SSHRC scholars provide input to DES

Researchers funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) have prepared papers compiling relevant knowledge for consideration in the Digital Economy Strategy (DES) strategy when it's released early next year.

The papers were produced with 25 Knowledge Synthesis Grants on the Digital Economy worth up to $25,000 with a total value of $562,000. Originally awarded last July with a duration of less than five months, the projects were not announced until November 22nd even though they are nearing completion. Once complete, they will be submitted to Industry Canada to inform policy for formulating the strategy.

The 25 scholars from 15 universities were asked to synthesize existing scholarly information on various aspects of the digital economy including the capacity to innovate using digital technologies, digital skills, Canadian digital content, growing the industry and digital infrastructure.

Some of the projects are: computer games and Canada's digital economy (Sean Douglas, Univ of Alberta); protecting privacy rights in the emerging digital economy (Lesley Jacobs, York Univ); digital media and national innovation (Carin Holroyd, Univ of Waterloo); improving Canada's digital advantage (Wendy Cukier, Ryerson Univ); and, the university e-textbook (Gérdard Boismenu, Univ of Montreal).

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