Priming the Pump: The Role of Government Research Support in Business Innovation

In 2006, Luuk Borg was seconded to Brussels by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, to manage the set-up and launch of the joint EU-EUREKA Eurostars Programme for R&D-performing SMEs. In July 2007, he accepted the post as head of EUREKA’s Secretariat. Under his leadership, says Borg, ‘EUREKA continues in its ambition to perform as the best platform for research-performing businesses in Europe, with results that benefit society at large. Luuk Borg holds a master of science from Erasmus Economic University Rotterdam and followed a graduate programme at University Davis California. He began his career as a consultant and account manager on EU-funded and other research projects, specifically targeting the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Borg subsequently joined the Senter/EU-Liaison Agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs where, in 1997, as managing director, he oversaw the merger of EU-Liaison with Senter. Borg was also responsible for establishing the Netherlands Office for European Science and Technology (NEST). In 2001, Borg became director of Marketing and Promotion at the Agency for International Business and Co-operation (EVD), responsible for both the planning and execution of trade missions and coordination of overseas trade support offices. He then headed the Patent Information Division of the Netherlands Patent Office, with specific responsibility for the management of the marketing division. Under his leadership, a new business case for the Patent Office aimed at better use of intellectual property rights and patent information by companies and research institutions was developed. Luuk Borg was born in Ede in the Netherlands in 1963 and has four children.

Tom Brzustowski is RBC Professor in the Commercialization of Innovation at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and Chair of the Board of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. He is also Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). Brzustowski was President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) from 1995 to 2005. His recent work on innovation and productivity is published in the internet journal “Optimum Online” and in the book “The Way Ahead – meeting Canada’s productivity challenge” (U of Ottawa Press, 2008). A professional engineer, Dr. Brzustowski graduated with a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Toronto in 1958, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton in 1963. He taught Mechanical Engineering at Waterloo from 1962 to 1987, and also served as Vice-President, Academic of the university (1975 – 1987), and later as Deputy Minister in the Government of Ontario (1987 – 1995). Dr. Brzustowski has received honorary doctorates from a number of Canadian universities, as well as the Engineering Alumni Medal from the University of Toronto and the Gold Medal of the Professional Engineers of Ontario. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and of the Royal Society of Canada.

Successfully commercializing technology from his research as a professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Dr. Savvas Chamberlain founded DALSA Corporation in 1980. He was the CEO from its inception until August 2007, when he became Chairman. Under his leadership DALSA has grown to become a leading International Corporation in Digital Imaging and grew from few employees to 1,100. Its revenues at the end of December 2010 were $212 million. He resigned as Chairman of DALSA Corp on February 12, 2011. He is presently the CEO and Chairman of EXEL Research Inc. The recipient of numerous honours and distinctions, In July 2010 Dr. Chamberlain was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In July 2009 Dr. Chamberlain was made a member in the Order of Canada. In May 2008 was elected Fellow of The Canadian Academy of Engineering. In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree by the University of Waterloo for his industrial contributions and was the recipient of Ontario Premier’s Catalyst award for life time achievement in innovation He is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Waterloo and the holder of the AIA Lifetime Achievement Award. Educated in England and he holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Southampton University. He has published more than 150 papers and has authored and co-authored more than 20 patents in the area of image sensors. He likes Greek literature, gardening, loves outdoors, nature, walking, hiking, classical music, Greek music, live theatre and the opera.

John is the Deputy Minister of the Department of Innovation, Energy and Mines in the Province of Manitoba. He has over 20 years of senior executive experience in the public and health care sectors. He leads the governments initiatives related to energy, mineral resources, petroleum, innovation, research, science and technology related business development, community connectivity, service transformation and information technology. Under his leadership, the government has been recognized as a leader in clean and renewable energy initiatives, energy efficiency activities, became one of the fastest growing biotechnology regions in the country, released an aggressive strategy that links together environmentally sustainable practices with economic growth, adopted an aggressive innovation framework, and is transforming the way government operates through the use of technology.

Eric is a results-orientated business leader with extensive experience fostering innovation. He passionately promotes innovation as a critical element of global competitiveness and advocates a balanced innovation policy that supports market-led research (pull-innovation).

