Research Money Inc – Investing for Economic Sustainability

The third Atlantic RE$EARCH MONEY conference will examine how the Atlantic provinces are investing now to ensure economic sustainability for the long term. We need increased investments in innovation – research and development, technology, infrastructure, education and training, and entrepreneurship – to compete and prosper in an increasingly global economy. What are Atlantic Canada’s unique strengths on which we can build regional industrial R&D capacity? What is the role of governments, industry and the research community in contributing to economic sustainability in the region? Are there lessons to learn from other jurisdictions around the world?

The resources boom that some provinces in the Atlantic region are currently enjoying provides a window of opportunity to build a more prosperous future for current and future generations. Will these provinces be ready when the resource boom ends? How are other provinces where the resource economy is in decline faring? Are they adequately investing in knowledge-based sectors? Are they finding ways to build on past economic successes?

This one-day event will bring together experienced entrepreneurs, investors, economic development practitioners and policy makers from Atlantic Canada and elsewhere to address this important issue.

Speakers, Panelists, and Moderators include

Noel is an innovative and highly experienced international consultant, with a track record of success in new business start, business turn-around and value-creating growth. He has worked extensively with public sector clients in the development of strategic plans in support of the delivery of innovation management, and has particular expertise in the renewables, energy, environment and process industries. Noel has developed a good understanding of the Canadian landscape for public sector innovation support through recent association with the Newfoundland and Labrador Research and Development Council. Noel is a Founding Partner of Orion Innovations LLP, where he has acted as mentor, interim manager and consultant in order to successfully guide innovative new businesses through start-up and early stage development, and helped to turn-around and grow established businesses through business extension, new ventures creation, and acquisition. Prior to joining Orion Innovations, Noel spent three years in a Senior Management role in a new energy technology company (fuel cells). Noel was a member of the founding team and was responsible for business development and corporate management activities. Noel previously held senior positions in leading international consulting firms, A.T. Kearney, KPMG and Chem Systems. Noel holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Birmingham University, a Masters degree in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck College, University of London, and an MBA from the London Business School.

Born and raised in Newfoundland, Jerry Byrne graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelors Degree in Engineering. Jerry started well known SEA Systems in 1983 and has gained experience in establishing and building companies, both locally and internationally, from the ground up. Jerry Byrne’s business life is extensive and includes: forming numerous joint ventures, sales and marketing agreements, manufacturing, distribution and agency agreements. As well, he carries critical international and local experience and has developed several LOI’s and MOU’s with the private sector, and foreign and domestic governments.A true entrepreneur, Jerry was a founder of several local companies such as Sea Systems and its affiliated companies, Glamox Canada Limited (now Mariteam Lighting) in Trepassey, Cantech Systems Limited, Navalco Canada Limited and put together the relocation plan for Star Heat Exchangers from British Columbia to Port aux Basques. He also established several successful companies in the United States where he lived for several years before returning to Newfoundland and Labrador in the summer of 2002. Today Jerry is the key player in business development for D.F. Barnes. He is a director of the St. John’s Northwest Rotary Club and, a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and of course NOIA.

Jeffrey Crelinsten is CEO of Research Money Inc. and publisher of RE$EARCH MONEY. He is also President and CEO of The Impact Group, a consultancy he co-founded in 1987, specializing in science, technology and innovation policy, communications and education. Jeffrey has been studying challenges facing tech entrepreneurs and the innovation ecosystems that try to support them for over 25 years. He developed the R$ conferences to bring together leaders from the private and public sector to address critical issues around innovation policy and knowledge-based commerce.

Before founding The Impact Group, Jeffrey taught science and human affairs at Concordia University and had an active career as a science documentary writer for radio and television.

Jeffrey is Senior Research Fellow at the Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. He is a founding director of the International Commercialization Alliance and is a past-President of the Canadian Science Writers Association. Jeffrey has a B.Sc. in physics from McGill University, a M.Sc. in astronomy from University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in history of science and science policy from University of Montreal.

Jock English is currently President & CEO of InteliSys Aviation Systems, a New Brunswick based company that provides hosted management systems for airlines worldwide. Jock has over 30 years experience in commercial software systems with responsibilities ranging from development and implementation to marketing of mission critical software systems for large organizations. Jock currently manages an organization of 22 employees that implements and manages operation of high availability systems for management of reservation sales as well as crew qualifications and assignment. Prior to joining InteliSys, Jock held positions with two large international software firms where he was responsible for software product development, implementation as well as international marketing of software systems for national mapping databases including aeronautical mapping. Jock’s primary focus during his career has been in matching software solutions to Client’s requirements. Jock holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Geomatics Engineering and is also a registered Professional Engineer. Jock has held both U.S. and Canadian pilot’s licenses and remains well connected with the Aviation Industry

