News from the IPL
INTRODUCTION
This newsletter is published by The Innovation Policy Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, 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
Federal and Provincial governments making wireless connections in Alberta
The Federal government together with the government of Alberta has announced a joint contribution of $1.9 million towards the establishment of the Network for Emerging Wireless Technology (NEWT). NEWT is a state-of-the-art wireless test centre that will be available to entrepreneurs across Western Canada and beyond to develop novel wireless applications and devices. Equal opportunity for access, a vendor-neutral test environment, and technical assistance will give users a distinct market advantage by significantly shortening the time required to develop and test new devices, applications and services. NEWT investments total $3.5 million: $1.5 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada, $400,000 from Alberta Innovation and Science, and the remaining $1.6 million to be generated from industry user fees and memberships.
Lights go out at Ottawa-based photonics firm
Trillium Photonics has closed its doors two years after being spun out from the National Research Council in September 2000. The maker of amplifier components for fibre-optic networks attracted US$6.8 million for startup capital, followed in January 2002 by a US$29 million round of financing that was supposed to have secured its cash position until 2004. “Our market is telecommunications and photonics, and that market has become very difficult. We expect this to continue through 2003 and beyond,” said Trillium CEO Brian Jervis. With an undisclosed amount of venture capital left in the bank, Trillium will return the money to its investors, who include Mohr Davidow Ventures, JK&B Capital, Mitsubishi International Corp. and Spectrum Equity Investors. [Courtesy Silicon Valley North and Ottawa Business Journal]
Editor's Pick
Continued structural reforms, particularly in regional development policy, will be crucial for sustainable economic growth in Canada, according to this latest report from the OECD. It says that although Canada is well placed to benefit from the economic recovery expected in the second half of 2002, the potential of local economies to create new growth opportunities over the longer term has not yet been sufficiently realised, especially in terms of capitalising on regional comparative advantages. According to the study, weak local governance is hindering the emergence of bottom-up projects in many Canadian regions. The spread of research and development results to small businesses in the regions is often slow and dialogue between higher education institutions and firms poor. This 262 page report is available as a PDF file.
Innovation Policy
Finland’s Technology strategy – a review of choices
Tekes
Here is the technology strategy for Tekes, Finland’s National Technology Agency and main public investor in applied and industrial research and development. The strategy provides solutions to the challenges issued by Finnish industrial development, outlining a basis for the technology investments of coming years. Developed on a three-dimensional approach – studying of industrial clusters, certain cross-technological technologies and important ways of working – it aims to offer a solid basis and starting point to companies, research institutes and decision-makers in the evaluation of future development.
C. Langford and J.Wood University of Calgary
As part of the Innovation Systems Research Network national project, this paper examines how and why there are regional concentrations in three inherently global sectors: wireless telecommunications and the global positioning systems (GPS) clusters in Calgary, AB, and the agricultural biotechnology cluster in Saskatoon, SK. All three case studies reveal that an early presence of sophisticated local demand is a common dominant factor in regional location. Furthermore, each case showed the important role of a thick labour market in attracting both firms and highly qualified personnel. Government and academic research institutions also figure in the evolution of the industrial poles. Finally, the cases exhibit definite path dependence that underlines the self-organizing evolution of triple helix relationships. None of these clusters in advanced scientific areas can, however, be said to approach self-sufficiency; all import S&T, add value, and export more integrated products for the downstream user.
A. Bernard et al. NBER posting
This paper examines the relationship between import competition from low wage countries and the reallocation of US manufacturing from 1977 to 1997. With both employment and output growth slower for plants that face higher levels of low wage import competition in their industry, US manufacturing has reallocated over time towards industries that are more capital and skill intensive. Differential growth is driven by a combination of increased plant failure rates and slower growth of surviving plants. Within industries, low wage import competition has the strongest effects on the least capital and skill intensive plants. And surviving plants that switch industries move into more capital and skill intensive sectors when they face low wage competition.
Benchmarking of national RTD policies: Final reports
Here are the final reports of five expert groups commissioned by the European Commission on benchmarking national research and technology development (RTD) policies among member states. The reports are a part of a project to develop a European Research Area and include:Human resources in RTD (including attractiveness of S&T professions); Public and private investments in R&D; Benchmarking the Promotion of RTD culture and Public Understanding of Science; and Benchmarking S&T Productivity.
Regional Innovation & Clusters
Deconstructing Clusters: Chaotic Concept or Policy Panacea?
