Travis Southin, PhD

Travis Southin has deep expertise on the role of innovation and industrial policy in facilitating the transition to a net-zero economy, with a particular focus on scaling Canadian cleantech firms. Prior to joining the Transition Accelerator, he provided analysis and policy recommendations for the Net-Zero Advisory Body.

Travis has worked with James Meadowcroft as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration. His research examined the politics of innovation policy and the broader role of the state in facilitating the transition to a net-zero economy in Canada and Australia. Travis completed a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto working with David Wolfe at the Innovation Policy Lab of the Munk School for Global Affairs. His dissertation, titled “Overcoming Barriers to Policy Change: The Politics of Canada’s Innovation Policy,” illuminates the political barriers constraining the Government of Canada’s ability to shift its innovation policy mix away from neutral/horizontal policy instruments, such as research and development tax credits, towards more targeted innovation policy instruments, such as large-scale direct grants, loans, and public procurement.