For over ten years, the Governor General’s Innovation Awards (GGIA) have shone a spotlight on Canadians whose groundbreaking ideas are shaping our communities, our country, and the world. These awards invite Canadians to welcome bold thinking and embrace innovation as part of our national identity.
Over the past decade, the GGIA has recognized 60 laureates whose work is inspiring Canadians to embrace innovation as a national strength. The awards show that innovation is not confined to labs or boardrooms, it happens wherever Canadians look at a problem and decide to act.
Celebrating the 2025 Winners
This year’s laureates showcase Canadian ingenuity across sectors: from GHGSat’s satellite technology tracking global greenhouse gas emissions, to Heart-on-a-Chip’s breakthroughs in drug discovery, to the National Overdose Response Service providing life-saving support. They also include Student Energy, a youth-led network advancing clean energy worldwide; Dispersa’s sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products; and ODARA, a tool helping justice systems prevent intimate partner violence
These stories show how Canadian ingenuity touches every aspect of life – from public health to sustainable energy to safety and justice.
Innovation with Global Reach
The impact of GGIA doesn’t stop at the awards ceremony. Take Dr. Kamran Khan, a 2018 laureate. His big-data platform BlueDot, which tracks and responds to global disease outbreaks, now helps 49 countries, covering more than 1 billion people.
Reflecting on the GGIA’s role in his journey, Dr. Khan said: “The GGIA is celebrating people that are taking risks. By continuing to tell these stories, we better understand what we’re capable of and the kind of problems that we can tackle together.”
Nominations Now Open through our Nominating Partners
Nominations for the Governor General’s Innovation Awards are now open and take place through a network of trusted nominating partners across Canada. These partners play a vital role in recognizing innovators whose ideas are transforming communities and inspiring the country.
If your organization is interested in becoming a nominating partner, please contact us to learn more about the process and how you can help celebrate Canadian innovation.
