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Ontario's Regional Economic Development and Innovation Newsletter

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Ontario’s Regional Economic Development and Innovation Newsletter. The newsletter is published by ONRIS and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology. The purpose of the newsletter is to share news and information on research initiatives, publications, and events related to regional economic development and innovation in Ontario. It is intended to create a digital forum for information sharing and dissemination across the research community, the private sector and government.

***WILL YOU BE ONE OF OUR REGIONAL REPORTERS?***

Yes, you! In an effort to improve our coverage of Ontario's regional economies in this newsletter, we are looking for a few people who are 'plugged in' to the latest local economic development and innovation happenings in their regions. All we ask is that you send us a short message once a month highlighting recent news and research initiatives from your region - please forward items that you would like to share with newsletter recipients, as well as other items of interest, to:
onris.progris@utoronto.ca.

In addition, please forward this newsletter to anyone you think will find it of value. We look forward to collaborating with you on this initiative.This newsletter is also available on the web at: http://www.utoronto.ca/onris/newsletter.htm. Please contact onris.progris@utoronto.ca to be added to or removed from the distribution list.

The views and ideas expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Ontario Government.

This Newsletter is prepared by Matthew Lucas and David A. Wolfe
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER WILL BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 5.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / NEWS

Ontario Science and Innovation Council

The Ontario government has established the first science and innovation council in the province.  This independent arms length body is to provide the government with long-term strategic advice on science, technology and innovation policy. On June 8th Energy, Science and Technology Minister Jim Wilson appointed Dr. Suzanne Fortier as chair of the Council. Dr. Fortier is a renowned researcher in chemistry and computer science at Queen's University and a vice-president of NSERC. For more information see:

http://www.est.gov.on.ca/english/index.html

Biotech Commercialisation Centre in Toronto

The Ontario government will invest up to $9 million to help create a biotechnology commercialization centre in Toronto to boost competitiveness and create jobs in the biotechnology industry. The announcement of the initiative was made on 19th of June by Energy, Science and Technology Minister Jim Wilson. The project leader is the Toronto Biotechnology Commercialization Centre (TBCC), a consortium of public and private sector research groups which represents most of the medical research organizations in Toronto. Announcements of other approved centres will be made by the end of the month. Contact:

http://www.est.gov.on.ca/english/index.html for further information.

Ontario Centre for Genomic Computing

MEST announced an Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund investment to expand the Ontario Centre for Genomic Computing at The Hospital for Sick Children (HSC). The Fund's commitment to genetic research has reached $75 million.  For more information see:

http://www.ontariochallengefund.com/english/news/04052000.shtml

New Legislation to Strengthen Electronic Business Opportunities in Ontario. Electronic Commerce Act

For information on the Ontario government's proposed Electronic Commerce Act see the news release and fact sheet at the following site:

http://e-com.ic.gc.ca/english/20.html?he=y

Canadian Consumer Information Gateway

The Canadian Consumer Information Gateway is a pilot project that currently involves over 25 federal government departments and agencies that have an interest in consumer issues. This cooperative effort is co-chaired by Industry Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), in partnership with Service Canada. As an information portal, this initiative characterizes Service Canada's primary goal, which is to organize access to government services in ways that reflect the needs of Canadians who use them.

http://ConsumerInformation.ca/cgi-bin/main.cgi?Language=E?he=y

Industry Directory

Version 2.0 of bookmarks, the guide to the Canadian Digital Media Industry, will be published this August by newmedia.pro Magazine. Version 2.0 of bookmarks is a comprehensive and cross-referenced guide to the many companies, institutions and individuals that provide products or services to content creators and media distributors. For more information about bookmarks, contact Trish King at 416-442-2114 or visit:

http://www.newmediapromagazine.com

RESEARCH INITIATIVES / PUBLICATIONS

Ontario Economic Outlook, April 2000

This bi-annual Industry Canada publication highlights Ontario's economic performance over the past year.  The report is available at: 

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/ra01755e.html?he=y

The Changing Work Force in ICT Industries in Canada

This series of three reports was prepared by Wendy Hansen for Industry Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).  They examine how the work force in ICT industries in Canada has been changing during a period of deregulation, structural change, global competitiveness and increased person mobility. A copy of the papers is available at:

http://meritbbs.unimaas.nl/publications.html

Science Statistics, Vol. 24 #2, Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) in Canadian Industry, 1997
Recently published by Statistics Canada, this report  highlights the R&D performance of the Biotechnology Industry in Canada.  The report (88-001-XPB) is now available through paid subscription at www.statcan.ca under Products and Services, Downloadable Publications ($).

http://www.statcan.ca:80/english/IPS/Data/88-001-XIB.htm

Monthly Economic Indicators, May 2000

Industry Canada's Monthly Economic Indicators for May 2000 is now available.  The report presents a variety of analysis and data on the Canadian economy.