Eric’s business experience includes 20 years of leadership in high tech companies involved in advanced manufacturing, space science, aerospace, wireless communications and nuclear energy. Eric has participated in innovation initiatives for numerous federal and provincial departments and agencies. He is a Global Fellow with the Eco Innovation Program at the University of Versailles.

Eric was appointed Executive Director and CEO of RPC in 2004. RPC is a provincial research organization (PRO) offering contract research & development, and technical services. RPC provides technical expertise both regionally and globally to more than 800 clients annually serving the environmental, aquaculture, manufacturing, mining and energy sectors.

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.

Marie-Claude Côté is a graduate of Laval University with a degree in engineering and a Master of Science in production engineering. She is a certified New Product Development Professional (NPDP) by the Product Development and Management Association. Her commitment to innovation has enabled her to develop wide-ranging expertise covering: business strategies, innovation management and new product development. Ms. Côté started her career at EXFO EO, in Canada and later on in the United States. She joined the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ) in 2006, as Vice President of Business Development. Her personal mission is that of CRIQ’s, ensuring the competitiveness of Quebec industry through innovation. Her responsibilities include business development, partnerships and innovation management. She is also involved in various industry and research centre networks and serves on the boards of Alcoa Innovation and Innoventures Canada.

Ms. Dakers currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), an innovative organization in British Columbia with a mandate to address the commercialization gap between early-stage technologies arising out of university-based research and investment opportunities. Under Ms. Dakers’ leadership, CDRD has signed affiliation agreements with major research institutions in Canada and forged important strategic relationships with Pfizer Canada and Genome British Columbia. With its over 20,000 square feet in specialized lab space and more than $12 million invested in state-of-the-art equipment, CDRD has attracted over 70 employees and 260 investigators. To date, CDRD has raised and secured approximately $74 million in funding and was named a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR). Ms. Dakers brings to CDRD many valuable years of experience in the commercialization of technology, licensing, and intellectual property protection. Active in a number of business and scientific organizations, Ms. Dakers is Past Chair of BC Biotech and currently board member of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the International Science and Technology Partnership Canada (ISTP Canada). Ms. Dakers received a Peak Award for Performance and Excellence in 2004, and in 2009, she was the recipient of BIOTECanada’s Gold Leaf Award for Industry Leadership.

Christophe Deutsch is Vice-President of Operations at INO, a leading non-profit R&D centre in Optics/Photonics in Canada. Dr. Deutsch is responsible for the manufacturing, operations and production of all R&D projects. From 1997 to 2007, prior to joining INO, Christophe Deutsch held a number of progressively senior positions with the leading engineering firm ABB. He began in systems engineering, project management and a leader of several aerospace projects. In 2004, he began R&D Manager, leading a group of 70 researchers, engineers and technicians. With this role he developed a deep understanding of product development and technological innovation processes. Born in Mulhouse, France, Christophe studied his engineering at the Institut National des Télécommunications. He holds a Masters degree in mathematics from the University Paris VI, a M. Sc. and a Ph. D. in electrical engineering from Laval University. He promotes innovation in management to increase the efficiency of R&D and cofounded the RCR – innovation en gestion, a group of R&D Managers collaborating and exchanging ideas ion this area. He is currently involved in the implementation of open innovation tools in the Quebec City area with IDTEQ, a group of 5 R&D centres.

Tony Florio is a university relations manager with Research In Motion (RIM), a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. He helps build effective partnerships between RIM and post-secondary academic institutions, focused on generating new ideas and developing talent in areas of strategic interest to the company. A graduate of McMaster University, Prior to joining RIM, Tony also held positions with Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ontario Centres of Excellence.

Dr. Rick Harwig, former Philips CTO and member of the Group Management Committee is independent professional as of April 2010. At Philips he was responsible for technology strategy and management, research and intellectual property and standards, new business incubation and applied technologies. He held various management positions in R&D and innovation in Philips Research, Consumer Electronics and Semiconductors and external board positions in FOM, STT, CQM, INRIA and A*STAR. He has driven open innovation to become a leading theme within Philips and inspired the emerging High Tech Campus Eindhoven to become a unique open innovation eco-system in Europe and the center of gravity for private R&D and Open Innovation in the Netherlands. Today he is active for the North Brabant Development Agency, Eindhoven University of Technology, TiasNimbas Business School, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation, Prodrive, TNO and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.

