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Most important reason
a. Production of goods Include manufacturing, assembly, resource extraction and all positions related to maintaining production equipment.	"Select"
b. Distribution and logistics services	"Select"
c. Call and help centre services	"Select"
d. Marketing and sales services	"Select"
e. ICT services Include software development, data processing or other.	"Select"
f. Professional services Include finance, accounting, human resources, legal or other.	"Select"
g. Engineering and R&D services	"Select"
h. General management services	"Select"
i. All other business activities	"Select"

Drop down Menu Select:

Shifting trade regulations (tariffs)
Labour costs abroad have risen (lower labour costs in Canada)
Non-labour costs abroad have risen (lower non-labour costs in Canada)
Access to natural resource
Better quality of labour or resources in Canada
Change in Canadian dollar
Replacing foreign suppliers with in house production or suppliers in Canada
Tax or other financial incentives
Difficulties obtaining or enforcing intellectual property rights (Including patents, trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property)
Proximity to customers or other logistical issues
Uncertainty and instability in the U.S. economy
Uncertainty and instability in other foreign economies
Foster growth of the business
Reach new markets
Other reasons

Question 65. Has economic uncertainty in the United States, including uncertainty about U.S. openness to trade, affected your business’s future plans to expand or start new activities?

Yes
- In which countries are your business’s future plans to expand or start new activities affected due to uncertainty?
  Select all that apply.
  - Canada
  - United States
  - Other countries
No

Sales

Question 66. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the value of total sales of goods or services of this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates in Canada and abroad?

Exclude sales made by a foreign parent company.

If exact figures are not available, provide your best estimate.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what was the value of total sales of goods or services of this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates in Canada and abroad?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Amount (CAN$ '000)
a. Value of total sales of goods or services of this business in Canada	$ '000
b. Value of total sales of goods or services of this business abroad (exports)	$ '000
c. Value of total sales of goods or services of this business’s majority-owned foreign affiliates in Canada	$ '000
d. Value of total sales of goods or services of this business’s majority-owned foreign affiliates abroad	$ '000
Total. Value of total sales of goods or services of this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates in Canada and abroad	$ '000

Question 67. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business and its majority owned affiliates’ total sales of goods or services was made to the following markets?

Include sales of goods or services in Canada, sales made to other countries, and sales made by this business’s majority-owned foreign affiliates, in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls greater than 50% of the voting power.

Exclude sales made by a foreign parent company.

If exact figures are not available, please provide your best estimate.

Enter “0” if there is no value to report.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business and its majority owned affiliates’ total sales of goods or services was made to the following markets?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Percentage of sales
a. Canada	%
b. United States of America	%
c. Mexico	%
d. Other Latin America and Caribbean markets (LAC)	%
e. Europe Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.	%
f. China Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.	%
g. Other Asian markets Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.	%
h. All other markets	%
Total in percentage	%

Question 68. In this business fiscal year ending in 2025, did this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates make any sales of goods or services over the Internet?

Sales conducted over the Internet with or without online payment:

Include all sales of this business's goods or services where the order is received, and the commitment to purchase is made over the Internet, although payment can be made by other means. Include orders made in web pages, extranet or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Exclude orders made by telephone calls, facsimile, or e-mail.

Include sales made on enterprise and third-party websites and apps.

Exclude the delivery of a digital goods for which the order was not made online.

If precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimate.

Yes, sales of goods or services over the Internet
- Percentage of sales of goods or services over the Internet_____%
- What was the proportion of sales of goods or services sold over the Internet in Canada and outside of Canada?
  The proportion of sales sold over the internet to clients in Canada and clients outside of Canada must be equal to 100%.
  - Clients in Canada____%
  - Clients outside of Canada____%
No

Question 69. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates' total sales to each market was for goods or services, respectively?

