Ontario’s Regional Economic
Development and Innovation Newsletter
Introduction
We encourage
you to participate in the Newsletter - please forward items that you would
like to share with newsletter recipients, as well as other items of interest,
to: onris.progris@utoronto.ca. In
addition, please forward this newsletter to anyone you think will find
it of value. We look forward to collaborating with you on this initiative.
The
Ontario Network on the Regional Innovation System (ONRIS) is dedicated
to the study and understanding of the way in which particular regions
and localities develop distinctive ways of producing and using innovations
and the contribution this makes to the process of development. The purpose
of the network is to disseminate information about how the interaction
of firms and institutions in Ontario supports the process of innovation
and social learning necessary for success in the new global economy. ONRIS
acknowledges the support of SSHRC, NSERC and the NRC.
This
newsletter is also available on the web at: http://www.utoronto.ca/onris/.
Please contact onris.progris@utoronto.ca
to be added to, or removed from, the distribution list.
The
views and ideas expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect
the views and policies of the Ontario Government.
For further information contact Brian
LeGrow, Communications Branch, Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology,
(416) 327-5555.
IBM Canada announces formation of e-business Acceleration Team
Clusters of Innovation Project launched by US Council on Competitiveness
2) Evaluate the innovative performance
of clusters in 6 selected regions: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Pittsburgh,
PA; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Greater Washington, DC Region.
3) Act as a catalyst for collaboration
and information exchange among clusters
4) Develop an action-oriented roadmap
for emerging clusters
http://www.compete.org/innovate/innovate_index.html
Innovating Regions in Europe
- The RITTS/RIS Network
The Directorate-General ENTERPRISE and
Directorate-General REGIONAL POLICY of the European Commission are carrying
out a variety of actions within the framework of the Innovation and SMEs
program and Article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund. Regional
Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategies (RITTS) and Regional Innovation
Strategies (RIS), which are jointly managed by the two Directorates-General,
are an opportunity for regional authorities, in partnership with the main
actors concerned, to develop a specific set of actions based on a common
understanding on the drivers and barriers to innovation.
The first RITTS/RIS projects were launched
in 1994 on an trial basis and the positive outcomes facilitated the launch
of another 40 RITTS/RIS projects in 1996. In 1999 34 new RITTS/RIS projects
started along with 11 Transregional Innovation Projects. In the future
the action will be geared more and more towards the innovation projects
of transregional kind. The total number of regions participating is now
over a hundred.
http://www.innovating-regions.org/
On January 27 the Honourable Andy Mitchell,
Secretary of State (Rural Development) (FedNor) and Timmins-James Bay
MP Réginald Bélair announced a federal investment of $90,000 towards the
Timmins and area community-based strategic planning exercise to identify
economic development opportunities and challenges.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/fn00456e.html?he=y
On January 27 the Honourable Andy Mitchell,
Secretary of State (Rural Development) (FedNor), Réginald Belair, MP,
Timmins-James Bay and Nickel Belt MP, Ray Bonin, announced a FedNor contribution
of $250,000 to the Venture Centre to enhance its investment activities
in Timmins area businesses. The
Venture Centre provides strategic community planning and business development
services and invests in small business through loans, loan guarantees
and equity investments.
Research
Initiatives / Publications
Toronto Competes: An Assessment
of Toronto's Global Competitiveness
This report undertaken for the City of
Toronto's Economic Development Office in partnership with City Planning
and support from the Office for Urban Economic Development at MEDT presents
its main findings concerning
1) the overall economic performance of
the City of Toronto and the Toronto region;
2) the competitiveness of the major industry
clusters which drive prosperity in the region;
3) the strength of the region's foundations,
such as human resources, infrastructure, financing, technology, and the
quality of life;
4)recommended strategies to further advance
the City's economic transition in the new century.
For more information, or to request a
copy of the report, please contact the City of Toronto’s Economic
Development Office at: 416-397-5304.
The mission of this report, written and
compiled by Heather Munroe-Blum, Ph.D. with James Duderstadt, Ph.D and
Sir Graeme Davies, Ph.D, is to help Ontario achieve sustainable excellence
as the best performing research environment in Canada and North America,
and among the best worldwide, over the next ten years. It draws on analysis
of the role of university research policy and practice in nine case studies
of regions in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
http://ontariouniversityresearchreport.netfirms.com/#Report
The Report of the Canadian E-Business
Opportunities Roundtable, January 2000. The Roundtable was formed in mid-1999
to develop a strategy for accelerating Canada’s participation in
the Internet economy. Its goal was to establish Canada as a globally recognized
e-business leader to promote a higher quality of life for its citizens
through economic growth, job creation and better access to information,
goods and services.
Information technology (IT) is significantly
affecting the economy, the growth and structure of output, occupations
and employment and how people use their time. The Information Technology
Outlook 2000 describes the rapid growth in the supply and demand for information
technology goods and services and their role in the expanding Internet
economy and looks at emerging uses of information technology. It reflects
the spread and diversity of a technology that is underpinning economic
and social transformation. It makes use of the new official national sources
of data which are becoming available as statistical mapping of the information
economy improves.
