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

•Large Northern Country•Small population (32 million)•High standard of living

Broadband Deployment

25.10.04 - 4Broadband Deployment

25.10.04 - 4

Our Image

But the Reality Is

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 - seat of National Government

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

1984

• Principles– Honest broker– Flexible– Attitude– Responsive– Create an environment to access $

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

Communications Research Centre

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

Partnership

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?

• Technology centres are shifting– Capability still matters– Taiwan, India, Israel

• Partnership agreements are king– Dell’s experience– Service industries– Deal makers are required

“Looking Forward”