Editorial - 21-10

With the announcement of funding for a new Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC), a picture of the phenomenal potential of the nascent Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) is coming into focus. Just one project within one of several research areas could attract $500 million in investment from the two jurisdictions, suggesting that a full suite of research programs could run into the many billions of dollars.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine may be furthest advanced, but work is progressing in promising areas such as nano-technology, advanced transportation and energy, information and communication technologies and infectious diseases. Horizontal issues such as venture capital and intellectual property and highly qualified personnel are also the focus of intense examination to ease the ability of bilateral research and financing to flourish.

And there's no need to stop with CCSIP. California certainly hasn't, forging bilateral research collaborations with several other nations including China. Canada could benefit from having similar relationships with high-tech, research-based clusters such as Boston, New York City, Austin and Seattle.

Further afield, modest bilateral collaborations with China and India need to be expanded and European countries should also be targeted. Instead of squandering resource-derived surpluses on cheap vote-getters like GST reduction, it's incumbent upon Ottawa and its provincial counterparts to aggressively pursue research-based and commerce-focused alliances that will yield future dividends and ensure long-term competitiveness.