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This newsletter is published by ONRIS at the Centre for International Studies,
University of Toronto, and sponsored by the Ministry of
Enterprise, Opportunity & Innovation. The views and ideas expressed
in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the
Ontario Government.
Next issue: March 17, 2002
ANNOUNCEMENTS [Table of Contents]
Ontario government announces $625-million in new money to the auto industry
With an eye on winning major new investments from DaimlerChrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the Ontario government has announced a $500-million contribution over five years made accessible to the auto industry through the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund. The fund supports industry-based innovation activities which accelerate the commercialization of next generation products. In addition, a further $125-million will be spent to improve infrastructure and training to help automakers and auto parts companies. For more information see The Globe and Mail.
Canada ranked 6th in ‘Networked Readiness Index’
This year's Global Information Technology Report, prepared by the World Economic Forum, ranks 82 countries according to their ‘networked readiness’. This comprehensive index of over 70 indicators ranks each country in three areas: environment (i.e. infrastructure), readiness and usage. Some notable Canadian sub-rankings include: 13th place in ‘state of cluster development’, 16th for capacity for innovation, 12th for venture capital, 30th for brain drain and 20th for government prioritization of ICT. For a complete listing of Canada’s position, see Canada.
EDITOR'S PICK [Table of Contents]
The Innovation Analysis Bulletin
Statistics Canada
This latest issue includes articles on the benefits of certain financial structures in financing innovation for new small firms; on R&D in the service sector and the sector’s increasing attractiveness to foreign controlled firms doing R&D in Canada; and on the distribution of biotechnology innovator firms. In addition, the bulletin provides an update on the latest statistics on high-speed Internet use and electronic commerce.
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents]
Research Transfer in Natural Sciences and Engineering: Evidence from Canadian Universities
R. Landry et al., Université Laval
This paper looks at research transfer among Canadian universities, a process that includes both the sending of results to users outside the academic world and the commercialization of research results. Based on a survey of 1554 researchers, the authors find that they are much more active in knowledge transfer activities that do not relate to commercialization of intellectual property, though the extent of activity varies considerably by field. Two determinants to explain knowledge transfer are identified: dissemination efforts and, linkages between researchers and their users.
A Model of Social Capital Formation
C. Johnson, Social Research And Demonstration Corporation
This paper presents a model of social capital formation, testing it through outcome measures for the Community Employment
Innovation Project (CEIP) in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The model is developed
from a definition of social capital that distinguishes the sources and consequences of social capital, thereby
allowing for the examination of the endurance of social networks in social
capital formation.
REGIONAL INNOVATION & CLUSTERS [Table of Contents]
2002 B.C. Wireless Industry Survey
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
With a well educated workforce, significant private investment, a focus on developing new technologies, and access to new markets, this survey finds that British Columbia’s wireless industry is well positioned to play a key role in the future of the wireless industry in North America. Key findings include: R&D expenditures totaling $118 million for 2001 and 2000; a total of 375 patents filed to date; and evidence of extensive collaborations (some forty-six percent of the respondents have entered into an average of over eight collaborations with other companies and entities within the wireless industry).
KNOWLEDGE AND UNIVERSITIES [Table of Contents]
Public Knowledge, Private Property and the Economics of High-tech Consortia
M. Cassier and D. Foray, Université Paris Dauphine
This paper discusses knowledge management issues in research consortia and their policy implications, drawing on case studies in the field of biotechnology. After identifying practices dealing with property rights, access to resources and knowledge, and the dissemination of knowledge beyond the boundaries of the community, the authors find that there is no constant best form of coordination during the whole process of research, development and innovation. Instead, they suggest that efforts shift to finding the best path and rate of movement between promoting forms of organization that support the collective production of public goods, and forms of market coordination that support the acceleration of research.
University- Industry Research Collaborations In The UK
J. Calvert and P. Patel, SPRU
This paper finds that the increasing volume of UK university-industry research collaborations is due less to government policy initiatives than to a growing need for firms to collaborate with leading edge academic research. The findings are based on a systematic analysis of data on university-industry collaborations spanning two decades.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY [Table of Contents]
The 3rd UCLA Internet Report: Surveying the Digital Future
J. Cole et al. UCLA
Here is the third installment of a comprehensive, year-to-year examination of the impact of online technology on America. This year’s focus is on the evolving responses of Internet users and non-users over the years as made evident by a range of statistics relating to usage, media, consumer behavior, communication patterns and social effects.
