I'm enthusiastic about the bright future that is ahead if we can continue to foster and encourage governments, business leaders and young students to look beyond the limits to make the impossible, possible. I find myself wondering what it will take to win in this Third Industrial Revolution, and I keep coming back to our youth, these students whose brilliant minds know no limits. Are we doing enough to encourage and inspire them? Are we finding the right venues to foster innovation and commercialization of the best ideas in Canada, or will we retain our role as an exporter of raw goods, rather than an information economy of the future?

While it took a few years after the financial crisis for financial services start-ups to get their business models refined to the point where they can come to market they are here now, and these alternative financial services technology companies are becoming viable and increasingly common sources of financing for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

I am not making a case that change is bad, but I am saying that for change to work, that is, for it to be sustainable, it needs to become a habit. And it feels like the only habit that we know right now is how to change. Not how to sustain it.

Everything is getting connected to the Internet. From your toaster and home thermometer to your fridge and your car. As these appliances do "come online," can you even begin to imagine the media opportunities that arise from such a wealth of human information?

A new interdisciplinary research initiative, simply titled the "India Innovation Institute", was launched at the University of Toronto to explore the parameters around innovation in India, with the role played by the diaspora central to its scope of research.

It has happened to all of us at some point. You have a great idea, and someone else likes it so much they "borrow" from you -- or outright steal. In the big picture, there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, if we were able to copyright ideas, creativity would be stifled. So what do you do when someone steals your ideas?

The speed with which our world now lives could well put an end to the world of iconic brands. Before all of this connectivity, a great brand could stand the test of time. It now seems like insanity. The Beatles were iconic. Do you believe that any of the musicians today that we admire will be able to leave this kind of legacy? What about companies?

Next week, the who's who of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry around the world will arrive in Montreal, Canada, for the biannual World Congress of Information Technology (WCIT). With all the economic upheaval making business headlines, why does this specialized gathering matter?

The OECD recently released a study showing Canada is among the leaders in public research and patents filed by academics -- great news. Licensing patents is as much important as developing them. Like most people, I use to assimilate invention with innovation. Two weeks ago, I watched a documentary on Steve Jobs, and finally, I understood the difference between the two. Even Steve Jobs couldn't have built an innovative computer mouse without a license.

I haven't been able to pick up a paper or surf online recently without getting bombarded with news, research or expert opinions featuring Big Data and its value to the future of business. I worry that without engagement and investment, the promise of Big Data initiatives will remain just a promise.

Spurring innovation and improving post-secondary education in Canada will be crucial to boosting sluggish productivity growth, which is the most signi...

Could it be that our world-leading national politeness and gentleness is actually holding us back a bit from stretching our minds and our capabilities? How do we find a way to stay nice and play to win at the same time?

A list of the world's most innovative cities places Toronto in the top 10, a sign the city continues to be a vibrant economic centre despite the finan...