International Partnerships Day
Sunday, November 22 | 8:30 – 16:30
Registration: $350 (Horizon Europe Roundtable included)
As a key pre-conference event, International Partnerships Day is designed to foster meaningful business-to-business (B2B) connections between Canadian and international delegates before the conference officially begins. The day will feature two concurrent programs:
B2B Meetings
This space is dedicated to structured partnership meetings that facilitate one-on-one engagement and collaboration building. It is an independent activity that requires delegates to arrange meetings in advance or onsite.
Country Spotlight Presentations
Programming, showcasing select international delegations, will take place concurrently and will provide insights on their country contexts, higher education systems, and priorities for bilateral cooperation with Canada.
Horizon Europe Roundtable
Sunday, November 22 | 9:00 – 11:00
Registration: Included in the International Partnership Day registration
As Canada looks to advance its engagement with Horizon Europe, this interactive roundtable will provide updates on emerging opportunities for Canadian institutions and researchers, key program developments, and strategies to strengthen participation. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and identify support and collaboration needs to maximize Canada’s impact.
The Roundtable will also showcase examples of successful international research consortia and collaboration models from Europe, exploring lessons that could inform Canada’s approach to partnership development, network building, and long-term engagement in large-scale international research and innovation initiatives.
Following the roundtable, participants will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with European delegates through the International Partnerships Day B2B meeting space to explore potential collaborations and consortium opportunities.
Roundtable Agenda
| 9:00 – 9:10 | Welcome and Introductions |
| 9:10 – 10:00 | Presentation + Q&A Horizon Europe and Canada: Current State and Future Opportunities This session will provide an update on Canada’s association with Horizon Europe, including participation trends, emerging opportunities, and early successes. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share perspectives, and discuss strategies for strengthening Canadian engagement through partnerships, consortium development, and alignment with broader institutional research and internationalization goals. Speakers • Mark Burger, Science, Technology and Innovation Trade Commissioner, European Union • Costas Kapsouropoulos, Digital and Science Counsellor, European Union Delegation to Canada |
| 10:00 – 10:10 | Health Break |
| 10:10 – 11:00 | Presentation + Q&A International Consortium Models: Lessons for Canada This discussion will explore a case study highlighting a successful Horizon Europe consortium, its structure, key success factors, and the role of its Canadian partner. The presentation will be followed by an interactive discussion on lessons learned and how similar consortium models could strengthen Canada’s participation in large-scale international research and innovation initiatives. Speakers • Charles Cormack, Founder and Managing Director, Cormack Consultancy Group |
| 11:00 – 11:10 | Closing Remarks |
| 11:30 – 16:00 | B2B International Partnership Meetings Connect with international delegates in the B2B Meeting Hall for one-on-one engagement and collaboration building. Note, this is an independent activity that requires delegates to arrange their own meetings in advance or onsite. |
Audience
This roundtable is intended for senior institutional and research leaders, international partnership professionals, and government representatives engaged in research collaboration and internationalization.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will:
- Receive an update on Canada’s association with Horizon Europe and emerging developments.
- Surface key questions, challenges, and priorities regarding Canada’s engagement in the program.
- Identify emerging opportunities for research collaboration with European partners.
- Exchange institutional experiences and best practices.
- Explore supports and capacity-building approaches for Horizon Europe engagement.
- Establish new connections with Canadian, European, and international research leaders attending CBIE2026.
Higher Education Dialogues
These events will bring together senior leaders from Canada and key priority partner countries to discuss opportunities to strengthen collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation. Participation is included in the general conference pass; no additional registration fee is required; however, capacity will be limited, so participants will be required to register in advance.
The Canada – China Higher Education Dialogue
Strengthening Higher Education Partnerships Between Canada and China
Monday, November 23 | 13:15 – 17:00
Registration: Included with the Conference Pass
As Canada and China seek to strengthen engagement in areas of mutual interest, the Canada-China Higher Education Dialogue will convene senior leaders from both countries to discuss cooperation in academic partnerships, joint programming, and people-to-people exchange. Building on decades of academic cooperation, the Dialogue will examine the role of higher education in fostering knowledge exchange, talent development, international partnership building, and people-to-people connections.