Canadian ICT Sector Regional Report
Industry Canada
This is the first report from the Information and Communications Technologies of Industry Canada to focus on ICT by province. The last year of data is 1999 and examines three subsectors: ICT manufacturing, software and computer services, and cable and telecommunications services.
EVENTS [Table of Contents]
Knowledge And Economic And Social Change: New Challenges To Innovation Studies
Manchester, 7-9 April, 2003
The purpose of this conference is to bring together the innovation studies community to focus on the current developments in the global economy, in technologies, and in political systems that are continuing to pose new challenges to analysis. Topics include: the increasing importance of the role of knowledge in the operation of the global economy; and the qualitative change in the conditions under which knowledge is exploited to create wealth, to improve the quality of life, and to move towards a sustainable ecosystem, economy and society. The conference is organized by Advances in the Economic and Social Analysis of Technology and the Institute of Innovation Research.
The Knowledge-based Economy: New Challenges in Methodology, Theory and Policy
Augsburg, Germany 9-12 April 2003
This 3rd European Meeting of Applied Evolutionary Economics focuses on the most important aspects of knowledge-based economies within the framework of evolutionary economics. Conference themes include: knowledge and learning; dynamics of technological and qualitative change; industrial organization in a knowledge-based economy; evolution of institutions financial markets in knowledge-based economies; and policy in a knowledge-based economy. Deadline for submission of extended abstracts: October 18, 2002.
Evaluation of Government Funded R&D Activities
Vienna, 15-16 May, 2003
The aim of this conference is to discuss recent scientific contributions to the understanding of the effects and implications of government funded R&D activities. It will focus on recent theoretical, qualitative and quantitative studies and the exploration of different approaches to evaluate their effects. An applied workshop with policy makers will be organized on “What we know and what we should know about evaluation of technology policy” at the end of the conference. Deadline for submission of abstracts: February 2003, 15th.
Innovation through Collaboration: Clusters, Networks, Alliances
Manchester, 8-11 June, 2003
This conference aims to address the issues associated with collaboration in the context of recent research which suggests that as many as 50-70% of strategic alliances will fail within four years due to a vast array of cultural, political, technological and commercial factors. It will provide a forum for academics, business people and consultants to discuss these issues in depth by presenting the latest academic papers, delivering company presentations on the subject and running interactive workshops. Selected proceedings will be published in a special edition of The Journal of Enterprising Culture. The conference is organized by the International Society for Professional Innovation Management.
Creating, Sharing And Transferring Knowledge: The role of Geography, Institutions, Organizations
Copenhagen, 12-14
June, 2002
The conference has four main objectives: to contribute to a more satisfactory understanding of the mechanisms underlying the way in which knowledge is created, shared and transferred; to examine the promoting or inhibiting effect of particular circumstances of organizational context, institutional setting or geographical configuration, such as cities and agglomerations or clusters; to investigate arrangements particularly capable of enhancing, capturing and utilizing end consumer knowledge; and to consider the implications for managerial strategy and public policy. Both senior and junior scholars are invited to participate and contribute with a paper to the conference.
Communities and technologies (C&T 2003)
Amsterdam or Bonn, 19-21 September, 2003
This international conference is a forum for stimulating and disseminating research into all facets of communities and information technology. Attendees represent multidisciplinary research efforts from applied computer science and social science. The 2003 conference will focus on presentations and discussion of empirical and conceptual research on a wide range of topics including (Virtual) Community formation and development; Virtual communities vs. location-based communities; Digital cities, and Design methods for communityware. The deadline for submission of full research papers is March 14, 2003.
What Do We Know About Innovation? A Conference in Honour of Keith Pavitt
Brighton, 13-15 November, 2003
This conference is in recognition of the lifetime contribution of Professor Keith Pavitt to the study of innovation. Keith's work was based on a deep empirical understanding of innovation and firm behaviour, and he placed particular emphasis on the development of new data, methods, and taxonomies. His contributions spanned economics, management and science and technology policy. The conference is organized around the major themes of his work, including the structure, dynamics and management of innovation processes, the relationship between basic research and technical change, knowledge and the theory of the firm, the globalization of R&D, and science and technology policy.
WILL YOU BE ONE OF OUR REGIONAL REPORTERS? [Table of Contents]
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This newsletter is prepared by Tijs
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