The IPL newsletter: Volume 6, Issue 116

Building a Brighter Future: Building Tech Based Economies

Atlanta, 19-21 October, 2005

The urgent need to focus public investment on the more distant horizon has been the recurring and underlying theme for all of thenational discussion on unbalanced federal R&D budget priorities, the need for a national innovation strategy, and the challenge and opportunity presented by a “flat world” (to borrow a phrase from Thomas Friedman). SSTI’s 2005 conference in Atlanta provides a unique and timely forum to advance understanding of the states’ and regions’ evolving roles as leaders in fostering the continued competitiveness of the U.S. economy.

Creative Clusters

Belfast, UK, 24-26 October, 2005

This is the only annual international conference on policy for the creative industries. The growth of creative industries has been explosive – communities, cities, regions and nations are embracing this shift, leveraging their culture to build valuable assets that can transform their economies. In the UK creative industries are growing twice as fast as any other – at a rate of 8% per year. Creative Clusters are accepting presentation proposals on the following four conference themes: Investing in Creativity, Delivering Skills for Creativity, Inclusion through Creativity, and an open session.

Canadian Technology in the Space Industry

Waterloo, Ontario, 26 October, 2005

Communitech and Open Text invite you to hear from Canada’s first Astronaut: Marc Garneau – President, Canadian Space Agency

Join us to hear Marc comment on Canada’s role in the space industry….” Canada has moved from being a pioneer in areas such as mobile satellite technology, where it became a leader out of necessity, linking our remote communities, to being an internationally recognized leader in a variety of niche markets such as satellite communications, earth observation, space robotics and other fields. Canada has earned its place in space with Canadian expertise, ideas and innovation”.

Clusters 2005

Toulouse, France, 27-29 October, 2005

This conference will bring together academic and industrial decision makers and their municipal counterparts with a view to fostering debate and discussion about best practices with respect to the creation, management and development of technology clusters.

Globelics Africa 2005

Pretoria, South Africa, 31 October – 4 November, 2005

Globelics (the Global Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems) is a framework for scholars who use the concepts of learning, innovation and competence building systems as part of their analytical framework. The network is especially focused on the strengthening of research on learning and innovation systems in developing countries. In the region most in need of human and economic development, Globelics Africa 2005 aims to further examine the links between innovation, development and growth. The conference also aims to build research capacity in Africa by establishing contact between researchers from Africa and from other regions of the world, both from leading academic centres, and from other developing contexts. In addition, the conference aims to rethink and reframe the challenges of the African continent in the light of insights from innovation systems research. Scholars from innovation studies will contribute a range of approaches and perspectives to guide research, policy formulation and action to bring about societal transformation through enhanced learning, innovation and knowledge competencies.

Converging Medical Technologies

King City, Ontario, 3 November, 2005

The next wave of business opportunities for convergent medical technologies (CMT) is already taking shape. By 2010, it has been estimated that the drug–device combination product market alone will be worth $9.5B USD. In order to remain competitive in today’s global economy, companies are moving towards the creation and adaptation of new products from multiple technologies. Companies that are able to find new ways to exploit these technologies through innovative combinations and partnerships will become leaders in the healthcare marketplace. Find out why the convergence of the former “silos” such as Bio-Pharmaceuticals, ICT, Medical Devices and Nanotechnology/Advanced Materials will have important implications for your business. Learn from leaders of change in the industry on how to create and exploit these new markets.

The Future of Industrial Research in Canada

Ottawa, 8 November, 2005

Canada’s ability to compete as a nation in the global knowledge economy depends to a large extent on the vitality of its private sector. There is evidence that during the economic boom in the latter half of the 1990s, Canada experienced a drop in the number of firms conducting R&D here. Business leaders from the major high tech sectors will describe their global business strategies and how R&D fits into the overall picture. The conference includes presentations from multinational corporations active in Canada, entrepreneurs running Canadian firms large and small, investors and other experts. They will assess the overall environment for knowledge-based business in Canada and recommend approaches for successful commerce in a global context.

The 8th Annual Conference of the Competitiveness Institute

Hong Kong, China, 8-11 November, 2005

China’s emergence onto the world stage has created unprecedented opportunities and challenges to business people and policy makers from all over the world. China has become a market, an investment location, a production platform, and a competitor. But what is China’s true underlying competitiveness? In which industries will China lead and in which will it lag? What and where are China’s major clusters and how strong will they be? What is China’s influence on other economies in the region and the world? How will other economies compete with China? How can companies understand China’s different regions and benefit from China’s regional development? What programs and policies will be necessary to develop competitive clusters in the new environment? How do my nation or regions’ own clusters stack up against the world’s best? Several of the world’s leading experts on clustering and regional development will address these questions and others at this conference, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy of The University of Hong Kong.

Responsibilities of Citizenship and Public Service: Crisis or Challenge?

Toronto, 10-12 November, 2005

It is often said that the strength of a democratic society rests on the engagement of its citizens. In fact, the need for active participation in the life of the community is greater now than ever. Yet only 60 percent of Canadians voted in the last federal election, and fewer people are willing to serve in government, religious groups, universities, foundations and other public organizations. Are Canada’s positive social values sufficient to rekindle the flame of civic and public engagement, or have frustration, suspicion and cynicism become a real threat? This conference will look at this question and examine issues of trust in government, the interaction of government and civil society in promoting the public good, and accountability and ethics in government and civil society. It will also focus on the next generation: where will responsible civic leaders be found, and how can they be nurtured, encouraged and supported?

Innowest 2005

Calgary, 16-17 November, 2005

This conference provides a forum where the innovation community of Western Canada can gather annually to network, review the latest developments, solve problems and take specific industry recommendations forward for action. Among the topics to be discussed are applied research, the culture of innovation, innovation policy and innovation support.

Socio-Economic Conference

Ottawa, 16 – 17 May, 2006

The Statistics Canada Socio-economic Conference provides an annual forum for empirical research focusing on issues of concern to Canadian public policy. The conference focuses on studies discussing: emerging economic trends and their underlying causes;
and the social implications of economic trends and the ability of various groups to participate in the economy. Topics relevant to the Conference include, but are not restricted to, innovation; productivity; international trade; agriculture; environment-economy linkages; natural resources and energy; transportation; industrial development; urban and rural development; health; education; families; income and wealth and their distribution; and labour markets. The Conference focuses on studies directly relevant to Canada, while at the same time welcoming comparative international studies that shed light on Canadian public policy issues. It places a premium on empirical studies making innovative use of Canadian data.

Networks for Innovation

Athens, Greece, 11-14 June, 2006

The 2006 International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) Conference will be held in Athens this summer. Many topics will be discussed such as: academic-industry networks for innovation, learning and the entrepreneurial mindset, managing knowledge, SMEs: opportunities & threats, public policy to stimulate networks. Deadline for submitting an abstract: January 27, 2006.