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
Canadian Government Announces New Investment in Aerospace Centre of Excellence
he Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, on behalf of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, recently announced a repayable investment of $7.75 million in a research and development project that will create an aerospace centre of excellence in British Columbia. The funding is part of a $51.8 million project with ASCO Aerospace Canada of Delta, British Columbia, to foster both innovation and economic growth by helping to advance key technologies in the aerospace industry.
International Strategic Opportunities Program Will Support Ontario Researchers, Attract Top Talent
Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty launched a new program recently that will help connect researchers in Ontario with researchers around the world to strengthen the province’s economy and build prosperity for Ontario families. he five-year International Strategic Opportunities Program (ISOP) will provide successful applicants with up to $150,000 in funding over three years, for new strategic international collaborations. Funding will be used to build and manage early-stage research partnerships and coordinate the management of research grant proposals and international workshops.
Editor's Pick
Whither the Federal Urban Agenda? A New Deal in Transition
Neil Bradford, CPRN
In the forthcoming book, The New Federal Policy Agenda: On the Cutting Edge, ISRN member, Neil Bradford contributes this chapter. In it, he takes us through the Chrétien Liberals’ cautious task force and Cities Secretariat, to the unabashedly involved “New Deal for Cities” heralded by the Martin Liberals as a project equal in significance to building the railway, to the Harper Conservatives who halted direct action – preferring instead to help provinces fulfill their responsibilities to municipalities by clarifying constitutional authority and correcting the fiscal imbalance. For perspective, the chapter compares the recent Canadian developments with urban policy innovations across Europe. Bradford’s conclusion is that Canada’s urban agenda remains unsettled and contested. The book published by McGill-Queen’s University Press will be available this spring.
Innovation Policy
The Atlas of Ideas: How Asian Innovation Can Benefit Us All
Charles Leadbeater and James Wilston, Demos
The rise of China and India will remake the innovation landscape. US and European pre-eminence in science-based innovation can no longer be taken for granted. Nor can the knowledge jobs that have depended upon it. Global supply chains have transformed how we make products. Our savings depend upon seamlessly connected financial markets. Something similar is about to happen to the way we develop and apply ideas. This report is the first comprehensive account of the rising tide of Asian innovation. It pinpoints where Asian innovation is coming from and explains where it’s headed. It sets out a road map for how the UK can prosper in world of global innovation networks by taking its capacity for collaboration to new levels. This pamphlet forms part of The Atlas of Ideas, an 18-month study of science and innovation in Asia, with a focus on opportunities for collaboration with the UK and Europe. The project is funded by the UK government and a consortium of public and private sector partners.
GA Crespi, A Geuna, and B Verspagen, SPRU
This paper contributes to the current debate on university patents and knowledge transfer at two levels. First it presents the results of the comparison of European and US academic patenting systems, and shows that the common perception that Europe is lagging behind the US in terms of university patenting is far from correct. Second, it develops an assessment of the efficiency of the academic IPR ownership model. Specifically, it assesses whether university-owned patents in Europe are more often applied, and/or more economically valuable, than patents that result from university research but are not owned by universities (university-invented). The analysis starts from the observation that in the sample of six major European countries, about two-thirds of the patents that result (at least partly) from university research, are not owned by universities (but instead are owned in large measure by private firms). Given the different importance of Public Research Organisations (PRO) in the 6 EU countries considered, the same analysis was also performed for the case of PRO-owned and PRO-invented patents. A review of the theory of research joint ventures suggests that ownership is the result of a bargaining game, in which the relative bargaining positions depend, among other things, on characteristics of the inventive process. This is the starting point for applying two separate statistical treatment models. The results indicate that, after correcting for observable patent characteristics, there are no significant differences between university-owned and university-invented patents.
Defining the Cultural Economy: Comparing Industry, Firm and Occupational Approaches
Anne Markusen, Gregory Wassall, Doug DeNatale and Randy Cohen
This paper examines competing definitions of artists, cultural workers, arts and cultural industries, and the creative economy, drawn from the New England Creative Economy project, Americans for the Arts, the Project on Regional and Industrial Economics and Richard Florida’s work, and explains the conceptual and policy rationales for each as well as empirical problems in developing measures. Probes whether “industries” such as religion, sports, entertainment, fashion and others should be included. Demonstrates that definitions matter- the size of the cultural/creative economy can vary from less than 1% of the workforce to more than 48%.
Cities, Clusters & Regions
Papers from the conference held on January 18-19, 2007 in Italy are now available online. The conference covered several key thematic areas including: cluster networking, management, clusters and technologies, and cluster policies. Some papers include “Research Industry networking: the Hi-Mech cluster in Emilia Romagna”, “Clusters and priority industries – a Scottish perspective”, and “Brandenburg: national and regional synergy for cluster development”
The Road to Renaissance: A Collaborative Study for Regional Economic Growth
New Economy Strategies
Detroit Renaissance is leading a region-wide collaboration that is developing strategies to transform that region’s economy. The initiative has benchmarked six peer domestic and international regions, gathered input from over 650 local leaders from 500 different organizations, and analyzed the region’s business and workforce strengths. The document includes Detroit’s plan to expand entrepreneurial capacity, increase its creative capital, and become a global logistics hub.