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.

Andy Hopper is Professor of Computer Technology at the University of Cambridge, Head of Department of the Computer Laboratory, and elected member of the University Council. His research interests include computer networking, pervasive and sentient computing, and using computers to ensure the sustainability of the planet. Andy Hopper has pursued academic and industrial careers simultaneously. In the academic career he has worked in the Computer Laboratory and the Department of Engineering at Cambridge. In the industrial context he has worked in senior roles for multinational companies and also co-founded a dozen spin-outs and start-ups, two of which floated on stock markets. He is currently Chairman of RealVNC and Ubisense. Professor Hopper received the BSc degree from the University of Wales Swansea (1974) and the PhD degree from the University of Cambridge (1978). He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (1996) and of the Royal Society (2006). He was made a CBE for services to the computer industry (2007).

Ari Huczkowski is a professional commercializer, international brandbuilder and marketer, startup company growth advisor, generalist on nanotechnology, open innovation, science and technology parks, hitech ecosystems and a few other things. Mr Huczkowski is currently employed by Otaniemi Marketing Ltd as its CEO to internationally build the brand and market Northern Europe’s biggest hitechnology hub, Otaniemi in Espoo, Finland. Ari holds a M.Sc.Econ. degree in International Business from the University of Vaasa, Finland. In addition to marketing and international marketing Mr Huczkowski has also studied financial accounting, management, journalism, languages and political science. In addition to Finland, Mr Huczkowski has studied in Sweden, Norway and USA.

Ari lives with his wife Tarja and their 2 sons Tobias and Elias in Espoo. His hobbies include playing piano, jogging, reading, gardening, cars, languages and travel. As a goal in his life Mr Huczkowski actively seeks and meets new challenges and he strives to be a positive factor wherever he is.”

Mag Iskander is President, Information Systems, MDA.Prior to this appointment, Iskander held the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager, Space Missions, MDA from 2005 and Vice President and General Manager of MacDonald Dettwiler Robotics division from 1999. He joined Spar Aerospace in 1990 as Program Manager and held a number of positions, including Director of Manufacturing and Vice President, Space Station Program. Mr Iskander worked for several other companies, including Canadair/Bombardier from 1976 to 1988. A native of Cairo, Egypt, he attended Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering, where he received a B.Sc. Industrial/Production Engineering degree in 1973. Iskander immigrated to Canada in the same year. In 1982, he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from McGill University in Montreal. Iskander is President of the Canadian Foundation for the International Space University.

Mr. John R. McDougall, a leader in Canadian science and technology policy and innovation, was appointed as NRC’s President in April 2010. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and honoured as one of the province’s 50 most influential citizens, Mr. McDougall’s career spans many sectors, with a broad and far reaching range of accomplishments and roles to his credit. Until recently, Mr. McDougall served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Research Council (ARC), a position he has held for the past 12 years. Mr. McDougall’s career began with a decade served as a petroleum engineer. This quickly evolved into the ownership and management of an international engineering consulting firm. Following this, he held a number of influential positions with some of Canada’s most innovative research and manufacturing businesses, consortium and not-for-profit organizations. Always an active participant in professional and community affairs, Mr. McDougall has contributed to a number of prominent advisory boards and committees, both on the provincial and federal levels during the course of his 43-year career. He was a member of the NRC-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) Advisory Board from 2002 to 2006 and also contributed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, the Edmonton Space & Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Advisory Committee. A fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers and Engineers Canada, Mr. McDougall has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, with a number of postgraduate courses in Environmental Engineering to his credit. From 1991 to 1997, he served as the university’s first Poole Chair in Management for Engineers, a leadership position within the Faculty of Engineering. Mr. McDougall was founding Chair and President of Innoventures Canada.

