Editorial - 15-12

Call it an invasion from the periphery or trickle-down awareness, but there’s growing evidence that the innovation agenda is spreading. Several articles in this issue focus on the attempts, and success, of researchers and businesses outside of the traditional hard-science or central Canadian focus of S&T to obtain funding to accelerate their participation in the knowledge-base economy.

The largest initiative is the Atlantic Innovation Fund, with $300 million to stimulate R&D collaboration and global competitiveness in a region not often acknowledged in discussions of the New Economy. While there are concerns that the process governing the initiative may be too politicized, the Fund is breathing fresh thinking into a region previously stifled by less-than-innovative policies.

Then there are the social sciences and humanities researchers across Canada, armed with $100 million to help Canadians and policy makers better understand the implications of the technological and knowledge revolution. Once again, the process has its doubters, but it’s a significant chunk of money for areas of research that have much to contribute.

On the communications front, groups like CANARIE are attempting to attract R&D funding for those producing content for the new S&T age — broadband and interactive content delivered over the Internet.

These are just three areas that have demonstrated both the desire and justification for being included in the national innovation agenda. They must be equipped with the means to participate, thrive and add unique value.