Statistics & Indicators
The 23rd IRI R&D Trends Forecast, based on survey data from 99 of the 200 IRI member organizations that conduct R&D in the U.S., shows that member firms with U.S. research facilities anticipate a significant increase in overall spending and a strong focus on new business development. R&D leaders will continue to be pushed to grow the business through innovation at an increasing pace. Members expect to continue to accelerate their open innovation through collaboration on R&D with each other, universities and federal laboratories. The report also predicts increases in outsourcing R&D and licensing technology from outside businesses.
Policy Digest
Mission Possible: Successful Canadian Cities
Conference Board of Canada
Canada’s prosperity depends on the success of major cities. This volume of Mission Possible: Sustainable Prosperity for Canada takes a comprehensive look at the capacity and the potential of Canada’s major cities to act as engines of national productivity, competitiveness and success. It provides direction for strategic national urban policy and investment. It explores the key challenges to Canadian cities, the importance of cities to national prosperity, and the cornerstones of local competitiveness. It also outines lessons from the UK context ,and key enabling conditions for urban success and sustainability.
Challenges
The report identifies the key challenges that face Canadian cities such as Toronto as:
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Fiscal squeeze: Cities are trapped between the pressures of providing services off-loaded by federal and provincial governments and a lack of financial resources.
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Growth Management: Rapid population and economic growth is a sign of success, but also a source of strain.
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Infrastructure Gap: Most of the infrastructure in Canadian cities is nearing the end of its lifespan and must be replaced.
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Governance Weakness: The report argues that the present system of municipal governance fails to provide cities with the capacity to do strategic planning and regional coordination.
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Deepening Social Divides: With rapid growth come social problems associated with poverty, immigration settlement and other social tensions.
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Environmental Degredation: Rapid growth also affects the environment through sprawl, increases in smog, and water quality and availability issues.
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Global Competition: Increasingly other North American and European cities are challenging Canadian cities in global competitiveness.
Recommendations
The recommendations of the report are outlined in two areas – those that increase the cornerstones of Canadian urban competitiveness, and those recommendations on municipal and regional governance.
Increasing competitiveness:
This section addresses many of the challenges outlined above.
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Strengthen the Knowledge Economy: The report urges that all levels of government collaborate to increase high-value job creation, address productivity gaps, and enhance the quality of life factors that make Canadian cities attractive to global businesses and knowledge workers.
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Improve Urban Transport: The report calls for intensification of development rather than sprawl, improvements in links to airports and inter-city transport, and for the consideration of alternative funding sources.
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Promote Environmentally Sound Growth: The primary recommendation argues that cities should engage new actors, such as NGOs, to deal with environmental issues.
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Enhance Social Cohesion: This involves forging partnerships in areas of social housing and the creation of a labour task force to address the needs of the un- and underemployed.
Improving Governance:
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Partnerships for Regional Solutions: The report urges all levels of government to work together to find solutions to city-regional issues such as transportation, land use planning, environmental protection, and economic development, among others.
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Inclusion: The report argues for greater inclusion of local governments in areas of provincial and federal politics that affect them, including immigration, transportation and health policies.
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Enhanced Fiscal Tools: The recommendations in this section range from a call for a wider variety of revenue raising tools (including taxes), and addressing the fiscal imbalance created by off-loading. Significantly, the report also calls on cities to use the fiscal resources they have more effectively.
Events
Research Incentives: Maximizing Performance in the Knowledge Economy
Ottawa, 7 March, 2007
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.
Commercializing Photonics Technology (OPTICS Annual Members Meeting)
Hamilton, 26 March, 2007
The Government of Ontario recently announced that it will spend $300M for commercializing university science. Your local photonics cluster, OPTIC, is getting a share of this. This year’s AMM is your opportunity to let us know how you?d like to see OPTIC spend its new resources. Representatives from OPC, CPFC, INO and OCE will also be there to talk about how they can help you commercialize new science and technology.
Lisbon, Portugal, 2-5 April, 2007
This event by the Regional Studies Association will take place in Lisbon. Many topics will be discussed such as: developments in regional economics and spatial analysis; tourism, regional development and sustainability; knowledge, competition and cohesion; creativity, innovation and cultural economy, and global challenges for manufacturing and services.
