Issue #207
February 15, 2010
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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]
Berlin, Ottawa and Tucson Team Up in a Photonics Partnership
Attracted by a $1 trillion cleantech opportunity and the world’s largest category for venture capital investment, economic development executives from Berlin, Ottawa and Tucson are recently gathered in San Francisco at the Photonics West trade show. Their objective is to focus collective photonics research and commercialization resources at opportunities in cleantech, including solar photovoltaics and LED lighting applications. By participating in the Global Advantage program, partner cities establish connections among their governments, research universities, research parks, business incubators, and technology companies.
Government of Canada Invests in New Strategic Research Network
The Minister of Industry, recently announced funding for several groundbreaking, large-scale, multidisciplinary research projects. These projects will play an important role in connecting academic researchers to Canadian organizations in an effort to propel new knowledge generation and technology applications for the benefit of Canadians right now. The grants, totalling $56 million over five years, from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will support 11 research networks focused on areas of social and economic importance. The networks will create new market opportunities for various sectors, including manufacturing and forestry.
Government of Canada Funds 20 Research Partnerships
The Minister of State (Science and Technology), recently announced funding of up to $1 million each over six years for 20 large-scale research projects that will bring communities and universities together to build knowledge on areas affecting Canadians. The Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) grants, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), will support research partnerships between universities and community organizations, including a CURA project at the University of Waterloo to research changes in how people with dementia are supported and cared for. In addition to Waterloo’s dementia care project, the Minister also announced funding for 19 other research projects located throughout the country. The projects focus on a wide range of issues of importance to Canadians, such as community food security, employment innovations, and the impact of co-operatives.
UK Announces Life Sciences Super Cluster
The UK government recently announced plans for a new Life Sciences Super Cluster, supported by £1 million of public investment. Bringing together industry, academia and the NHS, it will help deliver the next generation of medicines and technologies needed to support people suffering from chronic diseases. At its heart will be the creation of Therapeutic Capability Clusters. These will be one-stop-shops for the UK’s top research in specific fields. They will bring together academic and NHS centres of excellence, which will work with industry to harness the UK’s expert capabilities and work on early stage clinical development and experimental medicine.
Bruce Katz Speaks on Transforming Energy and Infrastructure Investment
Bruce Katz, VP and Director of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program spoke recently at the "Next American Economy" Conference in Palo Alto California about the importance of transforming energy and infrastructure investment. Katz proposes that the shape of the next American economy must be export-oriented, low carbon and innovation fuelled. It will also be led by metropolitan areas. Success will depend on linking game-changing state and federal policy to market the energy and creativity found in metro regions.
In fiscal year 2008, 595 new US companies were formed as a result of university research. In fact, many of the world’s most interesting and important inventions such as Google, Warfarin (coumadin) and FluMist, got their start in a university laboratory. These inventions resulted in products we buy or medications we take because they were patented by the university and then licensed to companies that then brought them to market.
EDITOR'S PICK [Table of Contents]
Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network
The economic recession has stalled Silicon Valley’s vibrant innovation economy and left its global competitive standing at risk as never before. The comprehensive yearly study on the economic strength and overall health of Silicon Valley reveals that rapid economic growth in other countries, coupled with California’s legislative gridlock, is draining the lifeblood of funding and foreign talent from Silicon Valley, leaving recovery in a “new phase of uncertainty.” This report presents the latest data and trends in economic development, workforce, housing, education, public health, land use, environment, governance, arts and culture and other sectors throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and portions of Alameda and Santa Cruz Counties.
INNOVATION & RELATED POLICY [Table of Contents]
Mid-Term Evaluation of Nordic Innovation Policy 2005-2010
Nordisk Innovations Center
In 2005, the Nordic Council of Ministers formulated a common Nordic innovation policy, with the goal of strengthening innovation within each of the Nordic countries as well as for the region as a whole, including the Baltic countries and neighbouring regions. This report deals with the following issues: How established is the Nordic element in national/Nordic innovation policies? How well have the Nordic countries dealt with the global financial crisis according to global innovation rankings made before and after the outbreak?
Assessing Europe's University-Based Research
Expert Group on Assessment of University-Based Research, European Commission
In 2008, the European Commission, DG Research set up this expert group to identify the framework for a new and more coherent methodology to assess the research produced by European universities. There is no single, correct methodology. Any assessment of the quality of university-based research will have to take into consideration the multi-functional and diverse nature of universities, the diverse nature of disciplines, the level at which universities are assessed (i.e., identify the level at which knowledge is created and shared), the users’ needs and assume an inclusive notion of research ranging from blue sky/curiosity-driven to user-led/practice-based research and interdisciplinary research. The key issue here is to design evaluations that are fit for purpose. While commercial rankings have positive and negative impacts onto the institutions, the students and other users, they tend to focus on only the world’s top 100 out of the estimated 17,000 higher education institutions. Hence, there is a need to design flexible and multidimensional methodologies that will adapt to the diverse and complex nature of research, disciplines and of our universities.
The Conference Board of Canada
Productivity growth is a key determinant of our economic well- being and depends critically on investment in human and physical capital.This report focuses on human capital, how it has interacted with physical capital in Canada, and how this interaction has affected Canada’s productivity growth record. International empirical evidence confirms economic theory, which suggests that as the quality of the labour force improves, the economy should become more capital intensive. But since the early 1980s, both productivity growth and capital intensity in Canada have slowed relative to the 1960s and 1970s, despite a steady improvement in the country’s labour force quality. The paper concludes that the quality of the labour force has not been a constraint on capital investment in Canada.