R. Martin and P. Sunley, University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh
This paper aims to deconstruct the cluster concept in order to reveal and highlight some conceptual problems with the concept. The paper’s concerns relate to the definition of the cluster concept, its theorisation, its empirics, the claims made for its benefits and advantages, and its use in policy-making. Whilst the authors do not wish to debunk the cluster idea outright, they do argue for a much more cautious and circumspect use of the notion, especially within a policy context.
Knowledge & Universities
Universities and industrial transformation: An interpretative and selective literature study with special emphasis on Sweden
S. Jacobsson, CENTRIM
The purpose of this paper is to make a selective and interpretative review of the literature on university-industry relations, with the aim of identifying questions for further research. With an analytical framework for approaching university-industry relations, the author proceeds to conceptualize the role of universities in the innovation and diffusion process as one of the providers of a range of functions in an innovation system. This is followed by with an elaboration of three themes with a strong bearing on science and educational policy: (1) how to measure the size and performance of academic research, (2) how to assess the value of academic R&D, and (3) how to improve the value of the academic sector where we deal with the issue of ‘responsiveness’.
Statistics
State Technology and Science Index: Comparing and Contrasting California
R. DeVol et al,. Milken Institute
This most recent State Technology and Science Index places California third slightly behind Colorado, but far from first place Massachusetts. The index encapsulates a comprehensive inventory of technology and science assets and is based on five major, equally weighted composites – Research & Development Inputs, Risk Capital and Entrepreneurial Infrastructure, Human Capital Investment, Technology and Science Workforce, and Technology Concentration and Dynamism.
Events
8th Annual Canadian-American Business Achievement Award and International Business Partnership Forum 
Toronto, 16 October, 2002
This awards event organized by The Canadian American Business recognizes successful Canadian and American business partnerships where the innovative and successful alliances have demonstrated strong business growth, remarkable innovations and provided both partners with global advantages. Distinguished presenters include the Honourable Allan Rock, Minister, Industry Canada and his Excellency, Paul Cellucci, U. S. Ambassador to Canada. The Forum will culminate with a gala luncheon at which the Canadian American Business Achievement Award for 2002 will be presented.
International Conference on Quality and Innovation
Waterloo, 22-23 October, 2002
Sponsored in part by the University of Waterloo and the American the Society for Quality, this conference brings together academic researchers, government and business leaders, and professionals to discuss and promote ideas in the areas of quality and innovation. Topics include innovation management, leadership for innovation, quality management and continuous improvement, quality culture and business ethics, creativity and e-business.
CITO’s Knowledge Network Conference – Where People in Technology Converge
Ottawa, 24 October, 2002
This conference aims to further CITO’s mandate of facilitating partnerships and knowledge exchange between industry and academic members. The conference is a forum for over 200 of Ontario’s leading researchers and innovators to identify significant emerging technologies and explore the issues, opportunities and challenges they present to both the research and business communities. Among the highlights of this year’s conference: interactive research strategy sessions, research presentations by current and upcoming innovators in communications, information technology and digital media and commercialization workshops. Dinner keynote speaker will be Bill Lishman.
BioNorth 2002 9th Annual Ottawa Life Sciences International Conference and Exhibition
Ottawa 4-6 November, 2002
BioNorth 2002 is Canada’s premier biotechnology and life sciences conference. This year, the focus is on new developments such as genomics, proteomics, bioproducts and convergent technologies and their impact on the global business of discovery, development and commercialization. Special Programs Canada’s Top 10 Investment Prospects Canada-U.K. Business Forum National Merit and OLSC Achievement Awards Dinner Student Poster Awards.
Symposium 2002– Canada: A Partner In Global Science And Technology
Ottawa, 5 November, 2002
Symposium 2002 will focus on Canada’s participation and leadership in international science and technology projects. Speakers in discussing a broad spectrum of Canadian international activities from space and ocean sciences, to subatomic and transportation research, will highlight the importance and benefits of Canadian participation in international science and technology development projects.
Knowledge And Economic And Social Change: New Challenges To Innovation Studies
Manchester, 7-9 April, 2003
The purpose of this conference is to bring together the innovation studies community to focus on the current developments in the global economy, in technologies, and in political systems that are continuing to pose new challenges to analysis. Topics include: the increasing importance of the role of knowledge in the operation of the global economy; and the qualitative change in the conditions under which knowledge is exploited to create wealth, to improve the quality of life, and to move towards a sustainable ecosystem, economy and society. The conference is organized by Advances in the Economic and Social Analysis of Technology and the Institute of Innovation Research.
Subscriptions & Comments
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think will find it of value. We look forward to collaborating with you on this initiative. If you would like to comment on, or contribute to, the content, subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact us at ipl.munkschool@utoronto.ca.
This newsletter is prepared by Jen Nelles.
Project manager is David A. Wolfe.