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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 Economic Development and Trade. The views and ideas expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Ontario Government.
ANNOUNCEMENTS [Table of Contents]
Bill Gates Makes Waterloo Visit
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will met students and faculty at the University of Waterloo on October 13 as part of a North American tour he is conducting at selected universities and colleges. His visits are focused on meeting first-year computer science, mathematics and engineering students and selected faculty to share his thoughts on the future of technology and speak on why he thinks careers in computer science are exciting, rewarding and vitally important.
Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) and Infotonics Form a Stragic Alliance
Canada's first fully integrated photonics prototyping and fabrication facility, the National Research Council (NRC) Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC), and the Infotonics Technology Center, a New York State Center of Excellence in photonics and microsystems, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement promises a new level of international business cooperation between the two photonic technology commercialization centres. Both share a common goal – to facilitate the commercialization of innovative photonic technologies. They provide world-class industrial grade facilities that "bridge the gap" between innovation and product commercialization, thereby providing companies with a unique competitive edge in the global photonics market. The MOU will help promote the collective capabilities and facilities of Infotonics and CPFC. The Infotonics Technology Centre provides comprehensive in-house design, microfabrication and device packaging.
EDITOR'S PICK
[Table of Contents]
Mapping National Innovation Systems in the OECD Area
Markus Balzat and Andreas Pyka (University of Augsburg, Germany)
The purpose of this paper is to present new findings
about the structure and the organization of innovative activities
in selected OECD countries. By using the approach of national systems
of innovation as a conceptual framework and by applying multivariate
data analysis techniques, this paper aims to add new insights into
the specific structures of the eighteen national systems of innovation
under study. A central result from this comparative study is a categorization
of national systems of innovation into different clusters, with each
cluster representing distinctive cross-national structural similarities.
By accounting for sectoral specifics,
the commonly taken perspective on national innovation systems is extended.
Thereby, a more precise picture of the structural composition of the
analyzed national innovation systems accrues. Also, a new linkage
between the two approaches of national and sectoral innovation systems
is created.
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents]
Measuring the Impact of Publicly Funded Research
Allen Consulting for Australian Department of Education, Science and Training
This study is a step towards building a greater understanding of how benefits from publicly funded research can be realised and to develop practical metrics by which returns can be assessed. The two core objectives of this study are to: produce a classification/typology of the benefits (ie. impacts) of publicly funded research taking into account international and Australian efforts to date to build such a typology; and propose ways of systematically and cost effectively measuring each of the benefits in this typology, taking into account performance monitoring and funding arrangements that impact on these measures.
Best Practices in Innovation Policies
Heikki Kotilainen, TEKES
This study benchmarks and seeks best and next practices for national innovation systems. It asks questions regarding the structures of national institutions as well as of key organizations to uncover key relationships, networks and functions within the national innovation system. The report contains a description of 53 organizations, their main functions, incentives and criteria for implementation. The description is based on person-to-person discussions, brochures, leaflets, web pages and other material available during the course of the study. The descriptions are objective summaries of innovation support and promotion. The report also contains statistical surveys and analysis.
CLUSTERS & REGIONS [Table ofContents]
Accounting for Success: Understanding and Monitoring the Growth of Inverness
Cogentsci
The City of Inverness and its hinterland have emerged as shooting stars in the twin firmaments of the Scottish economy and Scottish society. The media certainly know this: it seems that everywhere you look there is press coverage of Inverness. Since it became a millennium city on 19 March 2001 there has been even more interest in ‘The Capital of the Highlands’, at home and abroad. This report asks exactly how much growth has there been? What is behind it? How has new wealth been created and what has given rise to new jobs? Why are people moving into the city? Looking to the future, what will Inverness need to create and support further sustainable expansion? The report answers these questions using a variety of methods of analysis.
Knowledge Clusters and Entrepreneurship as Keys to Regional Economic Development
Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota
This report examines the linkages between
entrepreneurship, knowledge clusters, and economic development.
The report summarizes a conference, held in September 2004 that
brought together a host of leading experts on entrepreneurship
and business clusters. The report presents a host of recommendations
for how regions can promote entrepreneurship and the development
of strong business clusters. It includes mini case-studies of
initiatives in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Northern Ireland,
among others.
STATISTICS [Table of Contents]
Canadian Trends in Biotechnology, 2nd Edition
BioStrategy
This section of Canada's biostrategy contains a detailled statistical analysis of the Canadian biotechnology industry. It includes various measures related to the performance and behaviour of Canadian firms, as well as statistical comparisons with biotechnology industries in other countries.
EVENTS [Table of Contents]
Atlanta, 19-21 October, 2005
The urgent need to focus public investment on the more distant horizon has been the recurring and underlying theme for all of thenational discussion on unbalanced federal R&D budget priorities, the need for a national innovation strategy, and the challenge and opportunity presented by a "flat world" (to borrow a phrase from Thomas Friedman). SSTI's 2005 conference in Atlanta provides a unique and timely forum to advance understanding of the states' and regions' evolving roles as leaders in fostering the continued competitiveness of the U.S. economy.
Belfast, UK, 24-26 October, 2005
This is the only annual international conference on policy for the creative industries. The growth of creative industries has been explosive - communities, cities, regions and nations are embracing this shift, leveraging their culture to build valuable assets that can transform their economies. In the UK creative industries are growing twice as fast as any other - at a rate of 8% per year. Creative Clusters are accepting presentation proposals on the following four conference themes: Investing in Creativity, Delivering Skills for Creativity, Inclusion through Creativity, and an open session.
