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
Government of Canada Boosts Genomic Research Facilities in British Columbia
Life sciences research in British Columbia will receive a substantial boost with an investment of $1.25 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada. Genome British Columbia will use the funds to acquire state-of-the-art DNA sequencing and mapping technologies and strengthen its genome sequencing and technology development capabilities.
SSHRC Launches Strategic Knowledge Clusters Program
The national consultation on future directions for SSHRC, carried out in 2003-04, highlighted the need for support mechanisms to facilitate more effective, connections—both among researchers, and between researchers and users of research, within Canada and abroad. Accordingly, in summer 2004, SSHRC launched the first strategic research clusters pilot program. This funded projects to identify key research areas, issues and topics that would benefit from improved networking and communications and to propose viable models for such networks, or “strategic research clusters.” After assessing the potential of proposed models, SSHRC made “clustering research” a formal part of its five-year strategic plan, and in winter 2005 launched a second pilot program, which gave cluster participants the opportunity to demonstrate, on a small scale, the utility and value of the strategic research cluster model. The present program, the natural next step in SSHRC’s evolving promotion and support of clusters, now offers funding to such full-scale knowledge networks.
Editor's Pick
Shared Space: The Communities Agenda
Sherri Torjman, Caledon Institute
This paper is the first in a series on the “communities’ agenda.” The paper defines this term and develops it within the context of theories on resilience, and innovation and its application as cluster-based economic development. It also builds on community experience in designing and implementing comprehensive local initiatives. The goal of the communities agenda is to promote resilience – in order to build strong and vibrant communities. The paper argues that resilience is the result of strategic actions taken in four independent, but associated, clusters which comprise the substance of the communities agenda. These relate to sustenance, adaptation, engagement and opportunity. The process of the communities agenda involves work in the shared space within and between resilience clusters. It is the space between citizens and organizations within each cluster, the space between clusters and the space between communities and government – the common ground in which private troubles meet public issues. The communities agenda is essentially about creating joined-up communities.
Innovation Policy
Time on the Job: Intensity and Ontario’s Prosperity Gap
The Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity
This ninth working paper from the Institute concludes that Ontario workers are on the job about three and half fewer weeks annually than their counterparts in US peer states and this is costing $3,700 per capita in lower prosperity. Much of the gap in hours worked – the intensity gap – is the result of preferences for more vacations in Ontario. However, a significant percentage of the gap is because many Ontarians are working part-time but would prefer to work full-time. The intensity gap is also wider among more highly educated and higher income Ontarians.
Innovation in the UK: Indicators and Insights
DTI
The first section on indicators, summarises a wide selection from many variables and sets of relationships between them, concentrating on the shares of businesses in a range of industrial sectors, UK regions and size groups, who are engaged in innovation related activities including networking with external sources. The second section, on Insights, takes a closer focus on particular aspects of the innovation system. The insights delve into trends of university-business collaboration, the role of design in innovation and creative industries, management and the demand side of innovation, and constraints on innovation.
Europe’s Northern Lights: Innovation in Finland
Euroabstracts
Finland is one of the world’s leading research and innovation powerhouses and the rest of the EU (and North America) can learn something from the Finnish model. This sparsely populated country was named the world’s most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum for three consecutive years (2003 to 2005). And this success can be directly traced to Finland’s investment in and promotion of R&D and its innovative application. Unlike the rest of Europe, the EU’s Innovation Scoreboard puts Finland – along with Sweden and Switzerland – ahead of the United States and Japan in the innovation stakes. Although the forest industry and metalworking are Finland’s main industries, it has established itself firmly as a leading electronics producer. This issue of Euroabstracts explores Finland’s plans for its presidency and takes a tour of its innovation landscape.
Cities, Clusters & Regions
Members from the Urban Competitiveness Project present this report on urban competitiveness in United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Italy, Korea and China. The report is available in Chinese and English. The UCP competitiveness index will appear at two year intervals. The book contains articles on competitiveness of European, Canadian, American, Chinese, and Korean cities – and a data appendix which ranks 110 cities ( among them Canadian metro areas) with 75 variables.
The New Rural Paradigm: Policies and Governance
OECD
What is the new rural paradigm? Its main characteristics are a focus on places rather than sectors and an emphasis on investments rather than subsidies. In an era of reduced agricultural employment, this report highlights the important and diverse challenges facing rural areas, their unused potential, and the inability of sectoral policy to address this. It also provides an overview of the main socio-economic trends affecting rural areas across the OECD. Further, it addresses the governance requirements of the new cross-sectoral approach to rural policy.
Statistics & Indicators
US Science and Engineering Indicators 2006
National Science Foundation
This report includes very detailed statistics on US science and engineering indicators – including insights into science and engineering education at the state level, industrial R&D in these areas, as well as measures of public perceptions of progress in science and engineering. Also included are comparative variables highlighting the US position relative to European, and selected Asian countries.
Events
Blue Sky II: What Indicators for Science, Technology and Innovation Policies in the 21st Century?
