a personal canadian view dr gerry turcotte –ottawa centre for research and innovation (ocri)...
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A Personal Canadian View
Dr Gerry Turcotte–Ottawa Centre for Research and
Innovation (OCRI)–Communications Research Centre
Canada (CRC)
The Future of Research
CanadaCanada
Concept to Commercialization
Market Distant Ideas
IndustryGovernment Laboratories
Universities
NCE efforts
OCRI
CRC
Canada has become an e-SocietyCanada has become an e-Society
Citizens, businesses and governments are going Citizens, businesses and governments are going onlineonline Broadband Deployment
09.12.04 Broadband Deployment
09.12.04
• 100% of schools and libraries connected by 1999
• Over 500,000 refurbished computers to schools
• Median student-to-computer ratio is 1 to 5 (Statistics Canada, 2003/04)
• Connected 12,000 volunteer organizations to the Internet
• Established 8,800 Internet access sites
• CA*net4: the world’s first national optical research and education network
• 64% Households (HIUS 2004) & 75% SMEs use the Internet (CFIB 2003)
• Among lowest communications costs of OECD countries (OECD, 2003)
• # 1 in Government Online (GOL) (Accenture 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
• 100% of schools and libraries connected by 1999
• Over 500,000 refurbished computers to schools
• Median student-to-computer ratio is 1 to 5 (Statistics Canada, 2003/04)
• Connected 12,000 volunteer organizations to the Internet
• Established 8,800 Internet access sites
• CA*net4: the world’s first national optical research and education network
• 64% Households (HIUS 2004) & 75% SMEs use the Internet (CFIB 2003)
• Among lowest communications costs of OECD countries (OECD, 2003)
• # 1 in Government Online (GOL) (Accenture 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Ottawa: Key North American Technology Center
Raleigh-Durham
Regional Population: 1.2 million4,662 sq. miles (12,074 sq. kilometers)
Within a 2 hour flight of population over 160 million
The Speaker
• Recognized as one of Ottawa’s “Technology All Stars” in transforming Ottawa from Government town to a technology centre
The Seeds
1848 - University of Ottawa
1916 - National Research Council
1942 - Carleton University
1948 - Computing Devices, First Spin-offs
1950 - Defence Labs
1958 - Northern Electric (BNR)
1969 - Communications Research Centre
In the Beginning ….• 1983 - Business leaders, Academics
(Presidents of two Universities and the local College) and the top regional politician evolved a plan to create a new agency to:– Build stronger linkages between the academics
(universities/college) and technology companies to:
• To get increased academic focus on interesting industry issues
• leverage resources
The OCRI structure
• Federally incorporated/locally controlled
• Membership funded
• Small staff
• Board of Directors
Networking Schema
Organization A
Organization B
Organization C
President’s Club
Technology Executive Breakfast
Networking
• Research Forums
• Conferences
• Technology Executive Breakfasts
• Marketing Forums
• Specialists’ Fora
• General Public Relations
“Results NOT Control”
Research Expansion
• OCRI spearheaded proposal to Granting Council (NSERC) for Canadian Microelectronics Centre Phase 2– NRC and CRC join OCRI
• No funding for program was approved
• OCRI responded by creating the Focussed Ion Beam program using members resources
Industrial Research Chairs
• Locally proposed
• Funds committed from Partners including OCRI
• Competed in NSERC Program
• 10 Chairs created at the Universities
Provincial Centres ofExcellence
1. Regional lead forproposal
2. Communicationsfunction
3. On BOD
TelecommunicationsResearch Institute ofOntario
National Centres ofExcellence
Regional lead forproposal
Canadian Institute ofTelecommunicationsResearch
Canada Foundation forInnovation
1. OCRI proposal2. Communications3. Board seat
National CapitalInstitute ofTelecommunications
Opportunity - Role - Result
Broadband etc
• First Regional Broadband Network (OCRInet) created
• Joined the Canarie Network (Fourth Pillar organization)
