Canada was born out of a need to connect.

Vast, wild and sparsely inhabited, its people knew their economic survival would depend on forging strong links with each other. And so, in 1867, they joined in Confederation to build a new country.

Nearly 150 years later, the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) is applying the same collaborative spirit to connect innovative entrepreneurs to each other, and to markets around the world. To ensure Canada’s place at the forefront of the digital economy, CDMN was founded in 2009 as a national Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research to create companies, jobs and wealth for the nation.

The stakes have never been higher, nor the opportunities so great.

Built from a 150-year national tradition of collaboration, CDMN has forged relationships with nine partners, or nodes, at 15 locations from coast to coast. Each brings unique expertise to the national network while serving as a regional hub for the development, acceleration and commercialization of digital media ventures. Digital media is defined as any information that is created or shared virtually. So, the network spans fields ranging from entertainment, health care and education, to financial services and advanced manufacturing.

CDMN brings together industry, government and academia as a catalyst for commercialization. Important to these efforts is Canada’s premier digital media forum, Canada 3.0. Each year, 2,000 leaders assemble to celebrate Canadian leadership in digital media by sharing best practices, lessons learned, and grassroots evidence of success in business and technology, arts and heritage, research and academia.

Supported by an online community of more than 6,000, the event is now in its fourth year and has grown to include a year-round national tour. At cities coast-to-coast, leaders in business, government and academia share their perspectives through regional workshops to help advance Canada’s digital economy.

Together, we’re accelerating Canada’s digital economy by connecting, collaborating and commercializing with industry, government and academia.

CDMN Board of Directors

The digital media sector – defined as any information that is created or shared virtually – is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It encompasses a broad range of industries and activities from healthcare, to education, to gaming, wireless communications and much more. The CDMN board of directors represents experts across these sectors as well as industry, government and academia. It provides guidance to CDMN on how to achieve its mission.