Toronto, 24-27 April, 2007
BioFinance 2007 is a gathering of some of the most innovative minds in the lifescience industries featuring presentations by senior management from more than 100 Canadian, US and European lifescience companies. The range of participating firms includes large publicly traded and major private companies as well as early-stage opportunities. The companies will highlight their development plans for new medicines and technologies in the fields of cancer, cardiology, medical devices, neuroscience, immunology, genomics, diagnostics and new research tools. BioFinance 2007 will feature a CEO Forum to address specific financing and management issues relevant to Chief Executive Officers in life science companies. It will also have specialty panels on topics including access to public markets in the US and Europe, investing in medical technologies, pharma-biopharma deals and early stage venture financing from private and public sources
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.
Toronto, 1 May, 2007
Connect with people and speakers and discover what is next in innovation in Ontario. The program includes a keynote address from Ray Kurzweil, one of the worlds most respected thinkers and entrepreneurs. Sessions cover the issue of Technology Revolution, The Innovation Highway, Creating Value – Driving Success, Ideas to Income, Innovation and Technology Convergence, and the IP Debate.
Pacific Regional Science Conference Organization (PRSCO) 2007 
Vancouver, 6-9 May, 2007
The central theme of the conference is “Creative City Regions: Examining Their Role in the Pacific Rim”. Cities have always been the crucible of culture and civilization, and the hubs of wealth creation, but today they face enormous challenges. Compounded by infrastructural, economic and social problems, dramatic changes are taking place. If cities are to flourish, there has to be a paradigm shift in the way they are managed, to draw fully on the talents and creativity of their own residents – businesses, city authorities and the citizens themselves. The host city, Vancouver, is a multicultural and diverse urban area with a high quality of life. It is poised to stage the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Join us at PRSCO 2007 when we shall examine the role of the `new economy’ and `cultural industries’ in Pacific Rim city regions. Paper submission deadline has been extended to February 28th, 2007.
Miami Beach, Florida, 13-17 May, 2007
IAMOT 2007 will provide an international technical forum for experts from industry and academia to exchange ideas and present results of ongoing research in the following tracks: Knowledge Management, Green Technologies, Social impact of technology development . MOT Education and Research / Corporate Universities . New Product/Service Development . National and Regional Systems of Innovation . Small and Medium Enterprises . Emerging Technologies . Technology Transfer, Marketing and Commercialization . Technology Foresight and Forecasting . Information and Communication Technology Management . The Integration of Technology and Business Strategies . R&D Management . Project and Program Management . Industrial and Manufacturing System Technologies / Supply Chain Management . New Forms of Organizations . Management of Technology in Developing Countries . Technological Alliances, Mergers and Acquisitions . Theory of Technology . Technology Incubation . Management of Technology for the Service Economy . Innovation/technological development and productivity
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.
Toronto, 28 May – 1 June, 2007
Toronto’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry cluster will come together to celebrate being the largest high-tech hub in Canada and the third largest in North America. During this event a series of activities will be undertaken to showcase the depth and breath of Toronto’s high technology sector. These will include trade associations’ events such as seminars and business networking functions, job fairs, collaboration demonstrations, an ICT business open door program, school projects, educational seminars, special exhibits showcasing innovation & excellence and other ICT sector- related activities. An organizing committee formed by ICT industry stakeholders representing a cross-section of this industry, in both the private and public sectors, has been formed to implement this initiative
Photonics North 2007 – Closing the Gap Between Theory, Development and Application
Ottawa, 4-7 June, 2007
Conference topics include, but are not limited to: biophotonics, fibre lasers and amps, guided wave devices, industrial applications, new optical materials and nanophotonics, optical sensors and detectors, optics and photonics in defence and security, photonics design and simulations, photonics devices and networks, and ultrashort pulse lasers. The call for paper submissions has been extended to February 26, 2007.
3rd International Conference on E-Government
Montreal, 27 – 28 September, 2007
Alongside the rise in e-Government provision comes a greater interest in the study of e-Government, from both a practical and a theoretical point of view. As controversy rages around issues such as e-Voting and identity cards, so academics and practitioners pick up the gauntlet of supporting or attacking these issues. Service providers too have their opinions to share. Much time and money is being spent in considering the best way forward and in examining what has been done well and what lessons can be learnt when things go wrong. This conference aims to bring evidence of the research being undertaken across the globe to the attention of co-workers and the wider community for the purposes of helping practitioners find ways to put research into practice, and for researchers to gain an understanding of additional real-world problems. The advisory group for ICEG 2007 therefore invites submissions of papers on both theory and practice in respect of the conference themes outlined below, from academics, government departments and practitioners in the public and private sector.
Atlanta Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2007
Atlanta, October 19-20, 2007
The landscape of global innovation is shifting, with new problems and actors emerging on the scene. National governments are looking for new strategies, and they are turning to the science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy research community for models and research results to tell them what works and what doesn’t, under what circumstances. The Atlanta Conference provides an opportunity for the global STI policy research and user communities to test models of innovation, explore emerging STI policy issues, and share research results.
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This newsletter is prepared by Jen Nelles.
Project manager is David A. Wolfe.