Ontario's Regional Economic Development and Innovation Newsletter



Issue #206                                                        February 1, 2010

  Studies & Publications: Announcements | Editor's Pick | Innovation Policy |Cities and Regions | Statistics and Indicators| Policy Digest | Events
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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 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]

Korean Companies Anchor Ontario's Green Economy

The Ontario government has signed an agreement that will bring more green energy and new jobs to Ontario. A consortium led by Samsung C&T Corporation and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) will invest $7 billion to generate 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power. These projects will triple Ontario's output from renewable wind and solar sources and provide clean electricity to more than 580,000 households. The investment will also lead to more than 16,000 new green energy jobs to build, install and operate the renewable generation projects.

President Obama Moves Forward Incrementally on Infrastructure

In addressing the 78th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently, President Obama laid out some general strategies to “rebuild and revitalize our cities and metropolitan areas.” In the speech he emphasized smart infrastructure investments as ways to “compete and win in our global economy. While that goal has not changed in the last 18 months, the strategy to get there may have. Despite the shot-in-the-arm that the stimulus package provided last year, there has been no firm commitment made to raising the gas tax to pay for the half-trillion dollar reauthorization proposed by the House, or for an infrastructure-oriented jobs bill the House passed in December. But he did promise to build on some innovations that show potential such as transit-oriented development, coordinating housing, environmental, and transportation policy at the department level, and building on the TIGER discretionary grant program.

Terry Matthews Calls for a Pan Canadian Innovation Plan

Canada's Innovation Gap is a fundamental challenge to Canada’s economic growth in a world where our competitors are focused on becoming the world's innovators.  In their report highlighting the Innovation Gap, the Council of Canadian Academies emphasized] that Canadians are good at research but are equally weak when it comes to leveraging the results into successful businesses that mature to become world class.  Canada’s technologies and researchers have become the feedstock for our competitors’ growth.  CATAAlliance National Spokesperson, Sir Terence Matthews is calling on political parties and all Canadians to adopt a new vision for Canada, an Innovation Nation vision that will lead us  from 13th to 1st place or an A grade in Innovation performance.

 

EDITOR'S PICK                                                             [Table of Contents]

White Paper on Science and Technology 2009

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
This report addresses the issue of how Japan should weather the gathering storm of fierce international competition intensified by the emergence of China and the other BRICs countries. Faced with a growing economic crisis, many countries are seeking to generate employment by investing in environment- and energy-related fields, giving impetus to what may be called the
“Green New Deal.” By generating and productizing innovative technologies in such fields, an accelerating shift is afoot toward a low-carbon society, which, in turn, will spawn significant socioeconomic changes. Concurrently, new trends of open or global innovation are coalescing along with the increasing mobility of and intensifying competition among talented researchers to draw Japan into a full-fledged period of global transformation. This paper addresses future modes of science and technology expected to advance solutions to the environmental and other global issues while endeavoring to preserve sustainable socioeconomic development among the world’s countries; strengthening the competitiveness of Japan’s Monodzukuri and service sectors; and meeting a diverse set of public needs for a safe and secure living environment


INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY                                  [Table of Contents]

Jobs for America: Investments and Policies for Economic Growth and Competitiveness

Ross DeVol and Perry Wong, Milken Institute
This report tackles the central question: How can the United States jumpstart and sustain job growth? Utilizing detailed simulations, the report finds that changes to U.S. economic and tax policies can add 2.9 million jobs by 2019, while more than 3.5 million jobs can be created in each of the next three years by supporting investment in 10 key infrastructure project categories.The policy changes analyzed – decreasing U.S. corporate tax rates to match the OECD average, increasing and making permanent the R&D tax credit and modernizing export controls on certain products – would spur significant economic growth in the medium- to long-term.

Going for Growth: Out Future Prosperity

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills UK
Britain is emerging from the largest global financial crisis and deepest international downturn for almost a century. Thanks to swift government action to stabilize the banking sector, a substantial fiscal and monetary stimulus to counter a collapse in private demand, a flexible labour market that has allowed business to adapt quickly and targeted short-term help for British businesses and workers, Britain will emerge from the recession with its capacity for long term growth largely intact. British businesses and workers have shown exceptional resilience and adaptability through the toughest part of the downturn. Measured against the destructive experience of past downturns, this is a considerable achievement. It positions the UK well for a strong recovery, but only if it makes the right decisions about the future.

