A New Academic Year at CIGI’s Digital Policy Hub
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is opening the new academic year by welcoming 17 new fellows, alongside six returning fellows, to its Digital Policy Hub. The Hub exists to cultivate fresh thinking about how transformative technologies are built, governed, and used—and to support the people who will shape those choices.
What the Digital Policy Hub Does
Since its launch, the Digital Policy Hub has grown into a lively, collaborative space for emerging scholars and big-picture thinkers. It brings people together to share ideas, test arguments, and carry out research on the fast-changing dynamics of technology in a digital era. By connecting students and professionals across the country, CIGI helps participants sharpen core skills—research, analysis, and policy-making—that translate ideas into practical impact.
Growth, Skills, and Career Pathways
Paul Samson, CIGI’s President, underscored how the Hub is building both knowledge and careers. "It's creating a unique transdisciplinary environment that both builds intellectual foundations and cultivates career pathways that are paramount in today’s fast-changing digital landscape," he stated. Fellows leave with stronger tools, a clearer sense of direction, and relationships that carry forward into public service, industry, academia, and civil society.
Highlights From the First Year
In its first year, fellows from a range of disciplines took part in research conferences and seminars, contributing to important debates in technology governance. Several of their findings have been published on the Hub’s digital platform—evidence that their work travels beyond the room, informs discussion, and helps set an agenda. The trajectory is clear: more participation, more shared learning, and a growing voice in policy conversations.
Backed by Collaboration
Mitacs continues to support the Digital Policy Hub and its mission to foster talent and innovation. CEO John Hepburn noted that the initiative aligns with Mitacs’s focus on investing in innovation and developing a new generation of leaders ready for future challenges. Through this partnership, the Hub strengthens not only the fellows’ work but also a wider network of professionals engaged in cutting-edge research.
Working With Policy Makers and Industry
The Hub’s model invites direct engagement with policy makers and industry leaders. That contact helps fellows test real-world implications, pressure?check ideas across disciplines, and refine solutions to complex problems. It’s the kind of practice that matters for today’s global challenges, where technical, legal, economic, and ethical questions often arrive all at once.
What This Year’s Fellows Are Exploring
The new cohort brings a wide mix of research interests and experience from institutions and organizations across the country. Fellows are examining topics such as U.S.-China tech rivalry, outer space law and governance, and the ethics of artificial intelligence—issues that sit at the heart of public debate about where technology is headed and how it should be governed.
Conclusion and What Comes Next
As the Digital Policy Hub moves forward, CIGI acknowledges the vital support of partners like Mitacs and the John Holmes Trust. Together, they’re helping place Canadian fellows at the forefront of thoughtful, impactful research—work that can inform better decisions and, in time, reshape how we relate to technology in everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CIGI’s Digital Policy Hub?
The Digital Policy Hub is a CIGI initiative that brings emerging scholars and thinkers together to research, discuss, and inform the governance of transformative technologies. It’s a collaborative space designed to turn strong analysis into policy-relevant insights.
How many fellows are joining this academic year?
CIGI is welcoming 17 new fellows, with six fellows returning. Together, they form a cohort that blends new perspectives with continuity from the previous year.
What topics are fellows exploring?
Fellows are working on issues including U.S.-China tech rivalry, outer space law and governance, and the ethics of artificial intelligence—areas central to current debates in technology policy.
How is Mitacs involved with the Hub?
Mitacs provides ongoing support that aligns with its commitment to investing in innovation and developing future leaders. This collaboration helps the Hub deepen its impact and strengthen connections across the research community.
What are the Hub’s main goals?
The Hub aims to equip scholars and professionals to address complex challenges in the digital landscape by strengthening research, analytical, and policy-making skills, and by building connections with peers, policy makers, and industry.
