A lot of people are anxious to see the outcome of the Ontario government’s massive re-organization of its S&T activities. As Canada’s research powerhouse, decisions made by the administration of Dalton McGuinty will have a significant impact on the future of innovation throughout the province and on federal-provincial relations.
By its own account, Ontario has poured $2.6 billion into its public research base in the past 10 years. Yet the new economic activity and social benefits spawned by that investment has been disappointing. With the exception of some programs that are already geared towards commercialization, most R&D spending has fallen into the well-worn gaps of the innovation cycle.
Therefore, the decision to make commercialization the driving S&T policy force in the province is a sound one. But the devil is in the details and we won’t know until later this year how the provincial landscape will change as a result of the new strategy.
Solid, often goundbreaking work was done under the previous administration. But there were also policy weaknesses and a lack of accountability that make it difficult to determine the impact of generous R&D spending.
In spite of fiscal constraints, it appears that the McGuinty government is maintaining, and even increasing, provincial R&D expenditures. The trick is to make sure the new and re-focussed programs produce greater positive outcomes for the social and economic well being of its citizens. Collaboration, consultation and communication are key.
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