Eco-Innovation in Industry: Enabling Green Growth

OECD
Eco-innovation will be a key driver of industry efforts to tackle climate change and realize “green growth” in the post-Kyoto era. Eco-innovation calls for faster introduction of breakthrough technologies and for more systemic application of available solutions, including non-technological ones. It also offers opportunities to involve new players, develop new industries and increase competitiveness. Structural change in economies will be imperative in coming decades.This book presents the research and analysis carried out during the first phase of the OECD Project on Sustainable Manufacturing and Eco-innovation. Its aim is to provide benchmarking tools on sustainable manufacturing and to spur eco-innovation through better understanding of innovation mechanisms. It reviews the concepts and forms an analytical framework; analyses the nature and processes of eco-innovation; discusses existing sustainable manufacturing indicators; examines methodologies for measuring eco-innovation; and takes stock of national strategies and policy initiatives for eco-innovation.

 

CITIES, CLUSTERS & REGIONS                                          [Table of Contents]

Biotechnology Clusters Developing Slowly: Startup Assistance May Encourage Growth

Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability of the Florida Legislature,
The Innovation Incentive Program has invested over $449 to bring seven major biotechnology institutes to the state, yet this investment has not resulted in the growth of technology clusters in the counties where program grantees have established facilities.. Experts in the biotechnology industry agree that significant cluster growth often takes decades. While many factors related to biotechnology cluster growth are present in the state, such as a collegial and cooperative environment among stakeholders, Florida has limited early stage capital for beginning companies. This report argues that the State Legislature should consider options to strengthen this program, including shifting its focus from attracting research institutes to providing early stage funding for startup biotechnology companies.

The Rise of the Networking Regions: The Challenges of Regional Collaboration in a Globalized World

Harald Baldersheim, Are Vegard Haug and Morten Ogard, NORDREGIO
Regions are now moving beyond “the new regionalism” into network regionalism. The new regionalism began emerging in the late 1980s stimulated by the accelerating pace of European integration, the spread of the endogenous paradigm of development and was spearheaded by strong identity regions such as Catalonia, Scotland or Flanders. Network regionalism is also developmental and internationalist in its orientation but it is collaborative rather than competitive in its modus operandi and relies to a large extent on network modes of governance for  developing and implementing its policies. The thesis of this project is that the challenges of regional governance today are closely related to the capacity of regions to organize and run network activities. The project focuses in particular on Nordic and European networking activities of regions. The project builds on and updates a data base established 1997/98 covering all Nordic regions and larger cities. Thus, a central aim of the project is to chart the changes in networking activities and related development initiatives that have taken place over the last ten years.

Closing the Skills Gap

David Fischer and Jeremy Reiss, Center for an Urban Future
This report finds that New York City faces a human capital crisis that could threaten the city's long-term economic competitiveness while relegating countless residents to low-wage jobs. It shows that an alarming number of New Yorkers now lack the skills and educational credentials to compete in today's economy and warns that the problem will only get worse in the years ahead. The report calls for a comprehensive campaign to develop the skills of New York's population.

STATISTICS & INDICATORS                                                                  [Table of Contents]

US VC Investment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade

PricewaterhouseCoopers and NVCA Moneytree,
Last year venture investment decreased to its lowest level since 1997.  A weak environment for exits and increasing caution on the part of investors contributed to a 37 percent decrease in investment dollars and a 30 percent decline in venture deals from 2008 levels. This marks the second consecutive year of declining venture dollars and deals. A report from Dow Jones VentureSource, however, notes that investment activity rebounded in the fourth quarter, and both outlets predict growth in 2010. Venture firms invested a total of $17.7 billion in 2,795 deals last year, down from the post-tech boom peak of $30.5 billion in 4,027 deals in 2007. Activity increased during the fourth quarter, exceeding the amount of dollars and deals during the same quarter in 2008, but not enough to salvage the overall low numbers for the year.