Geoff Munro was appointed the Assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada’s newest sector, the Innovation and Energy Technology Sector (IETS) on April 14, 2009. IETS is comprised of CanmetENERGY, the energy technology R&D arm of the Government of Canada, as well as the Strategic Science & Technology Branch. This appointment is in addition to his June 25, 2007 appointment as Natural Resources Canada’s Chief Scientist. In these capacities, Mr. Munro works to position NRCan’s science and technology and its energy research and development within the Canadian innovation system and in broader international arenas, as well as lead the implementation of the department’s science and technology strategy. Mr. Munro came to Ottawa in December 2004 to take over the responsibilities of Director General of Science and Programs for NRCan’s Canadian Forest Service. Prior to that, Mr. Munro was previously the Director General of the Canadian Forest Service – Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Geoff has also worked as a Director of Research and Development for the fish/forestry/wildlife programs for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Alistair Nolan has worked with the OECD since July 1997. Since February 2004 he has worked as a member of a team in the Directorate for Education co-managing work on the development of a strategy for an OECD-wide quantitative assessment of adult competencies. For the bulk of his time with the OECD he has specialised in all aspects of public policy towards entrepreneurship, with a focus on the links between firm creation and the development of local and regional economies. Mr. Nolan played a key role in the preparation of the OECD’s 1998 flagship publication Fostering Entrepreneurship and was also responsible for two OECD books on business incubation: Business Incubation: International Case Studies (1999) and Good Practice in Business Incubation (2000). He has also been responsible for OECD policy recommendations on business networks and enterprise clusters. He is the author of the 2003 OECD book Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development, which reviews knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship and sets out detailed programme and policy guidance for central and local governments. He has also specialised in the evaluation of public policy, and is the editor and co-author of the 2005 OECD book entitled Evaluating Local Economic and Employment Development: How to Assess What Works in Programmes and Policy. Prior to joining the OECD he worked as one of a small group of staff responsible for monitoring and evaluating the technical assistance programme of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. In this context he was responsible for evaluating projects and programmes in fields ranging from training to technology transfer, environmentally clean production and investment promotion. Over a number of years with UNIDO he also occupied posts in research, policy and the design of technical co-operation. Mr. Nolan holds a M.Phil. from Cambridge University in the Economics and Politics of Development, as well as post-graduate qualifications in corporate finance, financial economics, and studies in environmental economics and project finance. He is registered on the Phd in Economics at Cambridge University.

Dr. Laurie Schramm is the President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) where he has led SRC to quadruple in size over the past 9 years, positioning the company as Saskatchewan’s premier provider of applied research, development and technology demonstration and commercialization. This has enabled SRC’s work to contribute over $3 billion in economic activity in Saskatchewan alone, over the past seven years. He has over 30 years of R&D experience in the applications of nanotechnology, colloid and interface science, and has published 9 books, over 300 scientific reports, and 17 patents on his inventions, many of which have been adopted into commercial practice. He has received major national awards for his work, and his development of oil-tolerant foams for enhanced oil recovery was judged to be a Milestone of Canadian Chemistry in the 20th Century. Laurie recently served on the Expert Panel on Oil Sands for the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and before that on the National Panel of Experts on Sustainable Energy Science & Technology for Natural Resources Canada.

He is currently on the Board of Directors of Innovation Saskatchewan Inc. and he is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Innoventures Canada Inc., an alliance of Canada’s research and technology organizations from coast to coast.

Logan Stanton is currently serving as the Director, Head of North America for the World Economic Forum charged with the engagement of governments from North America in various Forum policy initiatives. He manages a team responsible for integrating the industry, regional and global agendas from a North American perspective, into the myriad of interactions facilitated by the World Economic Forum. Previously, Logan completed eight years of service as an Infantry officer in the United States Army. His assignments included the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and company command in 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry (Currahee), Republic of Korea. His last assignment was with 3d Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), with combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Logan studied Political Science and International Relations at the University of Utah. He also holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University with a concentration in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and a Master in Global Leadership from the World Economic Forum. He is a founding editor and sits on the editorial board for the “Korea Policy Review” journal at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Dr. Mario Thomas is an accomplished strategic executive with impressive international credentials in the commercialization of research. With over 30 years in leadership roles directing corporate growth, he creates remarkable value for all stakeholders. Mario Thomas brings extensive experience filled with achievements driving successful development collaborations and financial ventures. Dr. Thomas was promoted to Senior Vice-President, Ontario Centres of Excellence in June 2010. Before being appointed Managing Director of the Centre for Commercialization of Research at the Ontario Centres of Excellence in April 2009, Dr. Thomas was Partner in the venture firm T2C2 Capital. His previous experiences include CEO and co-founders co-founding roles with two start-up companies; and senior positions in business development, marketing and scientific research.