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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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS [Table of Contents]
Quebec budgets for new $300M biotech support program
In an effort to promote the growth of emerging biotechnology companies, the Quebec government has announced a biotechnology corporation capitalization support program which is designed to improve access to financing for growing corporations in the biotechnology sector. The fund will administered through the Société Innovatech du Grand Montréal and will be operate in addition to the existing Bio Lever program which provides capitalization loans to biotech firms. Other budget highlights include an increase of $21M in research in support of technology transfer centres, business incubators, nanotech and biophotonics sectors, and social research and innovation.
Ohio invests nearly $74M in Wright Centers of Innovation
Despite $1 billion deficit looming for the upcoming fiscal year, Ohio has re-emphasized its commitment to building a stronger economic future through research and technology with a series of multi-million dollar grant announcements over the past three weeks. As part of the Governor’s Third Frontier Project, the state has competitively awarded nearly $20 million to each of the first three Wright Centers of Innovation. The centers program represents a $500 million, 10-year capital fund to support the construction and furbishing of an unspecified number of research and commercialization facilities associated with the state's academic research community. [SSTI Weekly Digest, 6/20/2003]
Internet traffic growth continues to double each year while revenues lag
Internet traffic growth is still growing – 70 to 150% a year - according to a report by researchers at the University of Minnesota exploring the sources and implications of growth in internet traffic. The revenues associated with such growth, however, are not keeping pace, suggesting that the transport portion of the network has become commoditized. In 2002, Internet services, including dedicated access, dialup modems, and residential broadband, generated a total of $35 billion in revenues for carriers in North America. In total, carriers generated about $354 billion in revenue in 2001, with similar figures in 2002.
EDITOR'S PICK [Table of Contents]
Cities and Communities that Work: Innovative Practices, Enabling Policies
Neil Bradford, University of Western Ontario
This paper outlines the role cities play in fostering the environment and institutional capacity for innovation. In addition to a review of the literature which identifies seven ‘building blocks in successful community-based innovation, the author examines eleven cities in North America and Europe. The key public policy lessons and challenges outlined include: balancing local autonomy with national standards; integrating the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainable development and recognizing that meaningful collaborations are risky and take time. In the words of the author, collaborations “call for a kind of patience and persistence that is not always available in policy communities…”
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents]
Statistics Canada
June’s issue of the Innovation Analysis Bulletin is once again replete with topical analysis on various subjects and industries. These include a discussion of the emerging nanotechnology, a look at employment in the computer and telecommunications industries, strategic alliances in the biotech industry, and new economy indicators.
The Disclosure and Licensing of University Inventions
R. A. Jensen and colleagues, NBER Working Paper
This paper examines the interplay between the faculty, the technology transfer office (TTO), and the central administration in managing the disclosure and licensing of inventions with commercial potential. From a model that recognizes the important balance between meeting the objectives of the university and the interests of faculty, the authors arrive at several findings. For example, the TTOs reported licensing objectives are influenced by their views of faculty and administration, which supports the assumption that the TTO is a dual agent. Also examined is how the portion of inventions disclosed at different stages varies with faculty quality. Quality is found to be inversely related to the share of license income allotted to faculty.
REGIONAL INNOVATION & CLUSTERS [Table of Contents]
Industry Canada has created the ICT Cluster Website to promote Canadian industry strengths to foreign and domestic investors. The site provides a geographic and sectoral overview of the ICT industry in Canada organized by areas of activity. Each cluster includes an industry profile, company information, descriptions of research and educational institutes and support organizations all organized by city/region and technology. This new website is being improved and expanded, feedback is being sought from industry members on its content and design.
Determinants of R&D Activities in SMEs Located in Peripheral Regions
S. Lynch and W. Locke, Memorial University
Drawing on survey data commissioned by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, this paper statistically identifies the factors that influence R&D activities of SMEs based in Newfoundland and Labrador. These results indicate the probability of engaging in R&D is increased in firms that benefit from innovative solution provided by employees, engage in trade, collaborate or partner with universities and government research institutions, have an improving competitive position, have an owner or manager who has a Ph.D. and apply for government funding for their innovative activities. The authors conclude that policies designed to increase collaboration between SMEs and the educational sector should translate into higher levels of R&D in peripheral regions. Likewise, policy designed to encourage export-oriented focus in these businesses should also result in enhanced R&D in peripheral regions.