POLICY DIGEST                                                                  [Table of Contents]

Competitive Cities and Climate Change

Lamia Kamal-Chaoui and Alexis Robert, OECD
Cities are part of the climate change problem, but they are also a key part of the solution. This report offers a comprehensive analysis of how cities and metropolitan regions can change the way we think about responding to climate change. Cities consume the vast majority of global energy and are therefore major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the exposed infrastructure and prevalent coastal location of many cities makes them common targets for climate change impacts such as sea level rise and fiercer storms. This report illustrates how local involvement through “climate-conscious” urban planning and management can help achieve national climate goals and minimize tradeoffs between environmental and economic priorities. Six main chapters analyse the link between urbanisation, energy use and CO2 emissions; assess the potential contribution of local policies in reducing global energy demand and the trade-offs between economic and environmental objectives at the local scale; discuss complementary and mutually reinforcing policies such as the combination of compact growth policies with those that improve mass transit linkages; and evaluate a number of tools, including the “greening” of existing fiscal policies, financing arrangements to combat climate change at the local level, and green innovation and jobs programmes. One of the main messages of this report is that urban policies (e.g. densification or congestion charges) can complement global climate policies (e.g. a carbon tax) by reducing global energy demand, CO2 emissions and the overall abatement costs of reducing carbon emissions. To inform the groundswell of local climate change action planning, the report highlights best practices principally from OECD member countries but also from certain non-member countries.

Cities and Climate Change: A Two-Way Relationship

  • Cities are major contributors to CO2 emissions: Roughly half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this share is increasing over time, projected to reach 60% by 2030. Cities consume a great majority – between 60 to 80% – of energy production worldwide and account for a roughly equal share of global CO2 emissions.
  • Climate change poses key threats to urban infrastructures and quality of life: The tendency for cities to be located in coastal areas increases their vulnerability to water-related calamities, increasing the risk to property, livelihoods and urban infrastructure. Rising sea levels are a critical issue for major cities – for example, in Europe, 70% of the largest cities have areas that are less than 10 meters above sea level.

Cities are not to be blames - urban form, lifestyle and energy sources are what count

  • How cities grow and operate matters for energy and demand and for GHG emissions: Energy use, and thus carbon emissions, are chiefly driven by how electricity is produced, use of energy in buildings and to move around the city. Urban density and spatial organization are key factors that influence energy consumption, especially in the transportation and building sectors. Increasing density could significantly reduce energy consumption in urban areas. For instance, Japan’s urban areas are around five times denser than Canada’s, and the consumption of electricity per capita in the former is around 40% that of the latter.
  • Lifestyles, in particular the way in which people commute, are also crucial in the generation of emmissions: Cities’ emissions can vary depending on their lifestyles, spatial form and public transport availability. In other words, it is not cities, or urbanisation per se, that contribute to GHG emissions, but rather the way in which people move around the city, the sprawl that they produce, the way in which people use energy at home and how buildings are heated that make cities the great consumers of energy and polluters that they are. As urban areas become denser and rely more on public transport, carbon emissions are reduced.
  • Cities' energy sources matter: The impact of energy consumption on GHG emissions depends not just on the amount consumed, but also on the GHG emissions generated by the energy source, which in turn depend on the mode of energy production. For example, Cape Town has comparatively low per capital electricity consumption than Geneva, but its consumption has a higher GHG emissions factor, due to South Africa’s use of coal for 92% of its electricity generation whilst Geneva relies on hydropower. Technology also matters: urban areas relying on inefficient or wasteful energy sources contribute more GHG emissions then than those that consume the same amount from more efficient sources.

Urban Policies Can Contribute to a Global Climate Agenda

  • Costs of delaying action on climate change are high: While climate change mitigation and adaptation policies require significant investment, delaying action can increase future costs and limit future options for adapting to climate change impacts or reducing emissions in cities. Direct costs from climate change impacts can be staggeringly high, especially when related to natural disasters and sea level rise. For example, shoreline retreat in the United States is projected to cost
    between USD 270 billion to 475 billion per metre climb in sea level.
  • Urban policy can contribute to national emmissions reduction targets: Findings from a general equilibrium model (CGE model) with an urban module demonstrate that urban policies such as increases in spatial density and congestion charges can lead to a reduction of total OECD global energy demand and, consequently, of CO2 emissions.

