OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 17, 2013) - Canada's relatively strong economic position has helped develop an innovation system that drives economic growth and prosperity and encourages advances in overall well-being for Canadians.

However, despite having much to celebrate in the areas of talent development and new knowledge creation, Canada's overall science, technology, and innovation (STI) performance continues to lag on the global stage. On May 21^st, the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) will release its most recent State of the Nation report comparing Canada's STI performance against key comparator countries.

The State of the Nation 2012 report, Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation System: Aspiring to Global Leadership - STIC's third public report - charts Canada's development from the baseline set in 2008. New to STIC's reports, it identifies five key STI indicators, in particular, where Canada must aspire to global leadership.

Media are invited to attend a news conference at the following date and time:

Date and Time:	Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:00 a.m.
Location:	National Press Theatre 150 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Participants:	STIC members: • Howard Alper, Chair • Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University • Sophie Forest, Managing Partner, Brightspark Ventures • Simon Pimstone, President and CEO, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

About the Science, Technology and Innovation Council

The Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) is an important element of the federal government's Science and Technology Strategy announced in May 2007, which encourages a more competitive Canadian economy and improved quality of life for Canadians through science and technology. The Council is an advisory body composed of 18 senior, highly accomplished individuals from the business, research, higher education and government communities that provides the Government of Canada with external advice on science, technology and innovation policy issues, and produces the biennial State of the Nation reports that measure Canada's STI performance against international standards of excellence. www.stic-csti.ca.