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates' total sales to each market was for goods or services, respectively?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Sales of goods (percentage)	Sales of services (percentage)	Total sales of goods or services (percentage)
a. Canada	%	%	%
b. United States of America	%	%	%
c. Mexico	%	%	%
d. Other Latin America and Caribbean markets (LAC)	%	%	%
e. Europe Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.	%	%	%
f. China Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.	%	%	%
g. Other Asian markets Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.	%	%	%
h. All other markets	%	%	%

Question 70. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business’s sales of goods or services, for each country of destination, was made by this Canadian business and by this business’s majority-owned foreign affiliates?

Include sales made by this Canadian business and its majority-owned foreign affiliates in which the Canadian reporting enterprise owns or controls greater than 50% of the voting power.

Include sales made by majority-owned foreign affiliates that are destined to the Canadian market or to international markets other than their own.

Exclude sales made by a foreign parent company.

Enter “0” if there is no value to report.

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, what percentage of this business’s sales of goods or services, for each country of destination, was made by this Canadian business and by this business’s majority-owned foreign affiliates?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Sales of goods or services by this Canadian business (percentage)	Sales of goods or services by majority-owned foreign affiliates (percentage)	Total sales of goods and services (percentage)
a. Canada	%	%	%
b. United States of America	%	%	%
c. Mexico	%	%	%
d. Other Latin America and Caribbean markets (LAC)	%	%	%
e. Europe Include United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Russian Federation.	%	%	%
f. China Exclude Taiwan and Hong Kong.	%	%	%
g. Other Asian markets Include Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey.	%	%	%
h. All other markets	%	%	%

Question 71. It was indicated that this business purchased an amount of goods outside of Canada and sold them “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale.

What were the revenues associated from the sale of these goods?

Include goods that were simply repackaged, labelled or cleaned without any change in physical form.

Exclude goods made or processed based on the specifications or personalized requirements provided by this business or on behalf of its clients.

Report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars (CAN$ '000). If the amount is less than one thousand dollars, enter "0".

When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimate.

It was indicated that this business purchased #____ of goods outside of Canada and sold them “as-is” in foreign markets (including the U.S.), without altering the goods, and without the goods entering Canada before the sale. What were the revenues associated from the sale of these goods?
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Sales (CAN$ '000)	Cost of goods (CAN$ '000)
Total value	$ ‘000	$ ‘000

Contracting

Question 72. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did this business have arrangements with other business entities outside of Canada for them to perform manufacturing, processing or assembly work according to the specifications provided by this business or on behalf of its clients?

Note: This may be referred to as custom work, custom manufacturing or consignment.

Clients may include any routine or occasional clients and affiliated or non-affiliated companies for whom this business did work based on the clients' specifications or personalized requirements.

Yes
No
Don't know

Question 73. In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did this business perform manufacturing, processing, or assembly work according to the specifications provided by non-Canadian clients?

Note: This may be referred to as custom work, custom manufacturing or consignment.

Clients may include any routine or occasional clients and affiliated or non-affiliated companies for whom this business did work based on the clients' specifications or personalized requirements.

Yes
No
Don't know

Diversity strategies and demographic characteristics

Question 74. Does this business have a corporate diversity strategy?

e.g. , strategy that could include diversity hiring practices, quotas, training programs, other policies that promote increasing diversity in the business

Yes, this business has an official corporate diversity strategy
Yes, this business has an unofficial corporate diversity strategy
i.e., unwritten understanding
No, this business does not have a corporate diversity strategy

Demographic characteristics of primary decision maker

Your responses to questions 75 to 84 are voluntary.

The primary decision maker is the person primarily responsible for making decisions about this business. This could be the majority owner, chairperson of the board of directors or general manager of this business.
In the case of equal partnership, select one partner and report for that individual.

Note: To the best of your knowledge, please fill out the information below.

Question 75. What is the age group of the primary decision maker of this business?

Under 20 years
20 to 29 years
30 to 39 years
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years
60 to 69 years
70 years and above
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 76. What is the gender of the primary decision maker for this business?

Gender refers to an individual's personal and social identity as a man, a woman or a non-binary person (who is not exclusively a man or a woman, e.g. , non-binary, agender, gender fluid, queer or two-spirit).