Ottawa, 25-27 September, 2006
This forum will examine new areas for indicator development and set a broad agenda for future work on science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators. Emphasis will be placed on indicators of outcomes and impacts in order to support monitoring, benchmarking, foresight activity, and evaluation, applied to policies and programs, and their economic and social impacts. The Forum is expected to provide ideas and guidance for indicators work in both OECD and non OECD countries, as well as in their international organizations. The Forum will include plenary sessions featuring invited guest speakers who are leading authorities in their fields. Break-out sessions will discuss papers on specific themes selected through a call for papers.
New Generation Innovation: New Approaches and Policy Designs
Atlanta, 27-29 September, 2006
Particular areas of interest include: new developments in university-industry relationships, new strategies for technology-based local and regional economic development, technology transfer to and from the public sector, trajectories for emerging technologies. All session proposals, paper proposals and abstracts should be submitted electronically not later than Friday, May 12, 2006.
The 9th Annual Conference of the Competitiveness Institute (TCI): The Role of Cluster Governance and Companies’ Involvement in Clusters Initiatives
Lyon, France, 9-13 October, 2006
The goal of this conference is to share ideas, build alliances and explore the best modes of economic development. Additionally information is offered about specific clusters, introductory courses on cluster theory and presentations given by an array of world experts (academics, businesses and institutions).The main topics include competitiveness, innovation, cluster initiatives, industrial organization and corporate change. The theme of the 9th conference will be “Governance and business involvement in cluster initiatives”.
International Second Cities Conference
Corner Brook, 12-13 October, 2006
This conference will have provincial, national and international speakers, addressing the strategies and opportunities for small and medium-sized cities. It will focus on the issues of economic development, sustainable/”green” planning and practices, infrastructure and public private partnerships, rural-urban interactions, post-secondary institutions, and immigration and population planning.
Transforming Communities Through Culture: Creative City Network Conference 2006
Toronto, 18-21 October, 2006
This conference unites academics, planners and policy makers alike in a celebration and exploration of creative cities. The program contains a variety of presentations, including papers and dramatic performances. The themes covered this year include cultural diversity and inclusion, mobilizing citizens/engaging diverse communities, and shared/public spaces.
Universities and the Powering of Knowledge: Policy, Regulation and Innovation
Ottawa, 19-20 October, 2006
Intended for participants involved in or interested in higher education, S&T and innovation policies, the conference will examine ways in which Canadian Universities have been changed, willingly or unwillingly, by federal and other policies and regulation and by efforts to make universities into an innovation engine of the knowledge-based economy. The conference will also explore likely future issues and forces which will influence Canadian universities in the next few years, set in the context of other competitor countries, economies and societies
Paris, 25-27 October, 2006
As European economies seek new solutions for continuous and competitive growth, how will technology play? What does Europe’s future in Pharma, Agriculture, Food, and the Environment look like? Europe’s great bastions of life science are opening up: be there as it happens! Thousands of European and international participants will converge at EuroBiO. It’s where research and industry meet.
Research Incentives: Maximizing Performance in the Knowledge Economy 
Ottawa, 15 November, 2006
As Canada continues to cope with the globalization of the knowledge economy, Canadian firms are facing stiff competition from an increasing number of players. They also have more opportunities for global sales, marketing and distribution; and global collaboration, partnerships and outsourcing. For Canada to remain competitive, we need a policy environment that is attractive to entrepreneurs and firms in knowledge-based sectors. What kinds of research and innovation incentives will effectively support the growth of knowledge-based firms in Canada? There are clear choices, including tax measures, the programmatic approach, grants (like the US model), technology transfer from publicly-funded institutions, improving the general business environment. What mix of incentives will the new government in Ottawa choose? How will these choices affect existing programs and policies? What role do different levels of governments have to play and how can they coordinate and focus their efforts? How are other countries using research and other incentives to grow their knowledge-based sectors? This one-day event will explore these and other issues related to research and innovation incentives. Business leaders and other experts will elaborate how Canadian policy makers can utilize incentives to support a vital and growing private sector capable of winning globally.
Hydrogen Fuel & Fuel Cells 2007: International Conference and Trade Show
Vancouver, 29 April – 2 May, 2007
Today’s energy challenges have no boundaries. Energy security, climate change, and clean air concerns challenge communities around the world. International research, business and policy collaborations are ensuring that technologies, such as hydrogen and fuel cells, will provide a sustainable future for generations. This conference and trade show will highlight these global activities and developments. Canada, and particularly Vancouver, boasts unrivalled hydrogen and fuel cell expertise. Don’t miss out on the chance to explore BC’s Hydrogen Highway, experience the latest in hydrogen and fuel cell innovations and visit the most advanced hydrogen and fuel cell research facility… the National Research Council’s cutting-edge Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.
Singapore, 16-18 May, 2007
Organized for the first time in Asia, Triple Helix VI 2007 will provide a global forum for academic scholars from different disciplinary perspectives as well as policy makers, university administrators and private sector leaders from different countries to exchange and share new learning about the diverse emerging models of the entrepreneurial university, the changing dynamics of University- Industry-Government interactions around the world and the complex roles of the university in local, regional and national economic development.
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This newsletter is prepared by Jen Nelles.
Project manager is David A. Wolfe.