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_ecnmy/mera/engdoc/03.html?he=y

The New Economy
 
Two new  reports from the National Governers' Association (NGA), "Using Research and Development to Grow State Economies" and "Building States Economies By Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer," identify research and development (R&D) as a fundamental economic development building block in the new economy and call on states to invest in universities and the private sector as ways to ensure that they have strong R&D bases.  For more information see:
 
http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-7June2000Research.asp

New Reports from the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

"Reinforcing Interactions Between the Advanced Technology and State Technology Programs: Volume 1: A Guide to State Business Assistance Programs for New Technology Creation and Commercialization,"  was prepared by Marsha R.B. Schachtel and Maryann P. Feldman. The report  illustrates, through selected examples, the types of business and technology development services and programs offered by state governments to assist start-up companies and small firms in business development or in the development and commercialization of new technologies.
                                   
"Managing Technical Risk: Understanding Private Sector Decision Making on Early State Technology-based Projects," was prepared by Lewis M. Branscomb, Kenneth P. Morse, and Michael J. Roberts.  This report to NIST-ATP from workshops held in June and September 1999 has two main sections: 1) the report of the project team; and 2) the collection of contributed papers.

"Capital Formation and Investment in Venture Markets: Implications for the Advanced Technology Program" by Paul Gompers and Josh Lerner. This study focuses on the special problems of new high-tech firms that are highly dependent on external sources of funding for the R&D.
                            
These and other reports are available at:

www.atp.nist.gov/atp/pubs.htm.

eTech Transfer 2000.  Making Partnerships Work

Published in February by the Office of Technology Policy within the U.S. Department of Commerce, this paper reviews the activities of government agencies and the private sector under U.S. Technology Transfer laws.  A copy of the paper is available at:
 
http://tapreview.nist.gov/PRel/cd110a.pdf

Discovery and Innovation: Federal Research and Development Activities in the Fifty States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico

This report was prepared by RAND for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The report analyzes the nature, magnitude and whereabouts of the individual activities that make up the federal government's R&D portfolio. Organized on a state-by-state basis, the study identifies and describes virtually all federally funded R&D activities within the states and provide estimates of funding and employment numbers for each operation. A copy of the report is available at:

 http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1194/

U.S. Metro Economies: The Engines of America's Growth

The United States Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties released their third annual report report entitled "U.S. Metro economies: The Engines of America's Growth" in May. This year's report was prepared by Standard & Poor's DRI and documents the contribution of urban centres to total American economic output. According to the report:
        
-U. S. metro areas account for 85% of the nation's gross domestic product;
         -Metro areas are now generating 84% of the nation's employment and 88% percent of the nation's labor income;
         -Metro economies are responsible for 86%, or more than $2.4 trillion, of the nation's economic growth from 1992 to 1999; and
         -95% of high tech, and 94% of business services jobs created between 1992 and 1999 are in metro areas.
The full report is available at
 
http://usmayors.org/citiesdrivetheeconomy/

University of Texas Annual Report on the Internet Economy

According to this recently published report,the Internet Economy supported an additional 650,000 jobs in 1999 as revenues soared to over half a trillion dollars.  The report  claims that the Internet Economy now directly supports 2.476 million workers and that revenue for Internet Economy companies grew at an annual rate of 11 percent from 1998 to 1999, nearly three times the growth rate of the economy as a whole.  The report is available at:

http://www.internetindicators.com/

The Internet and the New Economy

In this policy brief published by the Brookings Institute, Alan Blinder addresses the question, are we in a new economy? 

http://www.brookings.edu/comm/PolicyBriefs/pb060/pb60.htm

Europe 2002: An Information Society for All

The eEurope initiative was launched by the European Commission in December 1999 with the objective to bring Europe on-line.  This draft action plan was prepared by the  European Commission in June.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eeurope/pdf/draftactionplan_en.pdf

