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Ontario's Regional Economic Development and Innovation NewsletterIssue #142
January 15, 2007
Studies & Publications: Announcements | Editor's Pick | Innovation Policy |Cities
and Regions Policy
Digest | Events
This newsletter is published by ONRIS at the Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, and sponsored by the Ministry of Research and 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] McGuinty Government Continues to Invest in Ontario's Innovation Economy The McGuinty government is strengthening Ontario's
economic advantage by investing in world-class research and development
at 15 institutions in communities across the province. The government
is investing close to $11 million to support 68 leading projects in
this fourth round of the Ontario Research Fund - Research Infrastructure
program. The initiative helps researchers obtain the tools they need
to stay on the cutting-edge of innovation, including lab equipment
and computer software. Under the Ontario Research Fund - Research
Infrastructure program, the Ontario government has invested $131 million
in 551 research infrastructure projects to date. The University of Toronto to Benefit from CFIs Computer Investment U of T researchers — and university researchers across the country — will benefit from a major investment in high performance computing announced Dec. 21 at the University of Toronto by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The agencies announced a total of $88 million in funding for seven high-performance computing facilities that will co-operate to form a pan-Canadian network set to revolutionize the way research is conducted. The CFI awarded $60 million for high performance computing infrastructure and $18 million to assist with operating and maintenance costs. NSERC will contribute a further $10 million to help fund operating costs.
EDITOR'S PICK [Tableof Contents] Building Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators: What We Can Learn from the Past Chris Freeman and Luc Soete, MERIT The science-technology-innovation system is one that is continuously and rapidly evolving. The dramatic growth over the last twenty years in the use of science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators appears first and foremost the result of a combination between on the one hand the easiness of computerized access to an increasing number of measures of STI and on the other hand the interest in a growing number of public policy and private business circles in such indicators as might be expected in societies which increasingly use organised science and technology to achieve a wide variety of social and economic objectives and in which business competition is increasingly based on innovation. As highlighted on the basis of 40 years of indicators work, frontiers and characteristics that were important last century may well no longer be so relevant today and indeed may even be positively misleading.
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents] Promoting Opportunity and Growth Through Science, Technology and Innovation Jason E. Bordoff, Michael Deich, Rebecca Kahane, and Peter R. Orszag, The Hamilton Project Americans are facing heightened economic pressures from the effects of globalization as workers from China, India, and other developing nations play a growing role in the world's economy. Advances in technology and transportation now mean that U.S. workers increasingly are competing with workers overseas—not just in manufacturing, but also in high-skill and high-wage sectors. Growth in information technologies, in particular, has facilitated deeper integration of economies across the globe while also posing both new opportunities and new challenges for the U.S. economy. Maintaining the US' economic leadership in the world and promoting broad-based growth at home will require effective policies to support research, innovation, and access to advanced information and telecommunications technologies. This paper provides the arguments that support this position, as well as proposals to maintain leadership in science, technology and innovation.
Science and Innovation: Making the Most of UK Research UK-DTI This publication demonstrates, through a selection
of examples: how the academic community and businesses in the UK have
worked together, how they have risen to new challenges, and how they
have been able to build upon each others’ strengths to produce
CITIES, CLUSTERS & REGIONS [Table ofContents] I. Turok and V. Mykhnenko Cities have been recognized for several decades as the places within Europe typically facing the greatest economic and social problems. In contrast, a much more positive view of cities has emerged recently, identifying them as sources of economic dynamism and growth. The paper offers evidence from across Europe to assess whether the fortunes of cities have improved, both in relation to their past trajectories and relative to smaller urban and rural areas. The key indicator is population change. The main finding is that one in seven cities can be described as resurgent, but these are greatly outnumbered by cities that have experienced continuous growth and by cities that have suffered a recent downturn. Taking a long-term view, the absolute and relative position of cities generally appears to have deteriorated over the last few decades. But a short-term perspective suggests something of a recovery within the last five years. Growth and resurgence are more common in Western Europe and decline is more widespread in the East. The position of larger cities has also improved slightly relative to smaller cities. Building Successful Cities: Lessons Learned from the UK Conference Board of Canada This briefing examines the United Kingdom's experience in crafting coherent and comprehensive strategies for building successful cities. It looks at national and local solutions—developed and implemented in spite of the lack of local governance autonomy—to the challenges facing its major cities. The level and quality of urban regeneration now underway in the U.K., and the optimism and confidence that accompany this regeneration, show how political and community backing can propel the urban agenda forward. Key lessons for Canada focus on developing partnerships, investing in gateway cities, recognizing the importance of local leadership and developing a national policy focus on major cities.