Program at a Glance (Subject to Change)
| 13:15 – 13:30 | Registration |
| 13:30 – 13:45 | Opening Remarks Senior representatives from Canada and China will open the Dialogue by reflecting on the current state of bilateral engagement and highlighting opportunities to strengthen cooperation through academic partnerships, research collaboration, student mobility, and institutional engagement. |
| 13:45 – 14:15 | Keynote Speech: Canada-China Higher Education Cooperation in the New Era Senior representatives from Canada and China will share perspectives on emerging trends in higher education and discuss opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation through academic partnerships, student mobility, research collaboration, and institutional engagement in an evolving global context. |
| 14:15 – 15:00 | Panel Discussion I: Strengthening People-to-People Connections: Advancing Sustainable Canada-China Mobility Partnerships This panel will explore the evolving role of student, faculty, and academic mobility in strengthening Canada-China higher education cooperation. Panelists will discuss approaches to building sustainable mobility pathways, expanding institutional partnerships, and developing innovative models that support talent development, intercultural understanding, and long-term academic engagement between the two countries. |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Health Break |
| 15:15 – 16:00 | Panel Discussion II: Joint Venture Programs – New Pathways for Canada-China Education Exchanges As institutions seek new approaches to international collaboration, this session will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with joint programs, joint degrees, and other collaborative education models. Panelists will explore strategies for developing sustainable partnerships, adapting programs to changing institutional contexts and policy contexts, and expanding cooperation across both academic and applied education sectors. |
| 16:00 – 16:45 | Panel Discussion III: Research Collaboration: Unlocking New Prospects for Canada-China Practical Cooperation This session will explore pathways for developing and expanding Canada-China research collaboration. Drawing on existing examples of Canadian-Chinese cooperation, panelists will discuss effective approaches to establishing long-term mechanisms that support researcher mobility, foster collaboration among scholars, and strengthen frameworks for knowledge exchange and joint research initiatives. |
| 16:45 – 16:55 | Closing Remarks |
| 16:55 – 17:00 | Group Photo and Discussion |
Who Should Attend?
The Dialogue is intended for senior leaders from higher education institutions, government representatives, and international partnership professionals engaged in Canada-China academic cooperation, student mobility, and international engagement.
The Canada – Nordic-Baltic Higher Education Dialogue
Advancing Security, Talent, and Innovation Through Strategic Cooperation
Tuesday, November 24 | 10:45 – 15:45
Registration: Included with the Conference Pass
As Canada strengthens its engagement with European partners, this event will convene senior leaders and policymakers from Canada and the Nordic-Baltic region to deepen multilateral collaboration on shared strategic priorities. Through high-level discussions, participants will explore how higher education and research can serve as strategic enablers of broader economic, security, and sustainability objectives by fostering innovation, developing talent, strengthening institutional partnerships, and supporting long-term collaboration that delivers shared value for all participating countries.
Agenda (Subject to Change)
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Opening Remarks Representatives from CBIE, and Nordic-Baltic partner organizations will set the stage for discussions on research collaboration, talent mobility, and the role of trusted international partnerships in advancing innovation, economic resilience, and national security priorities. |
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Strategic Partnerships in an Era of Geopolitical Competition: Advancing Security and Innovation through Higher Education Cooperation Canada and the Nordic-Baltic region share a commitment to innovation, economic competitiveness, democratic values, and security. This panel will explore common priorities and emerging challenges, and reflect on how higher education, research collaboration, and talent mobility can strengthen relationships, support strategic objectives, and deepen cooperation among trusted partners. |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Research Partnerships for a More Secure Future: Advancing Canada-Nordic-Baltic Collaboration in Strategic Areas Canada and the Nordic-Baltic region share interests in strengthening security, resilience, and competitiveness through research and innovation. This panel will explore opportunities for collaboration in areas of strategic importance, highlighting how institutions, governments, and funding organizations can work together to address shared challenges and generate collective impact. |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Health Break |
| 14:25 – 15:25 | Talent as Strategic Infrastructure: Strengthening Canada-Nordic-Baltic Competitiveness Through Mobility, Skills and Workforce Partnerships Talent is increasingly recognized as a strategic asset that underpins economic competitiveness, resilience, and security. This panel will explore how Canada and Nordic-Baltic partners can strengthen student mobility, and educational collaboration to build talent pipelines, and support capacity in strategically important sectors. |
| 15:25 – 15:45 | Closing Remarks |
Audience
This Dialogue is intended for senior institutional and research leaders, international partnership professionals, and government representatives engaged in research collaboration and internationalization.
Trade Commissioner Service
Monday, November 23 – Wednesday, November 25
Select Canadian Trade Commissioners will be present for client meetings to provide insights into priority markets, partnership development strategies, and emerging opportunities.
For more information contact us at partnerships-partenariats@cbie.ca
