GNWT begins the work to advance an NWT Knowledge Economy

Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) today announced new engagements with stakeholders and partners to help advance a Northwest Territories (NWT) Knowledge Economy (KE).

NWT groups and residents have the opportunity to explore and contribute to the discussion around the KE through a number of engagements, an online survey and an ideas platform.

In the NWT, developing a KE is timely and necessary, to help grow additional economies for residents to benefit from and participate in. A KE can be a collection of many things that build a foundation for economic diversity, or it can be focused on a specialized area of knowledge. Successful knowledge economies have strong partnerships among governments and industries, including a shared vision and leadership from all parties. These jurisdictions have created central hubs where people gather to work and innovate, with marked investments in post-secondary education, infrastructure, and innovation.

Economic diversification in the NWT is already underway. Makerspaces are taking hold, like Inuvik’s Arts, Crafts and Technology Micro-manufacturing Centre, operating since 2019, and the emerging YK Makerspace in Yellowknife, providing opportunities for collaboration and innovation. NWT businesses and entrepreneurs are increasingly finding opportunities to market and promote themselves online, whether it is selling their products or using technology to find efficiencies. Capacity is also increasing in communities through partnerships with various universities and non-governmental organizations. Also, linked to the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Knowledge Agenda, there is growth and significant opportunity in research, an area that shows real potential to be a strong pillar of the KE.

The engagements will occur throughout July, with in-person meetings, an online survey and the Ideas tool under the engagement platform.

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“A knowledge economy has, at its heart, both the idea of human connectivity and an eye to the wealth of possibilities that can grow from ideas. The foundation for a knowledge economy is an environment that enables residents, businesses, governments, academic institutions and social organizations to come together to not only share their ideas but to fill one another’s gaps of experience, expertise, financing or technology while innovating an idea into content, a product, or other social good or value. With Northerners’ boundless imaginations and expertise, we know that the work to advance a knowledge economy will be unique to the history, culture, environment, potential and resources of the territory.”

- Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Quick facts

Engagement sessions on advancing a Knowledge Economy in the NWT will be focused on getting input on the following themes of research, entrepreneurship, connectivity, partnerships, and capacity building.
A knowledge economy exists where information and technology are used to benefit society, businesses, and communities.
The United Nations has declared 2021 as the international year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.

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