Dave is an engineer with 20 years experience in applied research, industry liaison, project management, consulting and business development. Dave graduated from Memorial University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Engineering specializing in Naval Architecture. Dave returned to graduate school at Memorial to study ice interaction with offshore structures, specifically the dynamic loading of fixed structures in ice. He completed his Masters in 1991 and was the recipient of Memorial’s David Dunsiger Award for Excellence in Engineering Graduate Studies. Dave has worked in Houston, Ottawa and Newfoundland in the public and private sectors, small and large business, and his employers have included the National Research Council of Canada, ZeddComm, xwave, and Aliant Energy Services. In 2006, Dave became President of PRAC – Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada, a not-for-profit organization that funds and facilitates applied petroleum research on behalf of its members, which include all the east coast operators and producers. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Ron Freedman is co-founder of THE IMPACT GROUP and president of Research Infosource Inc., a business intelligence firm which publishes Canada’s Top 100 R&D Companies List and Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities List. He has worked as a consultant to the public and private sectors on various aspects of S&T policy and communications for 25 years. Ron’s graduate education was in the fields of environmental studies, adult education and science policy. Ron is also co-publisher of Research Money, Canada’s leading research policy newsletter. Currently, he is working on The Innovation Atlas of Canada, which will be available in Fall 2003.

Stephen Hartlen is vice president of mentoring at InNOVAcorp, an organization enabling innovative early stage Nova Scotia companies to accelerate commercialization of their technologies and increase competitiveness in export markets. Stephen leads InNOVAcorp’s venture advisory team, which provides advice and guidance to early stage technology entrepreneurs. Mentoring is a critical layer to the traditional business incubation and investment activities, enriching the corporation’s High Performance Incubation (HPi)™ business model.Stephen joined InNOVAcorp in the spring of 2003 with more than 14 years of private sector experience in business development, sales, and go-to-market strategy development in both the corporate financial services and the information and communications technology sectors. At InNOVAcorp, Stephen and his team are deeply engaged in the daily operations of several portfolio companies as part of the HPi business model. Stephen is involved in a formal advisory capacity with several clients, including EastMed Inc., where he is a member of the board of directors. He also serves on the review panel for the Springboard 2008 Fund Awards. Stephen is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Saint Mary’s University with a Master of Business Administration in Finance. He is also pursuing the designation of Chartered Director through the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada

Mark has written extensively on research and innovation policy and funding issues since 1994. As the Editor of RE$EARCH MONEY, he has interviewed hundreds of industry executives, senior government officials, research managers and other leaders in Canada’s science, technology and innovation communities. Mark has worked as a journalist and editor for several publications over the past 35 years, including “Network Letter, Report on Wireless”, “Canadian Communications Reports”, “The Electronics Communicator” and “The Ottawa Citizen”. He resides in Ottawa and is an avid music and film aficionado.

Glenn Janes is the Chief Executive Officer of the Research & Development Corporation. He is responsible for providing direction, focus and planning in order to strengthen and improve research and development throughout the province. Mr. Janes is a Rhodes Scholar. He holds a Masters degree in Environmental Change and Management and a Masters degree in Business Administration, both from Oxford University. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Yale University. Most recently Mr. Janes was with Imperial Innovations Group plc in London, England, the UK’s leading technology commercialization company. At Imperial Innovations, Mr. Janes was responsible for the development and management of the United Kingdom’s first Recycling/Waste Minimization Technology Commercialization Centre. Mr. Janes has held a range of progressively senior positions with companies involved in research, development and technology commercialization processes, including Platina Finance, a London and Paris-based private equity fund manager.In Newfoundland and Labrador, he has worked with Mad Rock, a developer of safety emergency evacuation sea systems, Hi-Point Industries, Consilient Technologies and Genesis Organic Inc. He was born in Western Newfoundland and resides in St. John’s.

Marli MacNeil has been the Chief Executive Officer of BioNova – The Nova Scotia Biotechnology and Life Sciences Industry Association for the past seven years. BioNova represents the more than 3,400 men and women working in the province’s life sciences community; its members include life sciences companies, universities, hospitals, research institutions, government agencies, suppliers, students and individuals who are committed to the vitality of the life sciences industry in Nova Scotia. Marli has degrees in Journalism and Political Science and holds the professional designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE). Prior to joining the staff of BioNova, she served as executive director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia. She also has extensive experience in community economic development and communications. With significant interest in the relationship between research and industry, Marli is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the National Research Council’s Institutes for Marine Biosciences and Nutrisciences and Health, served on several aquaculture and fish veterinary research organizations and was an appointee to the National Advisory Council on Ocean Sciences.