The Rise of Knowledge Regions: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Universities Sybille Reichert This essay tries to describe the emerging phenomenon of the proactive knowledge region by looking closely at the processes of its development, at the key actors and their interactions, as well as at the role of the university in this development. It also aims to investigate how knowledge institutions and their networking are motivated, supported, developed and adapted at regional level.
POLICY DIGEST [Table of Contents] Measuring the Moment: Innovation, National Security, and Economic Competitiveness The Task Force on the Future of American Innovation, a private consortium of leading industry and academic organizations, has a released a new report that assesses America's future innovation capacity. Measuring the Moment: Innovation, National Security, and Economic Competitiveness is a benchmarking exercise designed to assess how America stacks up on key measures of research investment, knowledge creation, and the development of critical industries such as biotechnology, semiconductors and information technology. The report's main findings are similar to other recent studies from the National Research Council and the Council on Competitiveness. While the US economy has many strengths, it also faces serious long-term challenges in its educational systems and in its future ability to attract and retain talent. All of these findings are particularly important given that:
DRUID-DIME Academy 2007 PhD Winter Conference on Geography, Innovation and Industrial Dynamics Aalborg, Denmark, 25-27 January, 2007 The conference is open for all PhD students working within the broad field of “industrial dynamics”. The conference is organized by the DRUID Academy for doctoral education and training in collaboration with the EU 6th Framework Network of Excellence DIME Consortium. The event will take place in Denmark on January 25-27, 2007. All doctoral students who wish to present a paper at the DRUID-DIME Academy Winter 2007 Conference must submit an extended abstract (minimum 1000 words; maximum 2000 words) before the deadline of November 6, 2006 through the conference website.
Health
Research: The 21st Century's Prosperity Engine (OCE Mind to Market Breakfast
Series) Toronto, 27 January, 2007 From photodynamic therapies to nanotech diagnostics, the research underway
at UHN offers enormous opportunity for Ontario companies. Research hospitals
are a critical driver of economic benefits to the province's economy.
They improve the quality of our health care and its delivery, and attract
and retain leading scientific talent. Join Dr. Bob Bell as he considers
the way commercialization of biomedical research is not only bringing
to light better treatments and better detection, but is also improving
the economic health prospects of the province.
Research Incentives: Maximizing Performance in the Knowledge Economy Ottawa, 7 March, 2007 As Canada continues to cope with the globalization of the knowledge economy, Canadian firms are facing stiff competition from an increasing number of players. They also have more opportunities for global sales, marketing and distribution; and global collaboration, partnerships and outsourcing. For Canada to remain competitive, we need a policy environment that is attractive to entrepreneurs and firms in knowledge-based sectors. What kinds of research and innovation incentives will effectively support the growth of knowledge-based firms in Canada? There are clear choices, including tax measures, the programmatic approach, grants (like the US model), technology transfer from publicly-funded institutions, improving the general business environment. What mix of incentives will the new government in Ottawa choose? How will these choices affect existing programs and policies? What role do different levels of governments have to play and how can they coordinate and focus their efforts? How are other countries using research and other incentives to grow their knowledge-based sectors? This one-day event will explore these and other issues related to research and innovation incentives. Business leaders and other experts will elaborate how Canadian policy makers can utilize incentives to support a vital and growing private sector capable of winning globally.
Commercializing
Photonics Technology (OPTICS Annual Members Meeting) Hamilton, 26 March, 2007 The Government of Ontario recently announced that it will spend $300M for commercializing university science. Your local photonics cluster, OPTIC, is getting a share of this. This year's AMM is your opportunity to let us know how you?d like to see OPTIC spend its new resources. Representatives from OPC, CPFC, INO and OCE will also be there to talk about how they can help you commercialize new science and technology.
