Creating an integrated innovation system to enable the adaptation and uptake of health-system innovations in Canada

More than ever, health-system leaders are grappling with whether and how to make use of a wide range of innovations (e.g., remote-monitoring technologies and innovations driven by artificial intelligence (AI)) to address complex system and policy challenges. Many of these innovations are promising and could strengthen our health systems and improve the health of the population. However, we have a long history of struggling  (and sometimes failing) to adopt health-system innovations in Canada. Deliberations about this issue during a series of horizon-scanning panels prioritized the need for an integrated innovation system that is enabled by an ‘innovation backbone’ designed to better enable the adaptation and uptake of health-system innovations. To advance this priority with funding from AGE-WELL NCE Inc, we convened a series of citizen panels and a national stakeholder dialogue to spark action towards such an integrated health-innovation system in Canada.