Technology roadmapping terminated

Industry Canada's longstanding involvement in technology roadmapping has been terminated. The department closed down the Technology Roadmap Secretariat late last year and its manager, Geoff Nimmo, retired from government. The branch's last initiative — Soldier Systems Technology Roadmap (SSTRM) (R$, June 22/11), a unique joint venture with the Department of National Defence — has been transferred to DND and is now entering the implementation phase.

Over the years, Industry Canada completed about 35 tech roadmaps (TRMs) on a sectoral basis. Their intent was to provide companies within the sectors with a sense of how and where technologies are evolving, with critical information on what was required to be competitive. SSTRM took the concept several steps further and was being positioned as a template for future technology roadmaps.

"TRMs help organizations chart future market directions, forecast technology developments and help determine choices and challenges in an industry," said Industry Canada in an email statement. "In June 2011, Industry Canada undertook an internal re-organization as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that its financial resources are aligned with its core priorities and programs. The proposed changes included winding down the Industry Sector's involvement in the development of Technology Roadmaps."

The SSTRM project has been ongoing for more than two years and involved a series of well-attended workshops with industry and academia. The process was facilitated by specialized software and a database of DND's needs and industry capabilities combined with the federal government's first public-facing WIKI.

DND remains committed to the project and has assumed full responsibility. Nimmo has begun a second career as a consultant and his first project is SSTRM.

Industry Canada says SSTRM had evolved to the point where it is "well advanced and ready for industry leadership", adding that the government continues to place emphasis on macroeconomic conditions.

This "comprehensive approach includes a fiscal and economic framework that will keep our industries competitive, and investments in research and development".

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