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The session will last for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and will cover the following topics.

1. Data Security and the Importance of Sovereign Data Infrastructure

Why it matters: Canada must develop its own geospatial data infrastructure to ensure sensitive data—related to natural resources, infrastructure, and national security—remains under Canadian control. With increasing reliance on foreign data sources, securing sovereignty is vital in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Key discussion points

• National security and data protection: Protect geospatial data from cyber-attacks, foreign surveillance, and espionage through robust encryption and secure transmission methods.
• Canada’s data-sharing agreements: Canada must balance international collaborations with the need to safeguard sensitive geospatial data. Expanding domestic capabilities while maintaining international partnerships will be critical.
• Sovereign Data Infrastructure and examples of successful initiatives:
  • EU: Initiatives like GAIA-X and GDPR are designed to ensure data sovereignty within Europe.
  • India: Developing sovereign data infrastructure with local data centers to reduce foreign reliance.
  • Japan: Implemented the Trusted Cloud Framework to regulate cross-border data transfers while ensuring data protection.
• Open Source as a Blueprint for Digital Sovereignty:
  Open-source GIS allows countries to manage, customize, and control their geospatial infrastructure without relying on foreign proprietary systems. France’s use of open-source technologies offers a model for Canada to keep its data under national control.

2. Public-Private Partnerships to Bolster Technological Advancements

Why it matters: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are key to building resilient geospatial data infrastructure. Collaborations between government and private companies can leverage emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing while ensuring government oversight and control.

Key discussion points

• How the government works – system is opaque
  Challenge: Government processes, such as grants and procurement, can be unclear, creating barriers for SMEs.
  Solutions: Simplify government processes and use case studies where public-private partnerships have streamlined collaboration.
• Lacking opportunities for SMEs:
  Challenge: SMEs struggle with funding and growth opportunities due to competition and limited government support.
  Solutions: Develop flexible funding options and create accelerators specifically for geospatial startups.
• Cultural divide between private and public sectors:
  Challenge: The divide between the public sector’s cautious approach and the private sector’s agility hampers collaboration.
  Solutions: Foster collaboration through shared goals, clear communication, and mutual trust.

Successful PPP Geospatial Projects in Canada

• RADARSAT: One of Canada’s flagship PPP projects, RADARSAT is a partnership between CSA and MDA. RADARSAT provides critical geospatial data for a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring to national security.
• Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI): A collaborative initiative involving various government levels and private sector companies to establish a national platform for geospatial data, supporting industries like agriculture, environment, and urban planning.
• Canadian Remote Sensing Data for Forest Management: The Canadian government collaborates with companies like Hexagon and Esri to use geospatial data for sustainable forest resource management and monitoring.

3. Capacity Building and Education Programs

Why it matters: The geospatial sector is experiencing a significant gap between demand for skilled professionals and the available workforce. This shortage spans both traditional geomatics and emerging tech fields, putting Canada’s ability to meet its infrastructure and technology needs at risk.

Key discussion points

• Challenge: Growing shortage of skilled professionals across traditional geomatics and emerging tech fields
  Solution: Enhance industry-academic collaboration, expand internships, and update curricula to equip students with traditional geomatics skills and emerging technologies.
• Challenge: Educational programs struggle to keep up with tech advancements
  Solution: Update curricula to include emerging technologies like AI, digital twins, cloud computing, etc, and ensure academic programs align with industry needs.
• Challenge: Geospatial programs are closing due to low enrollment and funding issues
  Solutions: Advocate for more investment in geospatial education at the post-secondary and technical levels to sustain and grow these programs.
• Challenge: Current job classifications don’t reflect the demand for specialized roles
  Solution: Update the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes to accommodate emerging geospatial careers such as Geospatial AI, Machine Learning, data science, predictive modeling, Digital Twins, and BIM-GIS integration.

4. Global Geospatial Competition and Canada’s Strategic Position

Why it matters: As global competition in geospatial technologies intensifies, Canada must leverage its unique advantages to remain competitive. Canada’s recent slip in the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) Readiness Index underscores the growing importance of investing in geospatial innovation and maintaining a competitive edge.

Key discussion points

• Challenge: Global competition in geospatial technologies
  Geospatial technologies are advancing rapidly, with countries like South Korea, India, and Sweden making significant strides in infrastructure, AI integration, and smart city technologies. South Korea, for instance, advanced from 25th to 4th in the GKI Readiness Index, highlighting the intensity of global competition.
  Solutions: Canada needs to address its weaknesses. This includes investing in modernizing geospatial infrastructure, and improving the integration of geospatial technologies into decision-making across industries and government services. Strengthening policy implementation and improving public-private collaborations will also be key to accelerating innovation.
• Challenge: Government policy and regulatory framework
  Solutions: Canada must focus on improving policy execution to ensure that its open data initiatives and national spatial data infrastructure plans have a more significant impact. Streamlining regulatory processes will also help keep pace with global trends and encourage faster innovation, especially in the SME sector.
• Challenge: Lack of a geospatial data act: Canada currently lacks a comprehensive Geospatial Data Act, which creates a gap between government policies and the rapidly evolving geospatial industry. Without clear, unified regulations, the integration of geospatial technologies and data into national strategies remains inconsistent.
  Solutions: Canada can look to models like the US Geospatial Data Strategy, UK Geospatial Strategy 2030 and Germany’s Geodata Access Act, which successfully align policies with industry needs, improve data access, and foster innovation. These examples provide a framework for developing a geospatial data act in Canada to support industry growth and integration.