2000 Industrial R&D Intensity, Per Capita by U.S. State
SSTI
Here is a review of the latest National Science Foundation's statistics on state R&D. U.S. businesses spent $180.4 billion in non-federal funds for research and development in 2000, while federal funding for industrial R&D fell to $19.1 billion in 2000, a 15 percent drop from 1999. Top R&D-performing manufacturing industries in 2000 were motor vehicles, trailers, and parts ($18.3 billion), pharmaceuticals and medicines ($12.8 billion), semiconductor and other electronic components, ($12.8 billion), communications equipment ($11.2 billion), and, navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments ($10.1 billion). While California and Michigan maintained their traditional 1-2 leadership positions for the total industrial R&D, several changes occurred in the other top 10 slots. Nebraska saw the greatest one year change in its ranking, jumping from 42nd in 1999 to 19th for 2000.
EVENTS [Table of Contents]
Knowledge and Innovation in Creating and Sustaining Regional Growth in a Global Environment
Eindhoven, 10-12 July, 2003
This workshop intends to explore the processes that create and sustain regional growth in a global environment focusing on the link between firm behaviour and the processes that in turn transmit themselves into region wide growth. Themes include: the role of a few large and multinational firms and the tensions between regional capability and firm specific capability; the role of other kinds of international linkages (markets, networks, diaspora); and studies of partial successes in regional growth that illuminate upon the factors that create and sustain regional growth.
Clusters, Industrial Districts and Firms: The Challenge of Globalization
Modena, 12-13 September, 2003
Organized in memory of Professor Sebastiano Brusco, this conference focuses on the international competitiveness of industrial districts and clusters, and the effects that globalization has on SME’s and their interactions with markets and institutions. Questions to be raised relate to how clusters’ internal networks, productive patterns and specializations are changing; how the cluster firms themselves are changing; what factors determine the competitive advantage of industrial districts; and finally, how their international competitiveness can be enhanced. Invited speakers include Charles Sabel, AnnaLee Saxenian and Frank Wilkinson.
Business Innovation and Growth from the Exploitation of Academic Research (BIGEAR) Open Conference
Vienna, 18-19 September 2003
This conference will be an open meeting to present and discuss good practice and issues on Business Innovation and Growth from Exploitation of Academic Research. Supported by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise as part of the Innovation and SMEs program, BIGEAR aims to understand and disseminate best practice in the effective exploitation of academic research to stimulate business growth in Europe.
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.
Workshop at C&T 2003: The ambiguous role of ICT in regional inter-firm clusters: Towards a better empirical knowledge base for theorizing
This workshop, organized out of Michigan State University, will focus on the role of ICT in inter-firm networks in light of the mixed evidence regarding ICT usage and benefits in clusters, both for internal coordination in the cluster (e.g. CSCW and collaborative commerce) and for contact with external markets (e.g. B2B and B2C ecommerce). Interested parties should contact Dr. Steinfield for further information.
Information Technology in Regional Areas Conference (Itira)
Caloundra (Australia) 5-7 November, 2003
This conference will focus on strategies that link ICT-enhanced economic, social and cultural development efforts and opportunities in such areas as electronic commerce, community and civic networks, tele-centres, electronic democracy, on-line participation, self-help and virtual health communities, advocacy, and cultural enhancement. This event, geared to practitioners, and policy makers in developed and developing countries, will provide a platform for sharing ideas across practice, research and policy. A call for papers has been issued with a deadline of May 10, 2003 for proposals.
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.
Washington D.C. 3-7 April, 2004
This Conference of the International Association for Management of Technology will discuss new directions in technology management and their influence on innovation and the creation of economic growth and prosperity. Special attention will be give to the necessary mechanisms of knowledge generation, science and technology policy, and the collaboration required to accomplish national and organizational objectives. Best practices in technology development and utilization will be presented. The academic institution’s role in preparing the needed human resources for the technological environment of the 21st century will also be addressed. Submission of Abstract: October 15, 2003.
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