For more than 20 years, CIGI’s ideas have made an impact in Canada and around the world, including within the headquarters of international institutions. I am proud to be joining this distinguished and innovative think tank as it tackles the newest challenges posed by the rapidly evolving digital economy.
CIGI has over the last year produced significant new work thanks to its insightful and prolific fellows and experts, who are too numerous to all be named in this brief report.
Major work on reimagining Canada’s security strategy, lauded by military and intelligence officials and security experts, has demonstrated CIGI’s leadership on emerging technologies and new risks. This work on threats to democracy and security, including freedom from online gender-based violence, will remain a priority.
As part of work on the data-driven economy, CIGI is assessing the central bank-led and other digital currencies that will shape the future financial system and is helping to explore new approaches to international governance, such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, which the Government of Canada seeks to join.
Global institutions are severely challenged by the pace and scope of change; this is especially apparent in their inability to respond to the evolving data-driven world. At a minimum, they are in need of fundamental reform. CIGI is well-positioned to contribute to the set of reform ideas, including across the interrelated issues of IP, competition and privacy.
This year, CIGIonline.org won top honours from the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. CIGI’s website showcases our fellows’ research and ideas with illuminating multimedia. Further improvements in our tools will ensure CIGI’s work continues to connect to our audiences and partners, including governments. Active contributions from CIGI fellows, and support from our partners, are key to delivering CIGI’s cutting-edge research and trusted analysis.
Paul Samson
President, CIGI