• Supported Life Sciences development
• Entrepreneurship Centre
• Regional Cluster strategy
Education Reach
• Met with Ottawa Carleton Learning Foundation - Primary/Secondary schools– University/college feeder system
• Suggested and implemented a joint strategy
• Eventually merged resources– kindergarden to PhD
Program CoherenceProgram CoherenceProfessional DevelopmentProfessional Development
Venture CapitalVenture Capital
ResearchResearch
Education & HR
Education & HR
Cluster OutreachCluster
Outreach
OCRI Programs
OCRI Programs
Entrepreurship CentreEntrepreurship Centre
Sm@rt CapitalSm@rt Capital
External MarketingExternal Marketing
Advanced Technology Employment
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
1993 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Technology Companies in Ottawa
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Ottawa Venture Capital Investment
CRC Mission• To be the Federal Government’s Centre of
Excellence for communications R&D, ensuring an independent source of advice for public policy purposes
• To help identify and close the innovations gaps in Canada’s communications sector by:– engaging in industrial partnerships
– building technical intelligence
– supporting small and medium size high technology enterprises
CRC Snap Shot
• Agency of Industry Canada
• Separate Board of Directors– Private and Public Sector Members
• Small Lab - 220 Researchers
• Best Intellectual Property Record of all Federal Labs in North America
IP Revenues Normalized to R&D Budget for Major Federal Labs in North America
2001/2002
0.022%
0.057%
0.251%
0.333%
0.378%
0.749%
0.826%
1.228%
0.315%
0.271%
0.258%
0.040%
0.021%
0.016%
0.014%
0.006%
0.000%
0.001%
11.935%
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Health Canada
Fisheries and Oceans
National Research Council
Agriculture and Agrifood Canada
Department of Energy
National Institute of Health
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Navy
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Agencies
Canadian Agencies
CRC
29
Core Competencies
• Wireless Systems
• Communications Networks
• Radio Fundamentals
• Interactive Multimedia
• Photonics
- Client Support
Clients
Strategic Goals: - Innovation Leadership
Innovation Leadership
(Core competencies)
Innovation Leadership
(Core competencies)
Strategic Research Priorities(2004-2007)
- Network Security and
Public Safety
Networ
k Se
curit
y
and
Public
Saf
ety
- Internet and Convergence
Internet and
Convergence
- Radio Spectrum
RadioSpectrum
Strategic Priorities:- Broadband Access
Broad
band
Acces
s- Applications
Applications
- Defence Communications
DefenceCommunications
Technology “Spectrum”• Does Basic Research - Spectrum• Develops Technology - example Milton
– Advancing Commercialization with India
• Transfers technology• Spins off Companies
– Innovative Fibres (Alcatel)
• Protects Intellectual Property– Bragg Fibre gratings (Corning/
SkyWave Mobile Communications Inc.
From Startup to Wireless Global Service Provider...
Peter Rossiter Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder
www.skywave.com
Early days at SkyWave
– 4 Co-founders - all engineers– Lots of ideas, but
• Little money
• No premises
• Skill gaps ( antenna design, pcb layout, mechanical, graphics etc)
• Credibility concerns
• 2 weeks transition period
– Knew CRC from previous working experience
Innovation Centre - Benefits
– Access to CRC technology, research & test facilities,
– CRC/NRC/CSA support programs,– Reasonable rent & flexible occupancy,– Existing e-mail & internet,– Secure premises,– Tremendous credibility with customers and
potential investors
SkyWave Today...
• Leader satellite short messaging services
• Inmarsat “D+” Standards
• Global coverage with 4 mobile satellites
• Terminals and network
• Founded 1997, 31 staff
• Over 45,000 terminals delivered
• Financing $3M in 1999 & $19.3M in 2002
“Looking Forward”
• Principles are permanent - tactics/strategies change
• “Dangerous to drive forward using your rear view mirror IF the road changes”
• The Internet changes everything
What are the rules going forward?