Conference Theme Conference Theme
Innovation is the main driver of economic growth around the world. In western Canada, innovation has created value added opportunities both in the resource sector and by the creation of new high technology enterprises, in areas such as information and communications technology and healthcare. Increasing globalization has created opportunities and threats for western Canadian based companies. The financial and economic crisis has created insecurity and restructuring. At the same time, environmental issues are becoming more pressing, and innovations will be needed to solve them. But history tells us that major innovations often get their start in times of economic turmoil.
These developments raise several important questions:
- How does Canada’s innovation look from a global perspective?
- How can we collaborate better to create wealth?
- How can western Canadian industry become more sustainable?
- How do other jurisdictions deal with these issues?
- And finally, what is the role for government?
The fifth InnoWest Conference tackles each of these questions by bringing together international experts and local leaders. Speakers will illuminate these issues and then discuss them in panels with local leaders, with questions and comments from the audience.
Plan to attend the conference.
InnoWest 2009 will be valuable for you if you work relates to:
- Strategic planning
- Economic growth and diversification
- Providing services to the High Technology or resource sectors
- Business and economic planning
- Research and technology
- Education and training
Session Synopsis
1. How does Canada’s innovation look from a global perspective?
We often tend to look inward when discussing our innovation performance. But outsiders often have a quite different perspective. The speakers at this session will provide a perspective on Canada’s position in the world, from an innovation perspective. A panel discussion follows, with questions and comments from the audience.
2. How can we collaborate better to create wealth?
Western Canada represents a tiny fraction of the world’s population and is located distant from major markets. In this context, collaboration – between companies, between provinces and between not for profits – is a key to wealth creation. Speakers in this session share their thoughts, and this will be followed by a panel discussion.
3. How can western Canadian industry become more sustainable?
Much of western Canada’s wealth has been built on the resource industries – oil and gas, mining, forestry and agriculture. These industries are all energy and capital intensive, and face challenges how to evolve in order to establish their long term sustainability. The speakers at this session will explore these issues and then hold a panel discussion.
4. Alternative policy approaches.
Each jurisdiction has developed its own unique approach to dealing with the common challenges of increasing innovation and productivity performance so as to increase international competitiveness. This session explores what several jurisdictions are doing in this area. A panel discussion will then discuss whether any of these approaches might work in western Canada.
5. What is the role for government?
Around the world governments play widely different roles in the economy, and this role often changes over time. In the US, for example, it was heavily interventionist in the 1930’s, with the New Deal, and then became much less involved, before becoming very heavily involved in recent times. What is the appropriate role for government in western Canada? Speakers share their thoughts on these issues and then hold a panel discussion. | 