Man
Woman
Non-binary person
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 77. Is the primary decision maker of this business a 2SLGBTQ+ person?

2SLGBTQ+ includes persons who are Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and those who use other terms related to gender or sexual diversity.

Yes
No
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 78. Is the primary decision maker of this business First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

If “Yes”, select the responses that best describes this person now.

No, not First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)

Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
Yes, Métis
Yes, Inuk (Inuit)

Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 79. Is the primary decision maker of this business:

This question collects information in accordance with the Employment Equity Act and its Regulations and Guidelines to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural and economic life of Canada.

Exclude First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit).

Select all that apply.

White
South Asian
e.g. , East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
Chinese
Black
Filipino
Latin American
Arab
Southeast Asian
e.g. , Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
West Asian
e.g. , Afghan, Iranian
Korean
Japanese
Other group
- Specify other group:
OR
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 80. Is the primary decision maker of this business now, or have they ever been a landed immigrant?

A “landed immigrant” (permanent resident) is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.

Yes
- How many years has it been since this person first became a landed immigrant?
  If exact year is not known, enter best estimate.
  - Less than one year
  - Between 1 and 5 years
  - More than 5 years
  - Don’t know or prefer not to say
No
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 81. What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree completed of the primary decision maker of this business?

Less than high school diploma or its equivalent
High school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate
Trades certificate or diploma
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)
University certificate or diploma below the bachelor's level
Bachelor's degree
e.g. , B.A., B.A. (Hons), B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B.
University certificate, diploma or degree above the bachelor's level
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 82. What is the major field of study of the primary decision maker of this business?

No postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree
Personal improvement and leisure
Education
Visual and performing arts, and communications technologies
Humanities
Social and behavioural sciences and law
Business, management and public administration
Physical and life sciences and technologies
Mathematics, computer and information sciences
Architecture, engineering and related trades
Agriculture, natural resources and conservation
Health and related fields
Personal, protective and transportation services
Other
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 83. Is the primary decision maker of this business a person with disabilities?

A person with a disability is a person with any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.

Yes
No
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 84. Are you the primary decision maker of this business?

Yes
No
Prefer not to say

Demographic characteristics of senior management

Your responses to questions 85 to 89 are voluntary.

Senior management includes the chair and vice-chair of the board of directors, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, vice-president in charge of a principal business unit or function, as well as any other individual performing policy-making function in respect of the corporation.

Note: To the best of your knowledge, please fill out the information below.

Question 85. What is the gender composition of the senior management of this business? Please indicate the distribution in percentage.

What is the gender composition of the senior management of this business? Please indicate the distribution in percentage.
Table summary
This table contains no data. It is an example of an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada.
	Percentage
a. Man	%
b. Woman	%
c. Non-binary person	%
d. Don’t know or prefer not to say	%
Total	%

Question 86. Does the senior management of this business include individuals who are 2SLGBTQ+ persons?

Yes
No
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 87. Does the senior management of this business include individuals who are First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

If “Yes”, select the responses that best describes this person now.

No, not First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)

Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
Yes, Métis
Yes, Inuk (Inuit)

Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 88. Does the senior management of this business include individuals who are:
This question collects information in accordance with the Employment Equity Act and its Regulations and Guidelines to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural and economic life of Canada.

Exclude First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit).

Select all that apply.

White
South Asian
e.g. , East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
Chinese
Black
Filipino
Latin American
Arab
Southeast Asian
e.g. , Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
West Asian
e.g. , Afghan, Iranian
Korean
Japanese
Other group
- Specify other group:
OR
Don’t know or prefer not to say

Question 89. Does the senior management of this business include individuals who are now or have ever been landed immigrants?

A “landed immigrant” (permanent resident) is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.

Yes
No
Don't know or prefer not to say

Majority-owned foreign affiliate statistics

Question 90. This business indicated that it owns or controls greater than 50% of the voting equity of a foreign affiliate. The following section collects information on economic activities for the top 3 (in terms of total sales) majority-owned affiliates abroad (MOFA), in terms of total sales.