5. Leveraging Canada’s Relationship with Global Partners

Why it matters: Canada’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. has been strategically beneficial. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics make this dependence increasingly risky. As global relationships evolve, Canada must look beyond its traditional allies.

Key discussion points: Looking Beyond the Horizon

• Europe: Canada’s expertise aligns well with Europe’s focus on sustainability and data-sharing initiatives. As the only non-European country in the European Space Agency (ESA), Canada is uniquely positioned to strengthen partnerships in space and Earth observation (EO). There are additional opportunities to collaborate on innovations like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twins with countries like the UK, The Netherlands, and Germany. Canada could emerge as a natural partner for Europe.
• Asia: Asia’s rapid infrastructure development and increasing demand for geospatial data present opportunities for Canada. Countries like Singapore, with a strong focus on smart cities and digital twin technologies, offer exciting prospects for collaboration. Japan, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia are also advancing geospatial innovation in construction, agriculture, and disaster management. Additionally, China, despite geopolitical tensions, remains an important player in the global supply chain.
• Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East: These regions are investing heavily in technologies for engineering, urban planning, resource management, and climate change solutions. The Middle East, in particular, stands out with its financial resources and rapidly developing infrastructure, offering a promising market for Canadian service providers. Similarly, Latin America and Africa provide opportunities.

6. Measuring the Impact of Geospatial Data on GDP

Why it matters: Geospatial technologies are increasingly integral to sectors like agriculture, urban planning, and infrastructure. Assessing their economic impact is crucial as they become a cornerstone of the digital economy.

The 2013 study, The Economic Benefits of Geospatial Information, by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), estimated geospatial data contributed $2.1 billion annually to Canada’s economy, supporting 15,000 jobs. It highlighted the role of geospatial technologies in industries like agriculture, forestry, and transportation.

However, economies and technologies have changed significantly since then. The impact of geospatial technologies has grown, especially with the rise of the digital economy, making it essential to revisit their economic contribution.

Other Countries Assessing Geospatial Data’s Impact:

• United Kingdom: The UK Geospatial Commission studies show that geospatial data contributes significantly to the national GDP, with the sector valued at over £6 billion in 2024 and supporting over 37,500 jobs.
• Australia: A report by the Geospatial Council of Australia in 2024 estimates that geospatial technology contributes over $39 billion to the Australian economy, with projections to reach $81 billion by 2033-2034.
• Netherlands: The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations published the Netherlands Geolocation Economy report in 2019, which estimated the Netherland’s geospatial commercial industry market to be EUR 1.05 billion.
• India: India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022 has spurred the integration of geospatial data across various sectors. Studies have shown that the geospatial sector in India is rapidly growing, contributing to economic development, especially in agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management.
• ESA Space Economy Report 2024: The European Space Agency’s report provides insights into the economic impact of space and geospatial data within the EU, highlighting its contribution to GDP and employment across member states. ​
• A 2019 study by the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that the GPS contributes $1.4 trillion annually to the U.S. private sector, highlighting its critical value across industries such as transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Helpful Reads

• Canada Must Leverage Its Geospatial Legacy to Embrace New Opportunities
• Treat Geomatics Like a National Asset, Not an Afterthought
• Canada’s Blind Spot: The Government Can’t See Its Own Geospatial Sector
• Sovereign Data Infrastructure: What It Is and Why It’s Critical for Canada
• France’s Open-Source GIS Journey: A Blueprint for Digital Sovereignty
• Could U.S. Tariffs Push Canada Toward a Stronger Role in Multi-Polar Space Economy?
• Mapping Canada’s GEOINT Landscape
• Canada Slips On GKI Readiness Index 2025
• Canadian geomatics environmental scan and value study
• Economic Benefits of the Global Positioning System to the U.S. Private Sector Study
• ESA Report on the Space Economy 2025 [Mar/2025]
• Netherlands Geolocation Economy Report
• Australia Geospatial Economic Impact Report
• UK Geospatial Sector Market Report 2024
• United States Department of State Geospatial Data Strategy
• UK Geospatial Strategy 2030
• Germany Geo-Data Access Act
• India National Geospatial Policy 2022