The intersection between national security and intangible assets, including intellectual property, has become more prevalent now than ever before. Emerging technologies and their potential uses in our digital world constantly push the boundaries of national security especially if they are being acquired, legitimately or otherwise, by foreign interests.

Curiously, the notion of national security is malleable; how one determines if a technology or acquisition of business is injurious to Canada’s national security isn’t particularly clear, and as to when a national security review is triggered.

Innovation is key to gain competitive and technological advantages, mostly in high tech sectors, where cutting edge technology may skim the outskirts of, or trigger, national security concerns/thresholds, especially for data which is considered to be one of the world’s most valuable resources (“The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data”, Forbes, 2019). However, there appears to be a “clash of clans” brewing between existing procedures to protect IP rights and keeping things secret, particularly when it comes to national security matters.

Join the discussion with Aaron Shull of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and David Durand of FORPIQ at the FIC’s (Forum International de la Cybersecurité) first conference in North America.

When: Tuesday, November 1st 2022 at 10:30am, Purple Stage
Session: Intellectual Property and National Security: The Challenges of Emerging Technology

For registrations, visit https://america.forum-fic.com/en/visit-the-fic/