The following question may be repeated up to three times, once for each MOFA. Please provide a separate response for each applicable affiliate.

MOFA

Please report the name, country of operation and type of industry of the top three MOFA.

Name of the MOFA ________(type in)

Country of operation ________(“Select”)

Industry (NAICS2) of the MOFA ________(“Select”)

Total full-time equivalent personnel employed by the MOFA

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did the MOFA have full-time equivalent personnel (FTE)?

Include full and part-time employees but exclude temporary or contract workers.

Yes, had FTE personnel
Total full-time equivalent personnel
Report the approximate number of FTE personnel employed by the MOFA in the foreign country of operation.
Full-time equivalent is the ratio of total hours worked within calendar year on an activity by all employees divided by the total hours conventionally worked in the calendar year by a full-time employee.
Total full-time equivalent personnel ____________

Total full-time equivalent personnel engaged in R&D in the foreign country of operation.
Report the approximate number of total full-time equivalent personnel engaged in research and development who work on R&D or who provide direct support to R&D employed by the MOFA.
Total full-time equivalent personnel engaged in R&D ____________

Employee compensation expenditure
Report for all employees the sum of wages and salaries and employee benefit plans.
Employee compensation expenditure
CAN$ ‘000
$,000

In-house R&D expenditures incurred by the MOFA
Report the in-house R&D expenditures incurred by the MOFA.

In-house R&D expenditures
CAN$ ‘000
$,000
No, didn’t have employees

Operating expenses incurred by the MOFA

In this business's fiscal year ending in 2025, did the MOFA incur operating expenses?

Report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars (CAN$ '000). If the amount is less than one thousand dollars, enter "0".

When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimate.

Yes
Operating expenses, including cost of goods sold
CAN$ ‘000
$,000

Purchases of goods and services
- Yes
  Total purchases of goods and services
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
  
  Please provide a breakdown of the total purchases of goods and services.
  
  Purchases in the country where MOFA operates
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
  
  Imports from Canadian parents and affiliated parties in Canada
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
  
  Imports from non-affiliated parties in Canada
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
  
  Imports from all other countries
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
- No, did not purchase goods or services
  
  Gross fixed capital formation
  Gross fixed capital formation
  CAN$ ‘000
  $,000
No

Notification of intent to extract web data

Question 91. Does this business have a website?

Yes
- Specify the business website address
  e.g. , www.example.ca
No

Statistics Canada is piloting a web data extraction initiative, also known as web scraping, which uses software to search and compile publicly available data from organizational websites. As a result, we may visit the website for this organization to search for, and compile, additional information. This initiative should allow us to reduce the reporting burden on organizations, as well as produce additional statistical indicators to ensure that our data remain accurate and relevant.

We will do our utmost to ensure the data are collected in a manner that will not affect the functionality of the website. Any data collected will be used by Statistics Canada for statistical and research purposes only, in accordance with the agency's mandate.

Please visit Statistics Canada's web scraping initiative page for more information.

Please visit Statistics Canada's transparency and accountability page to learn more.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Statistics Canada Client Services, toll-free at 1-877-949-9492 (TTY: 1-800-363-7629) or by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca. Additional information about this survey can be found by selecting the following link: Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy 2025

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Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy, 2025

Why are we conducting this survey?

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Confidentiality

Record Linkages

Data sharing agreements

Who should complete this questionnaire?

Business or organization and contact information

Information on the Reference Period

Reference Period

Fiscal Year

Business Strategies

Skills and training

Main market and competitive landscape

Goods or services innovation

Business process innovation

Innovation activities

Government support programs for innovation-related activities

Obstacles to innovation

Innovations related to the environment

Advanced technologies

Imports and Exports

Business structure and Ownership

Purchased goods or services

Employment in Canada and Abroad

Adjustment to Canadian activities

Sales

Contracting

Diversity strategies and demographic characteristics

Demographic characteristics of primary decision maker

Demographic characteristics of senior management

Majority-owned foreign affiliate statistics

Notification of intent to extract web data