Innovation Policy in International Perspective
The Innovation Policy Lab hosted a panel discussion on Canada’s innovation within the global landscape on March 21 at the Munk School of Global Affairs. Panellists included Mark Zachary Taylor, professor and author of The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technology?; Dr. Daniel Munro, director of Public […]
Innovation Policy Lab nominated for Canadian FinTech Award
The Innovation Policy Lab has been nominated for a 2016 Canadian FinTech Award. Presented by the Digital Finance Institute, this award celebrates Canadian innovation and thought leadership in the FinTech industry. The Innovation Policy Lab was nominated for Academic institution most supportive of FinTech, for encouraging FinTech innovation and development. The winners will be announced […]
Why Silicon Valley Shouldn’t Be the Model for Innovation
Worldwide, politicians and policymakers lust after innovation, proclaiming it to be the ultimate solution to all economic maladies everywhere. Practically every country aspires to create its own Silicon Valley. What a bad idea.
Will e-voting boost turnout in Ontario’s municipal elections?
97 communities are using Internet ballots as an alternative voting method on October 27th
Education and inequality between Canadian cities
The widely accepted growth model for developed countries in the 21st century is about achieving advantage based on creativity, innovation and knowledge. In a global economic system cost cannot be the main source of competitive advantage as developing countries will always be able to offer cheaper labour. ‘Winning’ on these terms is not desirable in […]
The Cardinal Sins of Innovation Policy
It happens every time there’s a big announcement about a national or regional innovation policy that will lead us into the future: We are presented with schemes to strengthen intellectual property rights, enlarge the pool of risk financing, and upgrade the universities while pushing them to collaborate more with industry. If we are truly lucky, […]
Why Germany Dominates the U.S. in Innovation
Reading the headlines, you might think that the most urgent question about national success in innovation and growth is whether the U.S. or China should get the gold medal. The truth is: Germany wins hands down. Germany does a better job on innovation in areas as diverse as sustainable energy systems, molecular biotech, lasers, and […]
Startups are a great start, but not the goal
THE recent special report by The Economist on tech startups shows that startup creation is now occurring in more hubs around the world, and it identifies technological causes—the current stabilisation of technological platforms—that allow the rapid creation of specific kinds of tech startups. Nonetheless, it does not offer us answers into the most important questions […]
Unglamorous Freelance Manufacturers Could Boost U.S. Competitiveness
The U.S. competitiveness debate too often devolves into a cry for more Apples and more Ciscos on American shores, when what the country really needs is more Hospiras. More what? Hospira is an advanced contract manufacturer. A freelancer, if you will. It’s a private, independent company in the Chicago area that handles biopharma production for […]