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
McGuinty Government Supports Automotive Innovation
The McGuinty government is attracting high-value jobs and new investment by supporting Hamilton researchers who are exploring leading-edge auto manufacturing technology. The government is providing over $15 million to support the Hamilton Initiative for Automotive Manufacturing Innovation, led by David Wilkinson at McMaster University. The investment will help develop new technologies for producing lighter-weight, more cost-competitive cars. This will help strengthen Ontario’s future as a leading auto and auto parts manufacturer, and create highly skilled jobs. The funding will leverage matching investments from 26 partners in industry and other fields.
BioEnterprise and SOBIN: Collaborating to Commercialize Bioproducts in Southwestern Ontario
BioEnterprise Corporation, a commercialization agent and technology accelerator has entered into a collaboration agreement with Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network (SOBIN), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing new bioproducts and finding new uses for biobased feedstock in manufacturing primarily in the automotive, chemical and energy industries.
Editor's Pick
The 2007 State New Economy Index
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
This report employs 26 indicators to assess the extent to which the 50 state economies are structured according to the tenets of the New Economy. The changing economic landscape requires state economies to be innovative, globally-linked, entrepreneurial and dynamic, with an educated workforce and all sectors embracing the use of information technology. The report, which updates and expands on the 2002 State New Economy Index, ranks the states accordingly. The five states ranking the highest in 2007 are, in order of rank, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California. With these measures as a frame of reference, the report then outlines the next generation of innovative state-level public policies needed to meet the challenges of the New Economy and boost incomes of all Americans.
Innovation Policy
R&D Spillovers, Innovation Systems and the Genesis of Regional Growth in Europe
Andres Rodriguez-Pose and Riccardo Crescenzi
Research on the impact of innovation on regional economic performance in Europe has fundamentally followed three approaches: a) the
analysis of the link between investment in R&D, patents, and economic growth; b) the study of the existence and efficiency of regional innovation systems; and c) the examination of geographical diffusion of regional knowledge spillovers. These complementary approaches have, however, rarely been combined. Important operational and methodological barriers have thwarted any potential cross fertilization.
This paper tries to fill this gap in the literature by combining in one model R&D, spillovers, and innovation systems approaches. A multiple
regression analysis is conducted for all regions of the EU-25, including measures of R&D investment, proxies for regional innovation systems, and knowledge and socio-economic spillovers. This approach allows for discrimination between the influence of internal factors and external knowledge and institutional flows on regional economic growth. The empirical results highlight how the interaction
between local and external research with local and external socio-economic and institutional conditions determines the potential of every region in order to maximize its innovation capacity.
Maine Comprehensive Research and Development Evaluation 2006
Over the last 10 years, the State of Maine has invested more than $296 million into R&D – an impressive figure for a state with an average population over the decade of just over 1.3 million people. In approving a mid-decade injection of funds, the state’s legislature skeptically or wisely asked the executive branch to periodically conduct independent assessments of whether or not the investment is worthwhile.
In Maine’s case, the analysis is framed to address five questions, answering each in the affirmative but substantiated with dozens of statistics, comparisons with other states, and closing with a handful of recommendations.
In the Public Interest: Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology
This paper, written jointly by technology transfer officers from around the United States elaborates on nine key points that represent the product of their shared experience in licensing university technology. Briefly, these points are: 1. Universities should reserve the right to practice licensed inventions and to allow other nonprofit and governmental organizations to do so. 2. Exclusive licenses should be structured in a manner that encourages technology development and use. 3. Strive to minimize the licensing of “future improvements.” 4. Universities should anticipate and help to manage technology transfer related conflicts of interest. 5. Ensure broad access to research tools. 6. Enforcement action should be carefully considered. 7. Be mindful of export regulations. 8. Be mindful of the implications of working with patent aggregators. And, 9. Consider including provisions that address unmet needs, such as those of neglected patient populations or geographic areas, giving particular attention to improved therapeutics, diagnostics and agricultural technologies for the developing world.
Cities, Clusters & Regions
Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities: Lessons Learned and an Agenda for Renewal
Mark Muro et al. Brookings Institution
This report—prepared in partnership with MassINC, a non-partisan Boston-based think tank—contends that the future of one of the nation’s most advanced state economies depends in part on revitalizing its “Gateway Cities,” the Commonwealth’s once-humming mill and manufacturing towns. Above all, the 11-city study suggests that although the Massachusetts mill cities continue to lose ground on measures of basic economic performance they nevertheless hold out potential answers to some of the Commonwealth’s thorniest housing, sprawl, and workforce problems. Along the way, the study provides a fresh look at a state economy that is at once spatially uneven and increasingly in need of a new state-local partnership to respond to those divides.
