Issue #21                                                                               July 3rd,  2001

Studies & Publications:  Announcements | Editor's Pick | Innovation Policy | Clusters and Local Dev.
Events
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Subscriptions & Comments
 

This newsletter is published by ONRIS at the Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology.  The views and ideas expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Ontario Government.

Next issue: July 16, 2001
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                   [Table of Contents]

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Technology Employment Figures and Venture Capital Shows Ottawa's Resilience
A survey conducted by OCRI Economic Development shows that there are approximately 75, 000 technology workers currently employed in approximately 1000 technology companies in the Ottawa area, a figure moderately down from 79,000 in January.  Also, Ottawa continues to have a steady stream of venture capital flowing to advanced technology companies attracting more than $650 million this year despite soft capital markets throughout North America. From fourth quarter 2000 to first quarter 2001, Canada experienced a 61 per cent decrease in venture capital investment, the United States a 39 per cent decrease, while Ottawa only experienced a 14 per cent decrease. in venture capital investment over the same two quarters.
 

EDITOR'S PICK                                                                        [Table of Contents]

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Innovative Clusters: Drivers of National Innovation Systems
This report builds on the presentations and workshops of the second phase of the OECD's National Innovation Systems project.  With a focus on three themes - clusters, innovative firms and networks, and human resource mobility - the report demonstrates the increasing importance of clusters in determining the innovative performance of firms, nations and regions and, in structuring international linkages among national innovation systems.  Included is useful guidance on how the reality of clusters can be better taken into account in designing and implementing innovation policy.
 

INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY                                            [Table of Contents]

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Working Together, Creating Knowledge: The University-Industry Research Collaboration Initiative 
This two-year study by the Business-Higher Education Forum focuses on collaborative partnerships between universities and industry examining such issues such as intellectual property, confidentiality, indirect costs, conflicts of interest, and background rights. Of all issues examined, ownership of intellectual property was cited as the most problematic area particularly when federal funding is involved.  The analysis is followed by an outline of several recommendations and best practices for developing and maintaining successful partnerships.

The Well-being of Nations: The Role of Human and Social Capital
This OECD report helps clarify the concepts of human and social capital and evaluates their impact on economic growth and well-being. Drawing on a number of empirical studies which suggest potentially important linkages between human and social capital, the report finds that human and social capital can be of key importance in contributing to a wide range of positive outcomes, including higher income, life satisfaction and social cohesion. Although there is no evidence for systematic "under-investment" in either human or social capital, concerns are expressed about the distribution and quality of each form of capital and how this might impact on future well-being. A number of areas are discussed in which public, private and voluntary actors may leverage long-term improvements in both human and social capital.

Measuring Up: Research & Development Counts in the Chemical Industry
Here is a summary of a report by the Council for Chemical Research which quantifies the critical role of R&D to the chemical industry. Using economic, bibliometric, and historical analysis, this study demonstrates that R&D has helped the chemical industry become a major building block of the U.S. economy, growing steadily and becoming a world leader in scientific advances despite increasing global competition. 
 

CLUSTERS AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT                [Table of Contents]

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Analysing Distributed Innovation Processes
R. Coombs, M. Harvey & B. Tether, CRIC
This paper argues that to improve the understanding of innovation, related research should conduct more of its analysis using innovation processes as the unit of analysis rather than innovating firms.  This argument is based on the fact that processes of innovation often, even typically, involve several contributing and co-ordinated firms or organisations.  The authors then proceed to the view that there are various forms of ‘distributedness’, which are under-investigated, as are the dynamics of change between these forms.

Innovation through E-Commerce
Written to further encourage the adoption of e-commerce practices in Atlantic Canada,  this publication profiles 16 businesses from Atlantic Canada that have successfully integrated computer and Internet technology into their business practices as well as into their supply chain distribution system.  Companies are featured from manufacturing, resource-based, services and tourism sectors.
 

EVENTS                                                                                     [Table of Contents]

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Technology Management in the Knowledge Era: Life in the e-World
Portland, July 29 - August 3, 2001
Organized by the Portland International Conference on Management of                        Engineering and Technology, this conference will focus on the strategic directions in regard to Information Technology.  Topics include I.T.  investments, applications, key issues, strategies and challenges in the Internet-driven economy as well as discussions on global cooperation among companies at a time when the reduction in product development cycle is a key competitive requirement.  Randy Steck, Vice President of Intel, Seiichi Watanabe, Corporate Executive Vice President of Sony,  Kwan Rim, Chairman of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, are among the conference speakers.

Governing Knowledge-Processes
Copenhagen, 7-8 September 2001
This workshop, organized by the "Learning, Incentives, and Knowledge" (LINK) program at the Copenhagen Business School, will focus on understanding the governance of knowledge-creation, sharing and exploitation.  The organizers currently seek papers in one of three areas: the governance of knowledge creation, the governance of knowledge sharing, and the possible trade-offs between governance of knowledge creation and knowledge exploitation.

The Future of Innovation Studies
Eindhoven , September 20-23, 2001
The Center for Innovation Studies (ECIS) at Eindhoven University has organized a conference on 'The Future of Innovation Studies' which will host a number of plenary sessions featuring some of the key contributors to the field of innovation studies. Invited speakers include Giovanni Dosi, Ranjay Gulati and Bengt-Åke Lundvall.  The conference will include topics in all areas of the social sciences perspective on the innovation process. Special emphasis will be placed on contributions in the area of the economics of technological change, innovation management, and sociology of innovation processes.

Innovations for an e-Society- Challenges for Technology Assessment
Berlin, October 17-20, 2001
This conference, organized by the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis at the Research Centre Karlsruhe, is concerned with all aspects of society making better and increased use of information and communication technologies, with special emphasis on the roles of knowledge and information. There will be sessions on the following topics: e-Commerce, New Media and Culture, Electronic Governance, e-Health Services and New Approaches of Technology Assessment and Forecasting.

5th Annual 'European Network on Industrial Policy' (EUNIP) Conference
Vienna, November 29th - December 1st, 2001
This EUNIP Conference will focus on the cutting edge topics in industrial and structural policy, including policies promoting growth, competitiveness and employment. Topics include industrial economics and policy, innovation policy and theory and, regulatory issues in network industries.  A special session will focus on industrial policy in a knowledge based economy.
 

WILL YOU BE ONE OF OUR REGIONAL REPORTERS?              [Table of Contents]

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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.
 

SUBSCRIPTIONS & COMMENTS                                             [Table of Contents]

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Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think will find it of value. We look forward to collaborating with you on this initiative.  If you would like to comment on the content, subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact us as  onris.progris@utoronto.ca. 
 
 

This newsletter is prepared by Tijs Creutzberg.
Project manager is David A. Wolfe.

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