Welcome

1
Welcome Introduction

• Yukon Innovation Cluster

Presentation by Curtis Prosko, Chair Donna
Mercier, February 14, 2005
2
History

• Began with EKO North Forum May 2004
• Yukon showed initial enthusiasm
• Steering Committee and working group were
  established
• Feasibility study underway
• No go/go decision on March 8th

3
Northern Research Innovation Cluster

• Our Vision
• To establish a world-recognized cluster for
  construction and infrastructure based in the
  Yukon, for the development, commercialization and
  export of sustainable cold weather technologies
  and related solutions for sub-arctic regions
  around the world. It will be a key wealth
  generator for Yukon

4
What is a cluster?

• Clustering is a term that economists have
  borrowed from science to describe the growth of a
  significant concentration of innovative companies
  around a nucleus of RD facilities.
• It is a collaboration involving industry
  associations, academic institutions, all levels
  of government and private industry
• Its an incubator for Private Enterprise
• It is also a delivery vehicle of innovative
  programming

5
Benefits

• The benefits to innovation clusters, based on
  public and private sector teamwork, partnerships
  and networks, are many
• Creation of highly skilled jobs
• Secondary growth and wealth creation
• Investment in community resources and
  infrastructure
• Export knowledge
• Profile for the Territory

6
Partners

• Yukon Government
• Yukon College
• Yukon Chamber of Commerce
• Yukon Housing Corporation
• National Research Council IRAP
• NRC Institute for Research in Construction
• INAC
• Private Sector
• (City of Whitehorse, AYC, FN will engage after
  go/no go)

7
Research Directions

• Building Construction and Maintenance
• Municipal Infrastructure
• Geo-technical works

8

• GOALS
• By the year 2010, Yukon will be a global leader
  in innovative cold region technologies and
  development for the benefit of Canada.
• We will perform, assist and promote strategic
  discovery research and innovation in cold region
  technologies in partnership with key
  stakeholders, to improve and diversify Canadian
  industry and strengthen Canadas competitive
  position in the global (knowledge-based economy).

9
If we take a look at the NRC-Biotech
Centre in Saskatoon

• Annual budget 10.5 million
• Non- NRC investment gt 29 million
• 110 NRC staff members
• gt90 guest researchers

• They assisted over 1,200 customers
• Impact Ratio 546 (for every 1 spent, the
  return was 5.46 to the Province)
• Over 330 jobs were created
• Economic Growth in Saskatchewan 45,000,000

10
Quotes Testimonials

• The partnerships build within the cluster will
  not only strengthen the research base, but will
  foster the development of new products, services,
  businesses and high-quality jobs
• Innovation and research and development will be
  the key to the growth of our economy. PEI
  Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie,
  on behalf of Premier Pat Binns

11
Testimonials

• This cluster is one of the hottest things in
  Canada today. It represents a platform for
  sustained success, combining the strengths of
  NRC, the expertise at UPEI, a dynamic private
  sector, exceptional support from government, and
  an enthusiastic community, said UPEI Pres. Wade
  Maclauchlan. The challenge now is to keep
  building it with the highest possible ambitions
  for national and international success

12
Business Opportunities

• Business Incubation
• Technology Licenses
• Joint Ventures
• Contracted Research
• Guest Researchers

13
Working through Partnerships
Yukon Cluster
14
Nature of Innovation Setting the Stage for
Economic Development

• In a world of global
• competition, sources
• of competitive
• advantage are
• becoming increasingly
• localized. True
• competitive advantage
• is found within our
• communities.
• Michael Porter

• Industrial innovation a local
• phenomenon centered on
• clusters of firms
• Innovative firms forge local
• alliances to compete globally
• As technology changes
• rapidly and radically, need for
• proximity increases

15
Cluster Building - Challenges

• Small industrial community
• Time from research to market is long (11-22
  years)
• Small Venture Capital community
• High risk
• Geographic isolation

16
Critical Elements

• Expertise Expertise Expertise
• Partnerships Partnerships Partnerships
• Facilitator
• Community Focus (Honest Broker)
• Building Infrastructure

17
The Objective

• Industrial Mass large/small companies, diverse
  market segments
• New Company Formation significant
• Scientific Infrastructure diverse, breadth,
  depth, world-leading
• Commercialization Infrastructure scale-up,
  prototyping
• HR Pool right skill mix
• Private/Public Funding Sources venture
  capitalists, Government programs

18
Key Imperatives

• Product technology, infrastructure, expertise,
  excellence
• Finance access to government and non-government
  funding and support. Investment Capital
• Marketing Private Industry
• Networks Academia/Government Labs/Industry
  regional, national, international
• Environment support for RD, Government
  programs, business friendly (taxation etc.),
  mutual trust

19
Cluster Building Key to Economic Development
MARKET
20
Northern Research Cluster

• Our aim is to support and grow the Canadian
  economy through strategic research in sub-arctic
  technologies.