Is the Crisis Striking Innovation? Evidence from Europe
Andrea Filippetti and Daniele Archibugi
This article explores the impact of the current economic downturn on investment in innovation. First, what is the impact of the recession on firms’ innovation activities? And second, what will be the outcomes on the innovation capabilities across the European countries? Using structural data from the European Innovation Scoreboard and results from the Innobarometer Survey, the authors show that the recession is having a huge impact on innovation investments across European countries. They also point out that the effects of the economic downturn are not the same across Europe, and that this depends on specific features of the national innovation structure and national policies. The paper concludes with a discussion of policy considerations.
Capturing Research Impacts: A Review of International Practice
RAND Corporation
In February 2009, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) commissioned RAND Europe to review approaches to evaluating the impact of research as part of their wider work programme to develop new arrangements for the assessment and funding of research — referred to as the Research Excellence Framework (REF). The objectives were 1) to review international practice in assessing research impact and 2) to identify relevant challenges, lessons and observations from international practice that help HEFCE develop a framework for assessing research impact. The report presents the findings of our review, based on four case study examples of impact evaluation approaches: the Australian RQF, the UK RAISS method, the US PART framework and the Dutch ERiC framework.
CITIES, CLUSTERS & REGIONS [Table of Contents]
Look Before You Leap: Oil and Gas, the Western Canadian Economy and National Prosperity
Roger Gibbins and Robert Roach, Canada West Foundation
This new discussion paper outlines the importance of the oil and gas industry to the Canadian economy and asks readers to take this into account when debating how to address greenhouse emissions in Canada. The idea that economic pain in one region will not spill over into the rest of the country is naive. If the oil and gas industry is hamstrung by poorly designed climate policy, the whole country will feel the negative economic effects.
Regional Competitiveness Agendas
Forfas
Recent global and national developments mean that, more than ever, each region of the country has a crucial role to play in returning Ireland’s economy to enterprise driven growth. The delivery of dynamic, competitive regions that provide quality and sustainable employment opportunities will involve not only the enterprise development agencies, but also a wide range of stakeholders including local authorities, higher education institutes and the business community at regional, local and national levels. In this suite of 8 Regional Competitiveness Agendas (RCAs) and an Overview, Forfás assesses how each region can strengthen its competitive environment in support of enterprise. The RCAs propose specific actions to address barriers to development and focus efforts on realising the potential of each region.
Budget 2011: Joined-Up Government
Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman, The New Republic
In addition to several federal agency budgets of FY program proposals that are aimed at supporting clusters the current budget document also contains numerous examples of collaborative program delivery, or "joined-up" government. This article notes that federal agencies have not been immune to the inertia of program rigidity, siloed policy making, or fragmented program delivery. However, this budget is notable in the number of initiatives that propose collaboration, partnership, or the alignement of efforts across different departments and agencies as a means for maximizing impact. Some of the areas in which these patterns are noted include: economic development, workforce training, and community planning.
STATISTICS & INDICATORS [Table of Contents]
NSF Estimates Indicate that US R&D Spending Continued to Grow in 2008
NSF
Preliminary estimates by the National Science Foundation (NSF) indicate that U.S. expenditures to perform research and development (R&D) totaled $397.6 billion in 2008, up from $372.5 billion in 2007. This increase in overall national R&D performance represented growth in 2008 of 6.7% over the 2007 level. It also substantially exceeded the pace of growth in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) over the same year, which was 3.3%.
POLICY DIGEST [Table of Contents]
Budget 2011: Industry Clusters as a Paradigm for Job Growth
Sarah Rahman and Mark Muro, The New Republic
From its opening pages, the Obama administration’s FY2011 budget request adopts a stance that pervades this blog. The document highlights the need to recognize that competitive, high-performing regional economies are essential to a strong national economy. In line with this recognition, the new budget unveils not one, but several proposals to support regional industry or innovation “clusters” through multiple federal departments. This article outlines the initiatives that support cluster-based development in this most recent budget.
At least four agencies have proposed this year to engage in activities that embrace the concept of clusters in their economic development efforts:
These initiatives demonstrate a broader understanding than in previous budgets that the American economy is regional and that regional industrial networks are one defining aspect of its organization.
EVENTS [Table of Contents]
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.
ORION Summit 2010: From Here to the Future - At an Innovation Crossroads 
Toronto, 12-13 April, 2010
ORION Summit 2010 will be a celebration of achievements, bringing together leading researchers, scientists, educators and innovators to map out what researchers and educators will be able to do in the future, with cutting-edge advanced and collaborative technologies and new and exciting applications and services that will help place Ontario at the global vanguard of the innovation and knowledge-based economy. Attend the Summit for informative and inspiring keynote speakers and breakout sessions on topics ranging from the latest collaborative tools for research and education, health research, digital media, college/industry collaboration, and more.
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).
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.
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.
Experience the Creative Economy
Toronto, 22-24 June, 2010
This is a unique conference which allows scholars new in their careers to experience notions of the creative economy in a small and focused setting. This conference will bring together up to 25 individuals with similar research interests to share their work, receive feedback, foster the development of effective research methods and to establish an ongoing framework of collaborative learning and mutual exchange for years to come.
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.
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