Nancy Mathis, Ph.D., P.Eng. is the founding Executive Director of the G. Wallace F. McCain Institute for Business Leadership. This role combines her experiences as the co-founder and innovative force behind Mathis Instruments with her teaching background at the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Mathis has been recognized on a national scale with awards in innovation, entrepreneurship and engineering – as well as for supporting others in those fields. She has been an active member of the New Brunswick Business Council as well as a leading advocate for advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing practices. Dr. Mathis is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, notably the $100,000 Principle Manning Innovation prize as the top innovation in Canada in 2003 (also won by the inventor of the BlackBerry) and the R&D 100 Award issued to the top 100 innovative products worldwide in 1999 (also won by the ATM, anti-lock brakes and Polaroid film)

Paul Mills was appointed Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) for Newfoundland and Labrador, in January 1997. He joined ACOA in 1988 as Manager of the Ocean Industry Development Centre. Mr. Mills held other positions with the Agency, including Director General, Program Development and Delivery, and Director of Federal-Provincial Programs.A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Mills has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland.In 1999, Mr. Mills was the recipient of Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration’s Alumni Honour Award.In addition to his role as Vice-President of ACOA, Mr. Mills is the Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federal Council.Mr. Mills is also the Advocacy Champion for the Agency in the area of Science, R & D, and Commercialization.

Mr. O’Reilly was appointed to the position of Executive Director of OceansAdvance in October, 2005. Prior to his appointment, Mr. O’Reilly served as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland since March 1992.He has extensive experience in various economic development, ocean sector alliances and Boards. Throughout his career he has focused on building collaborative networks and partnerships, provincially, nationally and internationally.He has been a member of the National Research Council (IRAP) Advisory Board and is past Director of the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association.Oceans Advance is a multi-stakeholder, regional technology cluster initiative aimed at making St. John’s an international location of choice for ocean technology.Driven by the private sector this ocean technology cluster is a partnership between business, research and development Institutions, academia and government. It has brought together key entrepreneurs, researchers, academia and government stakeholders from Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada’s ocean technology community. OceansAdvance has been given a mandate to build research and development capacity and to enhance international export and business opportunities.

Douglas Robertson is the Director of Innovation Policy and Research Projects for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Active in the innovation policy domain at the federal level for over 16 years, he has served on numerous regional and national innovation policy committees and reviews. His public policy career also includes ten years in Ottawa as a policy advisor and Executive Assistant to federal Cabinet Ministers and a senior policy analyst on Cabinet policy with ACOA. Robertson is a member of the Advisory Board of the Technopolicy Network, an international association of policy practitioners in science-based regional development. He is the founding Chair of the Moncton Technology Planning Group, a committee of local industry and institutional leaders focused on advancing a strategy to accelerate the growth of technology-based business and entrepreneurship in the Moncton area. From 2001 to 2008, Robertson was a member of the City Council of Moncton, serving as Chair of the Economic Affairs Committee of Council and on numerous Committees and Boards. Robertson received a bachelor of commerce degree from Dalhousie University in 1980 and a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University in 1986. He is active in a number of community organizations, including the YMCA Century Club, the PGI Tournament for Literacy, the Atlantic Ballet Theater of Canada Campaign Cabinet and the Athletic South East association. He is the proud father of three sons, Cameron, Christopher, and Wil. His wife Katherine is business development manager with Honda.

Derrick Rowe has led corporate operations that span the globe, and has extensive experience with business in highly complex regulatory and operating environments. As founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stratos Global Corporation until 1999, he built the company from its start-up to a successful public corporation. Mr. Rowe was named Chairman of FPI Limited, a world leader in the seafood industry, in 2001, and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2002 through 2005. He is active in technology investments through his investment company Name 3 Capital and is currently Chairman of the Board of Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc. Mr. Rowe has served on a number of economic and social organizations, including: Canadian Commissioner of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), on the Advisory Panel on the Sustainable Management of Straddling Fish Stocks in the Northwest Atlantic, the Information Highway Advisory Council, the International Trade Advisory Committee, and with Canada’s Communication Research Centre. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Rowe was appointed to the Premier’s Advisory Council on the Economy and Technology, and served as a director of the Health Care Corporation. In the business community, Mr. Rowe has been honoured with significant recognition for his leadership, including Canada’s original “Top 40 Under 40” by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine, with the Ernst & Young regional awards’ “Entrepreneur of the Year,” and with a Newfoundland and Labrador Export Award. Mr. Rowe and his family reside in St. John’s.

Michael Scott has worked in developing companies in Canada and the US for almost 30 years. He is Chairman and CEO of Precision BioLogic, a dynamic Halifax firm employing 50 people that develops, manufactures and markets blood diagnostic products used by leading medical institutions across North America and Europe. In 2008, Precision BioLogic was recognized by The Globe and Mail as one the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada. A two-time Export Award winner, Precision BioLogic has been serving customers internationally for over 14 years. Its key US business has grown at a compound rate of 30% a year since 1994. In 2005, Michael was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Atlantic Canada. Michael is a principal in DRM Equities Limited, a firm providing investment capital and management support to young companies.

He was a founder and CEO of Silvagen, a Canadian biotechnology company that commercialized its technology in Vancouver; a director and CFO of Clonetics, a US biotechnology firm that was successfully acquired; and VP of a US-based specialty manufacturer owned by SG Warburg, a British investment bank. Michael was born and educated in England.