The mother of invention: skills for innovation in the post-pandemic world

TLDR: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovation, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, and the implications for the definition, assessment, development and utilization of skills are explored in this article.

Abstract: Much has been made of the negative effects the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic has had on the economy, and the disruption, upheaval and chaos created among the workforce when the world was forced to shut down en masse. But the pandemic has also fueled a surge in innovation, as necessity forced businesses, governments and individuals to find ways to adapt. Not only has it driven the creation of new technologies, it has driven the development of new products and services, changes in processes, the development of new business models, and even shifts in the approach to work itself. If innovation is the key to our economic prosperity, Canada's skills strategy must address the skills needed for innovation across sectors - from small and medium-sized businesses to large corporations and even within government itself. In this context, this report explores: the definition of innovation and its connection to entrepreneurship and skills; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovation, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises; and the implications for the definition, assessment, development and utilization of skills.