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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]
New Money Will Keep Canadian Researchers on the Cutting Edge of Advanced Network Applications
CANARIE President and CEO Andrew Bjerring recently
announced $4 million in funding for the CA*net 4 Advanced Applications
Program (AAP). Researchers from across Canada are invited to submit
project proposals for the development of advanced applications in
a number of areas including network research, advanced network and
applications security, and distributed or grid computing. Dr. Bjerring
asserted that, “Our Advanced Applications Program will help Canada
remain at the forefront of advanced network research and application
development. With the support of Industry Canada, we are able to provide
researchers with the tools and funding they need to deliver the social,
cultural and economic benefits of advanced networks and applications
to Canadians.“
Waterloo Think Tank Session Aims to Develop Health Informatics Sector
How can communications and information technologies improve health care? Participants in the Waterloo Health Informatics Think-Tank (WHITT) believe answering this question is the key to both improving healthcare and developing a growing new technology sector in Ontario. WHITT, an initiative of the Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics Research at the University of Waterloo, aims to bring together key stakeholders in the area of health informatics - including representatives from the health sector, government agencies, private sector businesses and academic researchers. Together, participants will explore topics such as potential health sector markets for new or enhanced information technology/information management (IT/IM) products and services; gaps, under-serviced areas or weaknesses in industry IT/IM offerings in the health sector that might be profitably exploited; and access to investment and grant funding for various IT/IM products and services.
NRC Officially Opens Industry Partnership Facility in St. John's
Bill Matthews, Member of Parliament for Burin-St.
George's, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister
responsible for the National Research Council (NRC), and Dr. Arthur
Carty, NRC President, officially opened an NRC Industry Partnership
Facility (IPF) in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. "The
National Research Council, through its cluster strategy, is developing
the kinds of communities that become magnets for investment and opportunity,"
said Allan Rock. "This addition to NRC's Institute is an important
new element of the Newfoundland and Labrador innovation climate and
has a unique role to play in building an internationally competitive
ocean technologies cluster based in St. John's."
EDITOR'S PICK [Table of Contents]
The Economic Performance of Regions - Measuring the Role of Clusters
Michael E Porter, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness
In this keynote address delivered at the annual
meeting of The Competitiveness Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, Porter
outlines the economic reasoning behind cluster strategy and how it
has been greatly developed over recent years, helping make cluster-based
approaches a widely accepted strategy for economic development. In
a survey of multiple real world examples the presentation demonstrated
the successful implementation of cluster-based approaches and the
factors that made them work effectively. The "old model"
of direct government incentives and assistance must not be replaced
by the "new model" of collaboration between the government
(at multiple levels) and all members of the cluster. Through continual
collection and analysis of cross-sectional and time series data, it
will be vital to define clear and appropriate roles for government
and industry. Sharing the results of these collaborations will help
ensure that the new model works for future development.
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents]
Spreading the Wealth: Building a Tech Economy in Small and Medium-Sized Regions
Paul Sommers and Deena Heg, The Brookings Institute
The tech boom of the 1990s created many successful companies, significant wealth, and expanded job opportunities in a new and growing sector of the nation's economy. However, the benefits of technology development have largely accrued to a relatively small number of regions nationwide leaving many other communities both envious of this success and interested in replicating it. Communities in Washington state, where outgoing Gov. Gary Locke made technology-based development an explicit policy focus, provide useful case studies for how to broaden the impact of technology to a wider number of places. This study examines five Washington regions—Bellingham, Tacoma, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Wenatchee—that have chosen a technology focus for their local economic development efforts. The authors present several suggestions on how communities around the country can enhance their own economies through technology-based development. Ultimately, the most successful communities will be those that employ a rich and varied mix of economic development strategies that capitalize upon local industries and assets.
REGIONAL INNOVATION & CLUSTERS [Table of Contents]
Can Government Catalyze Clusters?: Examples of Government Actions
Indira Singh, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
This paper seeks to discuss why clusters are an effective economic development model, to substantiate that government can act to catalyze clusters and to provide an overview of the recent experiences of the government of Ontario in cluster mobilization. Singh argues that government has an enduring role in a productive economy and cluster development offers a new model for governments to organize their program and services.The experience of Ontario's Mining Cluster and Arizona's Strategic Planning for Economic Development suggests that the most appropriate role for government is as a facilitator, not a master strategist, to create opportunities for cluster participants to organize, identify and solve common problems, then private sector leadership will emerge to drive the process.
An Integrated Strategy for British Columbia's Technology Clusters: A White Paper
PricewaterhouseCoopers
This white paper identifies actions designed to help British Columbia's technology clusters compete nationally and internationally for capital, employees, and customers. Cluster representatives have identified fourteen actions that address common concerns. They include an increase in R&D spending, support for associational governance, cluster studies, government support for technology adoption etc. Uncertain economic times mean that these goals cannot be acheived without a clear commitment from industry. This white paper establishes the groundwork from which government and industry can collaboratively develop an integrated action plan for technology clusters.
EVENTS [Table of Contents]
The 9th Executive Forum on Microelectronics: Excelling in Changing Times
Ottawa 3-4 November, 2003
This conference, put on by the Strategic Microelectronics Council of ITAC, in partnership with the Fabless Semiconductor Association of the United States, offers an opportunity to network with leaders of industry, government and academia in a dialogue on strategies that will guide corporate success.This year's Program features experts from government and industry, such as the Honourable Allan Rock, Jodi Shelton of the Fabless Semiconductor Association, Fred Shlapak of Motorola Inc., Brian Matas of IC Insights and Bill Bergen of ITAC.
