The IPL newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 34

Study by UCLA Internet Project shows e-mail transformed personal communication after September 11 attacks

A new way of establishing emotional connections through the Internet emerged out of the events of Sept. 11 that allowed more than 100 million Americans to reach out to others as never possible before, according to a UCLA study on the impact of the terrorist attacks on media use and online technology. “Sept. 11 was the first major national crisis since the beginning of the Internet and e-mail,” said Jeffrey Cole, director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy and founder of the UCLA Internet Project. “In the aftermath of the attacks, e-mail had a profound influence on how Americans communicate.”

Highly skilled worker migration can boost economic growth, says OECD study

More and more highly skilled workers are moving abroad for jobs, encouraging innovation to circulate and helping to boost economic growth around the globe, according to a new study by the OECD, International Mobility of the Highly Skilled. But greater co-operation between sending and receiving countries is needed to ensure a fair distribution of benefits, it suggests.

Employment, Skills, and the Knowledge Economy in Atlantic Canada

This report is the outcome of a collaborative research project between the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development. It examines some of the strategic issues and challenges related to developing skills in the context of a more knowledge-based economy in the four Atlantic provinces. Following an analysis of fifteen economic regions, the report finds evidence of a two-tiered economy: high-knowledge-intensive industrial activities concentrated in urban areas, and rural and semi-rural areas that continue to be centered on the development of natural resources. Economic adaptation, the authors conclude, rests largely on the capacity of the dynamic urban areas to absorb and implement the principles of the new economy while   “peripheral” areas must be able to rely on policies and programs that are better-adapted to the realities of the more traditional sectors.

Changes in the Diversification of Canadian Manufacturing Firms (1973-1997): A Move to Specialization

J. Baldwin & al. Statistics Canada

This paper studies changes in the diversification of firms and plants since the early 1970s in the Canadian manufacturing sector. The authors show that there has been a general increase in specialization of both firms and plants, with firms continuously reducing the span of industries in which they operate. Commodity specialization has also occurred at the plant level.  However, in contrast to industry specialization, the pace of commodity specialization emerged late in the period, around the time of implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States. Plant specialization increased most in those plants that moved most strongly into export markets.

A Guide to Developing Technology Roadmaps Technology Planning for Business Competitiveness

Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Government of Australia

Intended for corporate executives, business and research managers and policy and industry practitioners, this guide outlines a methodology for developing technology roadmaps that draws on international best practice and Australia’s experience.  Included are practical tips, success factors for developing high quality roadmaps, and pitfalls to avoid, as well as examples of roadmaps and useful sources of information.  Technology road mapping, according to the guide, is a planning process -led by industry – which can assist firms to identify their future product, service and technology needs and to evaluate and select the technology alternatives to meet them.

AAAS Science and Technology Policy Yearbook 2002

Here is a review of the highlights and the lowlights of US science and related political events. Included in Part 1 is a reproduction of a lecture by Neal Lane, former presidential science advisor, entitled “Talking Turkey: Science, the Economy, and the Community,” which explores the scientific community’s responsibility for a special brand of leadership in the United States. This is followed in Part 2 by four chapters that examine the role of S&T policy in the new Bush White House and, in Part 3, by an examination of the budget and policy context for S&T in FY 2002.  In Part 4, five contributors provide divergent views of the impacts that congressional earmarking has had on federal agencies, academia, established scientific norms, and the peer review system. And finally in the last section, the new challenges facing defense R&D are examined including capricious budgets, the novelty of information and asymmetric warfare, and security concerns at national labs.

Sixth International Research Conference on Quality, Innovation and Knowledge Management

Kuala Lumpur, 17-20 February 2002

The theme of this conference is ‘Convergence in the Digital Economy’, a rubric that seeks to encompass the many new ideas relating to quality, innovation and knowledge management and the associated challenges in the rapidly developing digital economy of the 21st century. Papers will be presented in such areas as ‘Quality Management and Innovation’, ‘Quality and Innovation in Services’, ‘Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning’ and, ‘Human Capital, Intellectual Capital and Innovation’.

Competing in the Video Game Sector – Collaborating To Win

Toronto, 21 February, 2002

As part of the CITO/IMAT Digital Media Speaker Series, this session will explore the challenges faced by companies operating in the gaming sector and the industry/academic partnerships forged to meet those challenges.  Partnering with academic researchers has become a low risk, cost effective way to find a competitive advantage in a US$6 billion industry that continues to grow strongly.  Presenters include Dr. John Buchanan, University Liaison Officer, Electronic Arts andNorm Silins, General Manager, Convergent Applications, Bell Canada

Regional Governance in an Age of Globalization

Stuttgart, 8-9 March, 2002

This conference aims to examine and advance theories and practices in understanding regional governance in an age of globalization. The focus will be on globalization and its impact on subnational governments around the world with a particular interest in the intersection of the international with the local and regional and how this phenomenon is affecting the development of international and transnational relations on the one hand, and governance internationally, nationally, and subnationally on the other. The influence of unprecedented technological change on globalization and governance is also of interest to the conference organizers.

