Research Incentives: Maximizing Performance in the Knowledge Economy
Are Canada’s Business R&D Incentives Working?
As Canada continues to adapt to the globalization of the knowledge economy, Canadian firms are facing stiff competition from more and more players. On the plus side, globalization offers global sales, marketing, distribution; collaboration, partnerships and outsourcing. Is Canada’s policy environment helping entrepreneurs and firms in knowledge-based sectors deal with these challenges and opportunities? In particular, are research and innovation incentives effective? What is the benefit to knowledge-based firms of tax measures, government support programs, grants (like the US model), technology transfer from publicly-funded institutions, improving the general business environment. Are other incentives required, for example in the area of market research and customer identification? What mix of incentives should governments choose? How are other countries using research and other incentives to grow their knowledge-based sectors?
This one-day event will explore these and other issues related to research and innovation incentives. Business leaders and other experts will elaborate how Canadian policy makers can utilize incentives to support a vital and growing private sector capable of winning globally.
Speakers, Panelists, and Moderators include
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.
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.
Preliminary Conference Program
Day 1 - March 25, 2007
07:30 - 08:00
Registration and Continental Breakfast
08:10 - 08:45
Industry Keynote
Kirk Mandy, President and CEO, Zarlink Semiconductor
08:45 - 09:15
In Search of a Balanced System of Innovation Incentives: Trends and Issues [Featured Speaker]
Jacek Warda, Managing Principal, JPW Innovation Associates Inc.
09:15 - 10:15
Panel 1: Incentives for Start-up Firms
Molly Shoichet, Professor and Director, Undergraduate Collaborative Bioengineering, Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering, University of Toronto
11:00 - 12:00
Panel 2: Incentives for Established Firms
Garth Issett, VP, Manufacturing Development Operations, IBM Canada Ltd.
John Wood, Senior Advisor, Science and Technology, General Motors Canada
12:00 - 13:30
Lunch - The International Commercialization of Canadian Business R&D [Luncheon Speaker]
Stewart Beck, Assistant Deputy Minister, Investment, Innovation and Sectors, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
14:15 - 15:15
Panel 3: The Future of Incentives for Knowledge-based Business
Bob Fessenden, Deputy Minister, Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
Alastair Glass, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Innovation and Research
Geneviève Tanguay, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministère de Développment économique, Innovation et Exportation, Québec
15:45 - 16:45
Panel 4: Wrap-up
Jim Roche, Acting President & CEO, Canadian Microelectronics Corporation, Retired President & CEO, Tundra Semiconductor Corporation
Proceedings & Presentations