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.
The New Rural Community: Problems and Prospects
Guelph (Ontario), 7 November, 2003
In the context of the challenges faced by rural communities as a result of the social, political and economic restructuring now underway, this conference addresses four sub-themes. These are the new rural landscape (how do we reconcile the built and ecological landscapes of our rural communities to achieve environmental sustainability); the new rural government (what impact does the restructuring of the nation state have on power relations and public accountability?); the new rural economy (what are the repercussions of re-defining economic relationships for rural communities); and the new rural resident (how do we build inclusive rural communities?).
Montreal, November 7-8, 2003
The Conference will bring together university and industrial decision makers and their municipal counterparts with a view to fostering debate and discussion about best practices with respect to the creation, management and development of technology clusters. Clusters 2003 will focus on municipalities: municipal or regional representatives will second the academics and business representatives in attendance. Clusters being by their very nature regional entities, the conference will afford an excellent opportunity to raise the interest of cities in the scientific and technological issues at stake.
The European City in Transition: The City and the Region (Third Euroconference)
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Germany) November 14-15, 2003
The relation between the city and the region has
been challenged inthe run of new patterns of urbanization. It seems
that the distinction between the "inside" and the "outside"
of the city has become unclear. A "city region" is developing
challenging our concepts of what urbanity might mean. Urban functions
are placed outside the core of the traditional city where a new social
life is developing. Some important questions to be addressed at this
conference include: How can we conceptualise, comprehend and analyse
the new spatial, functional and social structures of the region and
the city? What role do regions play in the world economy and how does
globalization influence the forming of metropolitan regions? What are
the new opportunities for regional and urban governance?
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.
Broadband
for Connected Communities in Ontario: Approaches for Success 
Hamilton,16-18 November, 2003
The Connect Hamilton - Create Community Team and Program Organizing Committee in partnership with the Ministry of Enterprise Opportunity and Innovation (MEOI) and ITAC Ontario are present the fifth annual Broadband Conference. The conference theme, Approaches for Success, highlights the following streams: New, Innovative and Future Technologies, Project Management and Due Diligence (Tips, Tools and Techniques), and Connected Communities in Ontario: Best Practices and Lessons Learned.
Investing
in Urban Communities: Collaborating to Compete in the Knowledge Economy
Toronto, 25 November, 2003
Collaboration - the coming together of key decision-makers to acheive a common goal - is a critical practice for the development of regional economies in today's knowledge economy. By bringing together leaders from universities and colleges, the private sector and local government, communities across Ontario are identifying new strategies for transforming their regions into leaders in research, innovation and the development of human capital. Drawing from the experiences of local and international learning communities, this one-day conference will bring together experts from Canada, the US and Ireland to share best practices for effective collaboration.
Urban Impacts
of the Information society: Facts, Fiction and Policies
Telecities and MUTEIS conference
The Hague, 17-19 March, 2004
The "information revolution" and the emerging Information Society entail fundamental changes in social interaction and relationships, and modifications in the socio-economic and spatial organization of activities. The main driver in this process is the rapid development and application of Information Society Technologies (ISTs). The main inhibitors are the fictions that emerged from the discussion of the New Economy. Better knowing the drivers and inhibitors is crucial for contemporary urban management. This conference will explore the urban economic and social impacts of information society technologies (ISTs), as well as the way new technologies urge local governance in cities to change their policies. Academics and senior city managers, planners and researchers will discuss practical case studies, experiences and state of the art research under the following themes: urban policies for and patterns of IST adoption, spatial behaviour in the context of global IST developments, patterns of digital infrastructure and use, and the relationship between IST, productivity and competitiveness.
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.
The
Europe of Knowledge 2020: A Vision for University-based Research and
Innovation
Liege (Belgium), 25-28 April, 2004
This conference will explore the issues raised by the Commission’s communication published in February 2003 on "the role of universities in the Europe of Knowledge". The conference will address in a series of parallel sessions that address the following issues: the creation and certification of knowledge, the changing nature of research teaching, P3s, the role of universities for research in the regions and the challenge of inter-disciplinary research. This conference aims to produce an agreed roadmap to help European universities to realize fully their ambitions in the 21st century.
Regionalization of Innovation Policy - Options and Experiences
Berlin 4-5 June, 2004
Globalization leads to a greater relevance of regional factors for innovation processes. There is a growing consensus in the academic field, as well as among politicians, that innovation policy should include this regional dimension, i.e. regional innovation systems. But it is still not quite clear how this could or should be done in practice. In general, there are two approaches to the regionalization of innovation policy. One strategy is attempting to improve the quality of the innovation system in certain regions. The main questions here concern appropriate instruments for such a strategy and the selection of regions. A second strategy that may be complementary to the above-mentioned one is to scale down national innovation policies in such a way that they take into account the various regions (for example, by focusing measures on certain clusters). In some countries, interesting attempts at such a policy that are worthy of investigation have been made (for example, the BioRegio or the InnoRegio program in Germany). This conference will bring together scholars working in the field of innovation systems and policy at the national and regional level.
The 4th Congress on Proximity Economics Proximity, Networks and Co-ordination
Marseilles, 17-18 June, 2004
This conference is geared towards all of the scientific community interested in the proximity concept, as it relates to everything from industrial organization to networks of public health. The call for proposals, which is open until October 31st, 2003, will give priority to either theoretical or empirical communications likely to produce a better understanding of the conceptual links between proximity, networks and co-ordination.
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This newsletter is prepared by Jen
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Project manager is David
A. Wolfe.