The Learning Economy - Firms, Regions and Nation specific Institutions

On June 15, 16 & 17 the Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics (DRUID) held its Summer 2000 Conference in Rebild, Denmark. Conference proceedings are available at:

http://www.business.auc.dk/druid/summer2000/papergal.htm

The Dynamics of Collective Invention

This paper was prepared by Robin Cowan and Nicolas Jonard for the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and
Technology (MERIT).  The authors develop a "formal model that accounts for the dynamics of knowledge and collective invention, and examine how the architecture of the network of agents influences patterns and rate of innovation."  A copy of the paper is available at: 

http://meritbbs.unimaas.nl/rmpdf/2000/rm2000_018.pdf

Mapping the Two Faces of R&D.  Productivity Growth in a Panel of OECD Industries

This paper was prepared by Rachel Griffith, Stephen Redding and John Van Reenen for the Institue for Fiscal Studies.  The authors argue  that there has been convergence of total productivity factor within a panel of industries across thirteen OECD countries since 1970.  R&D and human capital are identified as important factors in this convergence.  A copy of the paper is available at:

http://www1.ifs.org.uk/workingpapers/wp0002.pdf

Enhancing the Competitiveness of SMES in the Global Economy: Strategies and Policies

This Conference took place in Bologna, Italy on 14-15 June 2000.  It aimed to increase the understanding of issues and policies related to SME competitiveness in the global economy – in particular, with regard to innovation, clusters and industrial districts, and electronic commerce – and to propose concrete and feasible initiatives through which the globalization of SMEs may be facilitated.  Conference proceedings and related publications are available at:
 
http://www.ocde.org/dsti/sti/industry/smes/news/bologna.htm
 
HYPERLINKS

Ministry of Economic Development, and Trade, Office for Urban Economic Development

The Office for Urban Economic Development has its own Website, which provides many links to economic development resources across the province. Click here for link

Association of European Regions of Industrial Technology

RETI is an association of industrial regions in Europe. In 1984 these regions, having found themselves facing similar economic and social challenges, created a common forum to share experience, ideas and know-how; and to serve as a strong and coherent voice in the arena of European Community policy.

http://www.association-reti.org/

Electronic Commerce in Canada

This new site brings together information from the Canadian E-Business Opportunities Roundtable.

http://e-com.ic.gc.ca/eteam?he=y

Events

Impact of University Research on Innovation

The Science & Technology Councils & Coordination Office of the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology has invited Dr. Cooper H. Langford Professor at the University of Calgary to speak as a part of the Ministry's Seminar Series on Science, Technology and Innovation. The topic of Prof. Langford's talk is: Measuring the Impact of University Research on Innovation. The Seminar will take place on July 10th. For more information and to register for the Seminar contact Shannon Brennan at: brennash@est.gov.on.ca

Managing Innovative Manufacturing 2000

The Technology and Operations Management Research Group at Aston University, Birmingham, UK,  will be hosting the next "Managing Innovative Manufacturing" conference (MIM 2000) from the 17-19 July 2000. The conference theme will be "Responsive Production and the Agile Enterprise".   For more information see:

http://tom.abs.aston.ac.uk/mim2000.html

Fourth International Conference on Technology  Policy and Innovation :  Learning and Knowledge Networks for Development

This conference will be held in from August 28-31 in Curitiba, Brasil.  The main objective of this series of international conferences on Technology Policy and Innovation is to bring together leading representatives of academic, business, and government sectors worldwide to present and discuss current and future issues of critical importance for using science and technology to foster regional economic development and shared prosperity at home and abroad.  For more information see:

http://in3.dem.ist.utl.pt/curitiba2000/

CITO's Knowledge Network Conference - Beyond the Edge: Road Mapping Innovation

This annual advanced research event will be held on October 2 & 3, 2000 at the Centurion  Conference Centre in Ottawa.  The conference will  explore issues surrounding "longer term technology planning and the identification and direction of relevant research. It is an opportunity to look 'beyond the edge' to the ideas, technologies and people shaping tomorrow's state-of-the-art technology."  For more information see:

http://www.cito.ca/events/events/kncoct22000.shtml

Benchmarking Industry-Science Relationships

This joint German-OECD conference will be held in Berlin on October 16 & 17.  The following themes will be discussed:
- the role of universities and public research institutions in the innovation process
- new mechanisms for financing research and new ventures at the industry-science
- interface including spin-offs
- the impact of globalization
- the role of science in fostering clusters of new industries and in revitalising mature sectors;
- the contribution of human capital and talent
- the evaluation of private and public initiatives to foster industry-science linkages

For more information see:  http://www.industry-science-berlin2000.de/

Innovation 2000 - The Grand Challenges in Managing and Sustaining Innovation
   
Hosted by a partnership of The Conference Board of Canada, the Ontario Centres of Excellence, and the Innovation Management Association of Canada, this conference will take place on November 2 &3 at The Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.  "Innovation 2000 will bring together the major innovation players in Canada to address the challenges of managing and sustaining innovation. This conference will focus on how leading organizations design, implement and evaluate their innovation strategies."  For more information see:

http://www.cito.ca/events/events/innovation2000.shtml

 

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