Introducing ECCIR’s New President: A Conversation with Dr. Carl Amrhein
Following our Officer Elections in April, ECCIR is pleased to introduce Dr. Carl Amrhein as our organization’s new President. Dr. Amrhein is the former Provost and Vice-President (Academic) of Aga Khan University and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus in Arts and Sciences at Aga Khan University, as well as Professor Emeritus in Earth and Atmospheric Science at the University of Alberta. From 2003 to 2014, he served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at the University of Alberta, and he has also held senior roles at the Government of Alberta and the University of Toronto.
With a wealth of leadership experience and global expertise, Dr. Amrhein is exceptionally well positioned to guide ECCIR through its next chapter.
We interviewed Dr. Amrhein about his goals for his term as President, the value of transatlantic collaboration, and how ECCIR can help businesses and researchers innovate internationally. Read the exclusive interview below.
1. Dr. Amrhein, can you tell us about your professional background and how it has prepared you for your role as ECCIR’s President?
My background is primarily in research and higher education specializing in urban planning and geography. While at University of Toronto I worked with partners to build programs in Germany and Korea. While in Edmonton at the University of Alberta, I worked extensively in Germany, China, Japan, and Korea. While at the Aga Khan University I worked in East Africa, South Asia (primarily Pakistan), and with partners in the United States (U.S.). My business experience is from earlier when I worked in banking and hardware in Pittsburgh.
There are many experiences, from a diversity of settings, that introduced me to different parts of the world, as well as to government regulations, and the needs and expectations of business and universities.
2. What are your goals for ECCIR during your term as President?
ECCIR is at an exciting moment of growth. My goal as President is to help the organization build on its momentum by exploring new ways of working that let us expand what we do and who we reach across Canada and beyond. ECCIR’s former President, Britta Baron, has defined a strong path forward. I’m looking forward to working with her, our team, our volunteer friends, and the Board to grow ECCIR. We have planned upcoming trips to Calgary and Ottawa. I am excited to test our new ideas and work with a wide range of partners to develop strategy and explore new opportunities that will boost them and us.
3. Why do you think international collaboration between European and Canadian innovators is so important right now?
Canada is an exporting country. We have a vast geography and a small, concentrated band of population east to west. We are fortunate to have abundant natural resources, a very special and successful social structure, and a high functioning education system.
Our deep relationship with the U.S. also makes us a dependent partner, as we see reflected in things like the discount applied to Canadian oil. For Canada to succeed going forward—and for that U.S. relationship to remain strong and healthy —we need to broaden the base.
Europe, broadly defined, is the obvious place to go. European partners offer shared values, political stability, and a commitment to innovation that aligns well with Canada’s own strengths. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Europe and Canada has already deepened our commercial ties, and programs like Horizon Europe open new doors for Canadian researchers, innovators, and SMEs.
The relationships with Europe will set the framework for a more sustainable set of trading partners.
4. In your view, what are some of the biggest challenges Canadian SMEs and researchers face in relation to international innovation? How can ECCIR help address them?
Small companies usually have a structure in which every employee works long hours and has more than one assignment. There is often little time to explore new relations, new partnerships, and new processes. There is even less time to navigate complicated bureaucracies that often are required to access programs defined by the government. Add to that the long distances and time differences between Canada and Europe, and it becomes challenging to follow trends or build the kind of infrastructure that’s needed for international growth.
In fact, our 2023 business survey with MacEwan University Business School in Edmonton showed that one of the greatest challenges for Alberta-based SMEs looking to grow internationally is finding the right partner. That’s a big hurdle when you’re trying to expand across borders.
That’s where ECCIR comes in. We act as a bridge, helping companies and innovation stakeholders connect with Europe and vice versa. We support innovators in understanding and working through the complexities of key initiatives like Horizon Europe. We have built up knowledge, experience, and strong relationships over many years. Our designation as a “Friend of National Contact Points” by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)—the lead agency for Canada’s association with Horizon Europe and National Contact Point—means we get direct access to up-to-date information and the people behind these programs. We can be the conduit for information to our partners and clients. In other words, we can be an extension of the workforce for SMEs, allowing them to have the same access as much larger organizations.
ECCIR is excited to continue strengthening transatlantic ties and fostering international innovation under Dr. Amrhein’s leadership! Stay tuned for updates on new initiatives and opportunities under his presidency by subscribing to our bi-weekly newsletter.