The Expert Panel on Skills, established
by the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology,
has released their final report, evaluating skill requirements for Canadians
in the knowledge economy. The report provides a series of policy recommendations
and actions to ensure Canada’s continued participation in the knowledge
economy. To download a copy of the report, please go to:
http://acst-ccst.gc.ca/acst/skills/home_e.html
Toronto New Media Works Study
A study of Toronto’s New Media industry,
commissioned by a multi-stakeholder initiative of public-private sector
organizations and conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, estimates that
Toronto’s new media industry is losing approximately $1 billion in
annual revenues and related jobs.
Read the full report at:
Joint
Venture: Silicon Valley Network published their fifth annual update report
benchmarking economic and social change in Silicon Valley.
The report includes 35 indicators that measure progress and change
in Silicon Valley over the past decade, including benchmarks depicting
the region’s innovative economy, livable environment, inclusive society
and regional stewardship. The report is available on their web site:
Ryerson’s
Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity (CSCA) has published “The
GTA@Y2K:
The Dynamics of Change in the Commercial Structure of the Greater Toronto
Area” by Maurice Yeates. For
more information on the report, please contact the CSCA at: 416-979-5379
or csca@research.ryerson.ca.
A
summary sheet of recent data from a variety of different sources on the
extent of electronic commerce in Canada compiled by Industry Canada’s
Electronic Commerce Task Force.
http://e-com.ic.gc.ca/english/20.html?he=y
This Industry Canada report
describes Canada’s trade performance in ICT from 1990 to 1998. It
highlights the contribution of ICT to GDP and employment growth and breaks
down exports and imports according to market and product sector.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/it05373e.html?he=y
Read an interview with Industry
Minister John Manley on the future of e-commerce in Canada.
http://e-com.ic.gc.ca/english/41.html?he=y
Sites on Canada's "Brain Drain".
For a diverse list of sites
that discuss Canada’s “Brain Drain” see:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_ecnmy/mera/engdoc/07.html?he=y
The Enterprise Portal - Strategic Approaches for Knowledge
Creating and Sharing a Portal
A Five part Portal Design
Series offered by the Faculty of Information Studies at the University
of Toronto March 29 - April 26, 6:30 to 9:30 on Wednesday nights. For
more information on course content, schedules, and registration, visit
The Knowledge Management Initiatives at
First Tuesday
First Tuesday started in London, England in late 1998 as a networking
group for internet and e-commerce professionals. It has since grown to
a 30,000-strong community
worldwide with events in more than 40 cities across five continents! Now, First Tuesday is coming to Toronto.
Its mandate? To connect entrepreneurs to financiers and services providers,
seed ideas, help projects come to life, and share experiences.
On April 4, the inaugural meeting of First Tuesday Toronto will take
place at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, from 6-10 pm.
REGISTER FREE by sending an email to toronto@firsttuesday.com.
To learn more about First Tuesday, visit: <http://www.firsttuesday.com>
Towards the
Digital Media Institute: a lecture series
The University of Toronto's Knowledge Media Design Institute, Sheridan
College, Ryerson University and CulTech Research Centre are holding a
10-week lecture series entitled "Towards a Digital Media Institute."
The series will feature researchers and research initiatives in digital
media and will explore the opportunities for collaboration amongst researchers
and academic programs focused on digital media training across the GTA.
The series will be held on Thursdays, between April 13 - June 22,
2000, in Room 1105, Sandford Fleming Building, at 10 King’s College
Road on the University of Toronto campus. More information will be forthcoming
in the next newsletter, or see: www.kmdi.utoronto.ca.
Regional Innovation
Forum
The Regional Innovation Forum Roundtable V,
will be held in Ottawa on April 18 to April 19. It is a joint initiative
of the National Research Council, the Ottawa Economic Development Corporation,
the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, and the Ottawa Life Sciences
Council. The focus of the Forum will be on how Canadian enterprises can
foster innovation to maintain competitive advantages for sustained growth.
Registration will be from $350. For more information and to register contact:
Phone (613) 993-0698; Fax: (613) 991-6980, or see: www.nrc.ca/innovation
Spring Workshop
on Innovation
The Innovation Management Association of Canada (IMAC) will hold
its “2000 Spring Workshop: Meeting the Innovation Challenges of the
New Millenium” on April 26 in Montreal. The workshop will explore
the innovation challenges for Canadian companies, universities, research
laboratories, and governments in the new millennium. For more information
or to register, please call (613) 741-5227, send a fax (613) 998-8768,
e-mail ExecOffice@imac-acgi.ca
or visit the IMAC website:
www.imac-acgi.ca/imac/upcoming.html
Future of Technology Conference
The Future of Technology
Conference will be held on May 5 in Toronto with speakers John Roth, President
and CEO, Nortel Networks; Prof. Ian Angell, The London School of Economics;
John Wetmore, President and CEO of IBM Canada; and, Dan Thompson, Partner,
Co-Leader of E-Business Initiative, Deloitte Consulting. Registration
is $695 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and conference materials.
To register contact Speakers Forum at (416) 921-4240.
Tel: (416) 946-8933
Fax: (416) 946-8915
or visit the ISRN website
at http://www.utoronto.ca/isrn
GTMA Mission