The Urban Climate Agenda Requires a Smart Mix of Policy Instruments

  • Cities serve as policy labs for action on climate change: Many cities and metropolitan regions around the world are taking action on climate change – even in the absence of national policies and commitments – not only out of recognition of cities’ contributions to and risks from climate change, but also of the opportunities to lower the potential tradeoffs between economic growth and environmental priorities.
  • Cities have key competencies to act on climate change: through their responsibilities over urban sectors such as land-use zoning, transportation, natural resources management, buildings, waste and water services. Urban authorities make decisions that determine or influence public transportation systems, the built environment, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, and the sustainability of services delivery. Cities and metropolitan regions are well positioned to
    develop policy and programmatic solutions that best meet specific geographic, climatic, economic, and cultural conditions.
  • Effective climate policy packages should seek policy complimentarities: among and within urban sectors to implement policies that enhance each other’s effectiveness. For example, landuse zoning policies that allow for higher densities and greater mixing of residential and commercial uses can enhance transportation climate goals by reducing trip distances and
    frequency while strategic mass transit linkages can attract development and thus promote compact growth.
  • Action on climate change should optimize existing urban modes of governance: Climate action on the urban level happens through local regulations, urban services, programme administration, city purchasing and property management, and convening of local stakeholders.
  • Successful compact cities policies rely on well-designed strategic plans: Policies to increase the concentration of urban areas in the long term and manage outward expansion have gained popularity across the OECD, particularly in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Japan, which has initiated an “Eco-Compact City” policy. While the higher residential densities targeted by these policies have the most direct effect on GHG emissions, transportation linkages – particularly between employment centres and residential zones – are crucial to ensuring that increases in density translate into reductions in personal vehicle use.
  • National governments can play a role in supporting and removing barriers to greater urban governance: and enhance cities’ capacity to act on climate change issues. Key roles include providing funding and technical assistance to cities and regions, such as in Finland and Sweden. Climate mandates in national urban and regional policies in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom, and in the Korean “Green New Deal”, can advance local climate action. Strong national targets for adaptation and GHG emissions reductions can help prevent regional competition based on environmental regulations and even promote a “race to the top” through incentives, such as Japan’s “Environment-Friendly Model City” award.

EVENTS                                                                               [Table of Contents]

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Commercialization of Intellectual Property

Toronto, 11 February, 2010
This unique half-day conference features experts who will discuss obstacles and opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators who wish to commercialize their intellectual property.   Join us for multi-disciplinary perspectives from those engaged in business, law, technology and science.

Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Making the Connection

Toronto, 2-3 March, 2010
Join cultural planning practitioners from across Ontario for an informative workshop on cultural planning and mapping. Presentations on Creative City Network of Canada's cultural planning and mapping toolkits, panel discussions from those in the field and a facilitated discussion on what's next will give you the knowledge and connections to move the cultural planning agenda forward in your community. This facilitated discussion will focus on potential policy links between cultural mapping and cultural planning. Knowledge generated from this session will be incorporated into Municipal Cultural Planning Incorporated's forthcoming Municipal Cultural Mapping guidebook.

9th Annual Re$earch Money Conference: Industrial R&D: Is Canada Really Lagging?

Ottawa, 25 March, 2010
Corporate R&D is being transformed. The large industrial research lab is no longer the norm. Multinational firms now globally distribute their R&D and collaborate with partners in public and private sector institutions. Does the “new normal” offer opportunities to a country like Canada? Speakers and panelists include H. Douglas Barber Co-founder and Former CEO, Gennum Corp and Distinguished Professor in Residence, McMaster University, Bill Buxton, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research, Fred Gault
Professorial Fellow, United Nations University MERIT, Raymond Leduc Director, Bromont Manufacturing, IBM Canada, David Miller Senior VP, The Woodbridge Group.

CALL FOR PAPERS - The Organization, Economics and Policy of Scientific Research

Torino, Italy, 23-24 April, 2010
The aim of the workshop is to bring together a small group of scholars interested in the analysis of the production and diffusion of scientific research from an economics, historical, organizational and policy perspective. The workshop does not have a narrow focus; it aims to include papers form the various streams of research developed in recent years in and around the area of public and private scientific research. To submit a contribution and for further information contact: Aldo Geuna (aldo.geuna@unito.it)
and Francesco Quatraro (brick@carloalberto.org).

Regional Responses and Global Shifts: Actors, Institutions and Organizations - Regional Studies Association Annual Conference

Pecs, Hungary, 24-26 May, 2010
An increasingly complex array of actors is involved in today‟s regional development agendas. They range from private firms and labour organizations to government and non-government institutions. Despite the growing awareness in the public and academic domains of the multi-actor nature of regional development, we still often struggle to fully comprehend the mutually interactive strategies and practices which cut across regions and countries. In light of recent upheavals in the global economic and financial system, such an understanding will be critical to future studies of regional development. Indeed this interest in actors, institutions and organizations in regional development needs to be properly grounded in the wider contexts of global change in economic imperatives, transnational working and cooperation and environmental concerns. To some regions, these contexts provide favourable and timely frameworks for action and initiatives. Other regions may find these contexts increasingly challenging and threatening. Taken together, understanding better these broader contexts can provide important insights into regional development potential, planning and practices and establish the agenda for research and policy. We welcome papers from all – academics, students and those working in policy and practice. The event is inclusive and offers major networking opportunities for scholars in our field.