Canadian
Technology in the Space Industry 
Waterloo, Ontario, 26 October, 2005
Communitech and Open Text invite you to hear from Canada's first Astronaut: Marc Garneau - President, Canadian Space Agency
Join us to hear Marc comment on Canada's role in the space industry...." Canada has moved from being a pioneer in areas such as mobile satellite technology, where it became a leader out of necessity, linking our remote communities, to being an internationally recognized leader in a variety of niche markets such as satellite communications, earth observation, space robotics and other fields. Canada has earned its place in space with Canadian expertise, ideas and innovation".
Toulouse, France, 27-29 October, 2005
This conference will bring together academic 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.
Pretoria, South Africa, 31 October - 4 November, 2005
Globelics (the Global Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems) is a framework for scholars who use the concepts of learning, innovation and competence building systems as part of their analytical framework. The network is especially focused on the strengthening of research on learning and innovation systems in developing countries. In the region most in need of human and economic development, Globelics Africa 2005 aims to further examine the links between innovation, development and growth. The conference also aims to build research capacity in Africa by establishing contact between researchers from Africa and from other regions of the world, both from leading academic centres, and from other developing contexts. In addition, the conference aims to rethink and reframe the challenges of the African continent in the light of insights from innovation systems research. Scholars from innovation studies will contribute a range of approaches and perspectives to guide research, policy formulation and action to bring about societal transformation through enhanced learning, innovation and knowledge competencies.
Converging
Medical Technologies
King City, Ontario, 3 November, 2005
The next wave of business opportunities for convergent
medical technologies (CMT) is already taking shape. By 2010, it has
been estimated that the drug–device combination product market
alone will be worth $9.5B USD. In order to remain competitive in today’s
global economy, companies are moving towards the creation and adaptation
of new products from multiple technologies. Companies that are able
to find new ways to exploit these technologies through innovative combinations
and partnerships will become leaders in the healthcare marketplace.
Find out why the convergence of the former “silos” such
as Bio-Pharmaceuticals, ICT, Medical Devices and Nanotechnology/Advanced
Materials will have important implications for your business. Learn
from leaders of change in the industry on how to create and exploit
these new markets.
The Future of Industrial Research in Canada
Ottawa, 8 November, 2005
Canada's ability to compete as a nation in the global knowledge economy depends to a large extent on the vitality of its private sector. There is evidence that during the economic boom in the latter half of the 1990s, Canada experienced a drop in the number of firms conducting R&D here. Business leaders from the major high tech sectors will describe their global business strategies and how R&D fits into the overall picture. The conference includes presentations from multinational corporations active in Canada, entrepreneurs running Canadian firms large and small, investors and other experts. They will assess the overall environment for knowledge-based business in Canada and recommend approaches for successful commerce in a global context.
The 8th Annual Conference of the Competitiveness Institute
Hong Kong, China, 8-11 November, 2005
China's emergence onto the world stage has created unprecedented opportunities and challenges to business people and policy makers from all over the world. China has become a market, an investment location, a production platform, and a competitor. But what is China's true underlying competitiveness? In which industries will China lead and in which will it lag? What and where are China's major clusters and how strong will they be? What is China's influence on other economies in the region and the world? How will other economies compete with China? How can companies understand China's different regions and benefit from China's regional development? What programs and policies will be necessary to develop competitive clusters in the new environment? How do my nation or regions' own clusters stack up against the world's best? Several of the world's leading experts on clustering and regional development will address these questions and others at this conference, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy of The University of Hong Kong.
Responsibilities of Citizenship and Public Service: Crisis or Challenge?
Toronto, 10-12 November, 2005
It is often said that the strength of a democratic society rests on the engagement of its citizens. In fact, the need for active participation in the life of the community is greater now than ever. Yet only 60 percent of Canadians voted in the last federal election, and fewer people are willing to serve in government, religious groups, universities, foundations and other public organizations. Are Canada’s positive social values sufficient to rekindle the flame of civic and public engagement, or have frustration, suspicion and cynicism become a real threat? This conference will look at this question and examine issues of trust in government, the interaction of government and civil society in promoting the public good, and accountability and ethics in government and civil society. It will also focus on the next generation: where will responsible civic leaders be found, and how can they be nurtured, encouraged and supported?
Calgary, 16-17 November, 2005
This conference provides a forum where the innovation community of Western Canada can gather annually to network, review the latest developments, solve problems and take specific industry recommendations forward for action. Among the topics to be discussed are applied research, the culture of innovation, innovation policy and innovation support.
Ottawa, 16 - 17 May, 2006
The Statistics Canada Socio-economic Conference
provides an annual forum for empirical research focusing on issues of
concern to Canadian public policy. The conference focuses on studies
discussing: emerging economic trends and their underlying causes;
and the social implications of economic trends and the ability of various
groups to participate in the economy. Topics relevant to the Conference
include, but are not restricted to, innovation; productivity; international
trade; agriculture; environment-economy linkages; natural resources
and energy; transportation; industrial development; urban and rural
development; health; education; families; income and wealth and their
distribution; and labour markets. The Conference focuses on studies
directly relevant to Canada, while at the same time welcoming comparative
international studies that shed light on Canadian public policy issues.
It places a premium on empirical studies making innovative use of Canadian
data.
Athens, Greece, 11-14 June, 2006
The 2006 International Society for Professional
Innovation Management (ISPIM) Conference will be held in Athens this
summer. Many topics will be discussed such as: academic-industry networks
for innovation, learning and the entrepreneurial mindset, managing knowledge,
SMEs: opportunities & threats, public policy to stimulate networks.
Deadline for submitting an abstract: January 27, 2006.
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This newsletter is prepared by Jen
Nelles.
Project manager is David
A. Wolfe.
