Some of the world’s most important conversations about the future of technology happened in Paris this June. Across conference stages, policy roundtables, and innovation campuses, global leaders came together to tackle a common question: how do we ensure emerging technologies create meaningful economic and societal impact?
Representing DIGITAL, Jen Mielguj, Director of IP and Partnerships, joined these conversations with a uniquely Canadian perspective, one grounded in collaboration, responsible innovation, and helping companies move from breakthrough ideas to real-world adoption.
Over the course of several days, Jen participated in three distinct events, each offering a different lens on the future of innovation. Together, they painted a compelling picture of Canada’s growing influence on the global stage.
Where Innovation Meets Opportunity
At VivaTech 2026, Europe’s largest startup and technology event, more than 200,000 attendees from 165 countries came together alongside thousands of startups, investors, policymakers, and technology leaders. Walking through the exhibition halls, one thing became immediately clear: conversations around artificial intelligence have evolved. The excitement remains, but the focus has shifted from possibility to implementation.
How do we build AI responsibly? How do we strengthen digital sovereignty? How do we commercialize emerging technologies while earning public trust? These weren’t theoretical questions, they were practical challenges being debated by leaders shaping the next generation of technology.
For Jen, it was an opportunity to demonstrate that Canada is not simply keeping pace with these discussions but helping lead them.
“Canada has built an innovation ecosystem that prioritizes collaboration alongside commercialization,” she reflected. “That’s becoming an increasingly valuable advantage as countries look for practical models that help technologies reach the market responsibly.”
Throughout the event, discussions ranged from cybersecurity and defence readiness to climate innovation, health technologies, and the realities of scaling deep-tech companies in an increasingly uncertain global economy. Across each conversation, Canada’s strengths in applied innovation and trusted partnerships resonated strongly.
Beyond Funding: Building Ecosystems That Work
At the OECD‘s Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP), the conversation shifted from the technologies shaping tomorrow to the systems that make innovation possible. Joining leaders from Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters—including representatives from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, NGen, and SCALE AI—Jen explored how governments and innovation organizations can better support frontier technology ecosystems.
The discussion centered on a challenge many countries now face: innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Breakthrough technologies require more than investment. They need coordinated ecosystems that bring together researchers, industry, governments, investors, and customers around shared priorities.
One idea surfaced repeatedly throughout the discussions: orchestration.
Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster model has become an example of how thoughtful coordination can reduce barriers to adoption, accelerate commercialization, and encourage both public and private investment. Rather than simply funding innovation, the model helps connect the people, organizations, and opportunities needed to bring new technologies into the real world.
For Jen, sharing Canada’s experience reinforced something DIGITAL sees every day; innovation succeeds when strong partnerships create the conditions for companies to grow.
Strengthening Connections Across the Atlantic
At Campus Live #5, hosted at PariSanté Campus, attention turned toward the future of digital health.
Joining leaders from DIGITAL Member Dova Health Intelligence, the Embassy of Canada in France, and Medicen Paris Region, Jen participated in a masterclass exploring how Canada and France can deepen collaboration across their digital health ecosystems.
Rather than focusing solely on technology itself, the discussion examined the practical steps needed to help health innovations scale internationally. How can startups navigate different regulatory environments? What role can procurement play in accelerating adoption? How can innovation clusters work together to create smoother pathways into international markets?
These conversations reflected a shared understanding that solving healthcare challenges requires collaboration that extends well beyond national borders. The session also highlighted the growing opportunities for Canadian innovators to build meaningful partnerships with European organizations as both regions continue investing in digital health transformation.
More Than Representation
Looking across these conversations, Jen’s participation represented more than attending three international events. It reflected Canada’s growing reputation as a country that contributes practical ideas, trusted partnerships, and collaborative approaches to some of the world’s biggest innovation challenges.
Whether discussing responsible AI, frontier technology ecosystems, or the future of digital health, the conversations shared a common theme: innovation delivers the greatest value when it is connected. to people, to markets, and to purpose.
That philosophy sits at the heart of DIGITAL’s work.
By building partnerships, supporting commercialization, and strengthening Canada’s innovation ecosystem, DIGITAL helps ensure Canadian companies are not only developing world-class technologies but bringing them to market, creating economic growth, and competing confidently on the global stage.
Paris served as a reminder that Canada’s role in global innovation is continuing to evolve. We are no longer simply participating in these conversations, we are helping shape where they go next.