BioEnergy Conference & Exhibition 2010

Prince George, BC, 8-10 June, 2010
The International BioEnergy Conference and Exhibition is the Canadian leader in the global dialogue on bioenergy. Our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and delegates are key influencers and opinion shapers from around the world on the new technologies and processes that will bring about a global change in the way we perceive and use energy. With the addition of the BC Bioenergy Network as Conference Co-Host, the tradition of leadership and excellence will continue in 2010. We are also happy to announce that the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will once again co-host the 2nd International Partnerships Forum and Business to Business Meetings. And 2010 will also mark the introduction of a parallel conference on Emerging Clean Technologies.

Opening Up Innovation: Strategy, Organization and Innovation

London, 16-18 June, 2010
The DRUID Summer Conference 2010 intends to explore new theoretical, empirical and methodological advances in industrial dynamics, contributing novel insights and stimulating a lively debate about how economic systems and organizations evolve. The conference will include an exciting programme of plenary debates where internationally leading scholars take stands on contemporary issues within the overall conference theme. Both senior and junior scholars are invited to participate and contribute to the conference with a paper.

CALL FOR PAPERS - Schumpeter 2010: 13th Annual Schumpeter Society Conference - Innovation, Organization, Sustainability and Crisis

Aalborg, Denmark, 21-24 June, 2010
Schumpeter 2010 serves as an opportunity for both established scholars and young researchers to present research that has a Schumpeterian perspective. The major topic of the conference is "Innovation, Organisation, Sustainability and Crises". But the conference more generally embraces micro-studies of the innovation, routine and selection as well as studies of the macro-problems of Schumpeterian growth and development as a process of "creative destruction". The broad range of issues implies that both economists, business economists, and other social scientists can contribute to the conference and that evidence may be provided by statistical and historical methods as well as other methods.

CALL FOR PAPERS - Triple Helix in the Development of Cities of Knowledge, Expanding Communities and Connecting Regions

Madrid, Spain, 20-22 Oct, 2010
Innovation is understood as a resultant of a complex and dynamic process related to interactions between University, Industry and Government, in a spiral of endless transitions. The Triple Helix approach, developed by Henry Etzkowitz and Loet Leydesdorff, is based on the perspective of University as a leader of the relationship with Industry and Government, to generate new knowledge, innovation and economic development. The main theme of our conference is “Triple Helix in the Development of Cities of Knowledge, Expanding Communities and Connecting Regions”. Submissions on Triple Helix related topics are encouraged and shall focus on the following subthemes: S1 Economic growth and social development in knowledge-based cities and connecting regions: challenge and future; S2 Triple Helix study; S3 Triple Helix in action: unlocking economic and social crises; S4 University in regional innovation and social development; S5 Government and public policy in the Triple Helix era; S6 Enterprises and industrial development in a knowledge-based city or region.

Entrepreneurship and Community: 26th Annual CCSBE Conference

Calgary, 28-30 October, 2010
The theme this year is Entrepreneurship and Community. We are seeking to explore the multifaceted impact entrepreneurs and small businesses have on their communities through their new ventures, business and community outreach. There is growing recognition by policy makers, members of society, business leaders and youth, that creative approaches are needed to address environmental, economic, and societal issues. The conference program highlights the research, educational methods, and community practices pertaining to venture sustainability and social entrepreneurship. In support of the theme we have attracted an array of plenary and guest speakers, and developed workshops which will contribute to the dialogue.

Making Innovation Work for Society: Linking, Leveraging and Learning GLOBELICS 8th Annual Conference

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1-3 November, 2010
Global Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (GLOBELICS) is an international network of scholars who apply the concept of "learning, innovation, and competence building system" (LICS) as their framework and are dedicated to the strengthening of LICS in developing countries, emerging economies and societies in transition. The research aims at locating unique systemic features as well as generic good practices to enlighten policy making relating to innovation, competence building, international competitiveness, regional development, labour market and human capital development. In an increasingly global and knowledge‐based competition, management strategies need to be based upon an understanding of these framework conditions and the public policies which seek to regulate the environment.

 

>SUBSCRIPTIONS & COMMENTS                                                 [Table of Contents]

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This newsletter is prepared by Jen Nelles.
Project manager is David A. Wolfe.

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