Lisbon, Portugal, 2-5 April, 2007 This event by the Regional Studies Association will take place in Lisbon. Many topics will be discussed such as: developments in regional economics and spatial analysis; tourism, regional development and sustainability; knowledge, competition and cohesion; creativity, innovation and cultural economy, and global challenges for manufacturing and services.
Toronto, 24-27 April, 2007 BioFinance 2007 is a gathering of some of the most innovative minds
in the lifescience industries featuring presentations by senior management
from more than 100 Canadian, US and European lifescience companies.
The range of participating firms includes large publicly traded and
major private companies as well as early-stage opportunities. The companies
will highlight their development plans for new medicines and technologies
in the fields of cancer, cardiology, medical devices, neuroscience,
immunology, genomics, diagnostics and new research tools. BioFinance
2007 will feature a CEO Forum to address specific financing and management
issues relevant to Chief Executive Officers in life science companies.
It will also have specialty panels on topics including access to public
markets in the US and Europe, investing in medical technologies, pharma-biopharma
deals and early stage venture financing from private and public sources Hydrogen Fuel & Fuel Cells 2007: International Conference and Trade Show Vancouver, 29 April - 2 May, 2007 Today's energy challenges have no boundaries. Energy security, climate change, and clean air concerns challenge communities around the world. International research, business and policy collaborations are ensuring that technologies, such as hydrogen and fuel cells, will provide a sustainable future for generations. This conference and trade show will highlight these global activities and developments. Canada, and particularly Vancouver, boasts unrivalled hydrogen and fuel cell expertise. Don't miss out on the chance to explore BC's Hydrogen Highway, experience the latest in hydrogen and fuel cell innovations and visit the most advanced hydrogen and fuel cell research facility... the National Research Council's cutting-edge Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.
Miami Beach, Florida, 13-17 May, 2007 IAMOT 2007 will provide an international technical forum for experts from industry and academia to exchange ideas and present results of ongoing research in the following tracks: Knowledge Management, Green Technologies, Social impact of technology development . MOT Education and Research / Corporate Universities . New Product/Service Development . National and Regional Systems of Innovation . Small and Medium Enterprises . Emerging Technologies . Technology Transfer, Marketing and Commercialization . Technology Foresight and Forecasting . Information and Communication Technology Management . The Integration of Technology and Business Strategies . R&D Management . Project and Program Management . Industrial and Manufacturing System Technologies / Supply Chain Management . New Forms of Organizations . Management of Technology in Developing Countries . Technological Alliances, Mergers and Acquisitions . Theory of Technology . Technology Incubation . Management of Technology for the Service Economy . Innovation/technological development and productivity
Singapore, 16-18 May, 2007 Organized for the first time in Asia, Triple Helix VI 2007 will provide a global forum for academic scholars from different disciplinary perspectives as well as policy makers, university administrators and private sector leaders from different countries to exchange and share new learning about the diverse emerging models of the entrepreneurial university, the changing dynamics of University- Industry-Government interactions around the world and the complex roles of the university in local, regional and national economic development.
Toronto, 28 May - 1 June, 2007 Toronto’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry
cluster will come together to celebrate being the largest high-tech
hub in Canada and the third largest in North America. During this event
a series of activities will be undertaken to showcase the depth and
breath of Toronto’s high technology sector. These will include
trade associations’ events such as seminars and business networking
functions, job fairs, collaboration demonstrations, an ICT business
open door program, school projects, educational seminars, special exhibits
showcasing innovation & excellence and other ICT sector- related
activities. An organizing committee formed by ICT industry stakeholders
Atlanta
Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2007 The landscape of global innovation is shifting, with new problems and actors emerging on the scene. National governments are looking for new strategies, and they are turning to the science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy research community for models and research results to tell them what works and what doesn’t, under what circumstances. The Atlanta Conference provides an opportunity for the global STI policy research and user communities to test models of innovation, explore emerging STI policy issues, and share research results.
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