Written by: Dr. Jesse Coleman, Programs Manager, DIGITAL
Recently, DIGITAL hosted the second roundtable in our Leadership Series in Toronto – bringing together a diverse range of leaders from industry, government, buyers and legal advisory to tackle the unique challenges of procurement of AI-infused technologies in Canadian healthcare.
The discussions highlighted persistent challenges in Canadian healthcare. We have a strong foundation in AI innovation, providing cutting-edge research and development within Canada. Still, the paradox in our risk-aversion and slow adoption of these technologies within our own healthcare system are a bottleneck; resulting in slow and complex procurement cycles that can be (and frequently are) years long. Given the multitude of challenges Canadian small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) face, a multi-year time horizon is often longer than their financial runway. And with the pressure of increased provincial health spending budgets and strains on patient access: we can’t afford to waste opportunities for better solutions. Moving forward, we’ve identified several opportunities for Canadian health tech. Canada needs to create more transparent communication and clear frameworks for data sharing and IP. We must also find ways to provide our SMEs with simplified access to funding and procurement streams, both domestically and internationally.
Ultimately, the event underlined the difficulties of navigating Canada’s fragmented healthcare system; the challenge of aligning interests between startups, healthcare workers, and hospital administrators; and the need for clear policy and regulatory frameworks.
Canada needs to focus on patients, performance, and cost-lowering outcomes, not just technology. Within the sample set of our roundtable, there was immense promise for a collective commitment to selling solutions based on patient-centered goals and national innovation impact. This alignment is crucial for gaining buy-in from clinicians, who often require robust clinical evidence and in-market case studies or publications to trust and adopt new healthcare solutions, including for AI. The conversation also made it clear that while a “buy-Canada” policy is a shared ambition, it needs to be translated into actionable procurement quotas, mandated programs and funding to truly support home-grown innovation.
Overall, the event was an inspiring reminder of the potential of Canada’s health tech ecosystem. Across DIGITAL’s numerous health tech investments, these conversations are a critical part of our convening power: to create a trusted environment where builders and buyers can come together to demystify requirements and solve complex problems. By working together to address systemic challenges, we can accelerate the adoption of Canadian AI solutions, leading to better patient care, increased efficiencies, and economic growth for Canada.
DIGITAL frequently shares new business opportunities with our network and Members, including hosted thought leadership discussion, international trade delegations and more. We’re also working with attendees of our Leadership Series events in Vancouver and Toronto the continue the momentum of these conversations. Subscribe to our newsletter or send a message/reach out to Jesse Coleman at jcoleman@digitalsupercluster.ca for more information.