Statistics & Indicators
AUTM Licensing Survey Results by State – (and Canadian Province)
Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
The survey, conducted annually by the nonprofit AUTM, provides quantitative information about licensing activities at U.S. and Canada universities, hospitals and research institutions. This year’s format is slightly different, however. The 15th annual survey presents data accompanied by success stories and allows respondents to remain anonymous. Appendices also list institutions by the year their technology transfer activities began. The goal, AUTM states in its overview, is to see the number of survey respondents grow and encourage thoughtful discussion.
Policy Digest
Innovation America: Cluster Based Strategies for Growing State Economies
Stu Rosenfeld, NGA
This report delves deeply into the public policy dimensions of clusters, and their significance for regional economic development. The paper outlines issues about how to define and locate relevant clusters in policy jurisdiction, but focuses primarily on strategies to develop those clusters to maximize regional development. While policy focus in North America may be shifting from cluster to city-region development strategies, this report demonstrates that the two approaches are complementary.
Determining the regional location of a state or province’s clusters is the starting point of any cluster based strategy. Identifying clusters is still as much an art as a science, but a useful picture of clusters can be drawn by combining analysis of business sectors, employment and wage data with regional observations and interviewing key business leaders. In doing so, it is critical to avoid creating a definition and boundaries that are too narrow, that cannot adjust to constant change, or that discourage collaboration among clusters.
Once clusters have been identified, the report outlines five initiatives that policy makers can use to support their growth.
Cluster Initiatives:
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Establish a Solid Foundation: This involves supporting the factors that enable the success of the cluster. These may be cluster specific, or more general, and include maintaining physical infrastructure, educational and public research infrastructure, and aligning the efforts of regional education, workforce and economic institutions.
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Build Relationships: Inter-firm and inter-cluster learning fosters innovation and prosperity. Policy makers can help build and sustain these critical relationships through the establishment of regional cluster councils, other inter-firm and inter-institutional networking events, and by supporting existing regional associations.
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Deepen Skills and Talent: By nature clusters attract and enhance talent, but governments can reinforce this tendency by creating cluster hubs at community colleges, fostering cluster-focused professional programs, encouraging cluster training consortia, as well as cluster-based career advancement paths.
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Align Innovation Investments: Policy makers can realize higher returns on their investments in research and development, centres of excellence, and business innovation by focusing on clusters.
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Accelerate Entrepreneurship: Talent and research are necessary but it takes entrepreneurship to translate good ideas into successful products and services. Policy makers can promote entrepreneurship by supporting entrepreneurial networks, creating cluster focused incubators, organizing small business centres and support, and encouraging entrepreneurship education programs at all levels of secondary and post-secondary education.
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Open Global Priorities: Successful clusters extend their networks globally. Governments can help by supporting participation in international conferences, trade shows, and study tours; by providing export assistance and by establishing cluster- based learning exchanges.
It is clear to most policy makers that cluster strategies are not silver bullets, but properly designed and applied, they can be used as one of several valuable tools to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.
Events
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.
Dublin, 19-20 April, 2007
The workshop will focus on how strategic policy intelligence tools can, in a regional context, guide concrete innovation support measures. In what way and to what extent can ongoing innovation policy instruments absorb and implement policy intelligence?
This workshop aims to bring together policy research experts and those responsible for policy implementation and to link strategic policy intelligence theory with practical research opportunities.
Toronto, 24-27 April, 2007
BioFinance 2007 is a gathering of some of the most innovative minds in the life science industries featuring presentations by senior management from more than 100 Canadian, US and European life science 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, fiber 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.
Toronto, 14-16 June, 2007
This interdisciplinary conference, the second presented by the Design Exchange, Canada’s National Design Centre, seeks to explore
the varied and future states of cities. Papers are invited that address such related and relevant topics as green space in cities,
infrastructure, technology, environmentalism, and sustainability, Brownfield rehabilitation, exurban growth, public transportation, universal design, street furnishings, climate change and disaster preparedness. Several themes may be of interest to KMDI’ers: mass media, technology, infrastructure and policy and social responsibility.
Regional Innovation in Traditional Industries 
Volterra, Italy, 23 June, 2007
This workshop is part of the Structural Activity Line 3 of the DIME Network of Excellence and focuses particularly on the impact of diversification within various sectors ranging from previously highly industrialized regions to agro-food regions. The workshop will assess the way in which global competition from emerging markets is challenging traditional industries, what their responses are and how innovative and how successful such responses may be. Taking a regional innovation systems approach, the workshop will explore how network interactions can reshape a region, the effects the transformation has on the regions, and the challenges to economic growth accompanying the changes.
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.