Advocacy, Thought Leadership

Innovation in Industrial Development: The Role of Government Policy

Posted on by Alberta Enterprise Group

Shondell Sabad

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY SHONDELL SABAD, SENIOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR AT THE ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

When we talk about innovation and industrial development, it is important to remember that governments do not build industries; however, they do lay the policy foundations that make industrial success possible. A clear example of this is playing out right now in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) industry.

While Canada works through its regulatory pathways – led by forward‑thinking firms such as GE Hitachi, which aims to bring the country’s first operational SMR online by 2030 – the United States is moving at lightning speed.

In a recent article from Rational Optimist, Stephen McBride and Dan Steinhart highlight how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has challenged the private sector to have three SMRs operational by July 4, 2026. As Reuters reports, this “lightning reactor build program” is transforming the nuclear sector by removing barriers, accelerating approvals, and empowering innovators to act.  See below to find out who is winning the SMR race.

What’s striking is that the front‑runners in this new SMR race aren’t the traditional nuclear giants. They are nimble, innovative companies rethinking what nuclear power can and should be – smaller, safer, and scalable. The U.S. government isn’t building the reactors; it’s creating the conditions where innovation can thrive in the SME landscape.

This is how progress happens. Government clears the way; innovators deliver results.

This should be the new Alberta model. Whether in energy, technology, or manufacturing, Alberta can lead by creating policy frameworks that enable innovation – not slow it down. The role of government should be to remove barriers, encourage investment, and help home-grown innovators compete globally.

At AEG, we believe Alberta’s innovators can lead the way if the right conditions are in place – by working collaboratively with government to reduce red tape, attract investment, and embrace emerging technologies.

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