Knowledge Management: Turning Knowledge Into Profit 

Toronto, 19 March, 2002

Moderated by Bruce Sellery, Host of Report on Business Television’s “On the Money”, this forum will examine the key issues that determine knowledge management success for enterprises of all sizes. A panel of experts will discuss the many facets of knowledge management and the key enabling technologies that maximize the ROI associated with its implementation. Panel members include Heidi Amponsem, Principal Consultant, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Doug McCuaig, VP, eBusiness Services, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Lisa Taylor, eBusiness Team Lead, Hewlett-Packard

Rethinking Science Policy: Analytical Frameworks for Evidence-based Policy

Brighton, 21-23 March, 2002

This conference focuses on new models for science policy, exploring the European context where traditional foundations for science policy have been increasingly questioned during the last few decades of science policy research as policymakers search for new methods of harnessing scientific investigation. Twenty-six new papers, including eight invited papers by leading authorities in the field of science policy, will be presented.

The Regional Innovation Forum Roundtable VII

Ottawa 8-9 April, 2002

This year’s Roundtable will focus on building emerging technology clusters for economic growth with the understanding that new technology waves will continue to drive regional economics. For this premier Ottawa event, internationally recognized speakers and experts on key emerging technologies will present perspectives for cluster growth. The Regional Innovation Forum for Ottawa is a joint initiative of the National Research Council, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation and the Ottawa Life Sciences Council.

2002 Knowledge Management Conference: Driving Business Results through Knowledge Management 

Toronto, 16-17 April, 2002

The Conference Board of Canada’s 2002 Knowledge Management Conference examines design, application and implementation with practical solutions, tools and techniques related knowledge management. Questions to be addressed will be how to organize for results, how to put business processes, technology and people together and how to make knowledge management relevant to, and a driver of, business results.

16th International Conference on Business Incubation: Explore Your World, Enrich Your Community

Toronto, 28 April – 1 May, 2002

Sponsored by the National Business Incubation Association and the Toronto Business Development Centre this international conference brings together industry leaders from around the world for four days of knowledge sharing and networking.  Along with pre-conference workshops, the conference includes three days of educational sessions and roundtable discussions covering incubation’s latest topics.

Innovation in an Evolving Economy

Ottawa, 6-7 May, 2002

Statistics Canada’s Economic Conference 2002 will be focusing on the investments required to meet the challenges of rapidly changing economic and social realities. The event will include several plenary sessions featuring invited guest speakers who are leading authorities in their fields. It will also include presentations in which participants will discuss research providing new perspectives on topics related to one of the following sub-themes: ‘Investing in a competitive Canada’, ‘Investing in the global context’, ‘Investing in infrastructure’ and, ‘Investing in an innovative work force’.

2002 International Symposium on Technology and Society: Social Implications of Information and Communication Technology

Raleigh, (North Carolina), 6-8 June, 2002

In an effort to establish a critical dialogue on the social and ethical dimensions of ICT, ISTAS’02 will bring together ICT professionals, computer science and engineering educators, scholars in the humanities and social sciences, students and policymakers to discuss several important and topical themes. These include electronic publishing, ICT and democratic processes, intellectual property rights in the digital era, social implications of wireless technology and gender issues in ICT. Among the plenary session speakers will be Dr. Lucy Suchman from the Department of Sociology, Lancaster University.

Industrial Dynamics of the New and Old Economy – who is embracing whom?

Copenhagen, 6-8 June, 2002

DRUID’s Summer Conference for 2002 aims to contribute to a more satisfactory understanding of the economic and organizational mechanisms underlying the current ICT-based technological and entrepreneurial growth dynamics and to examine the interface and spillovers between the new and old sectors of the economy.  Plenary sessions will be organized along four themes: Technical Change, Corporate Dynamics & Innovation, Production and Use of Knowledge in the Old & New Economy, New Competition Policies and Intellectual Property Rights, and Organisation of Internet Industry Dynamics.  Both senior and junior scholars are invited to participate and contribute with a paper to one of the parallel sessions, which will be part of the conference.  Deadline for receipt of abstracts: end of February.

Beyond The Boundaries: Challenges Of Leadership, Innovation, Integration, And Technology

Rome, 25-29 June, 2002

Co-hosted by St. John’s University and the Russian Academy of Sciences, this conference seeks to focus on unique perspectives on the critical issues related to multi-cultural, economic, technological, social, legal, and regulatory challenges public and private industries and organizations encounter. The Conference will include contributed paper sessions, invited and plenary presentations, case studies, round tables, panels, workshops and forums. Deadline for receipt of abstracts or papers: March 15, 2002.