Innovation, Institutions and Territory

Concerns over Canada's ability to compete in the global economy persist despite its relatively improved economic performance in recent years. The key to success in this global economy lies n our capacity to innovate; the ability to develop new, or significantly improved, services, products, production techniques, or management methods; and the capacity to sustain those innovations. The challenge of competing in a global, knowledge-based economy accentuates our need to understand how the innovation process operates in the context of Canada's diverse regional economies. Attempts to understand the nature of the innovation process, and to develop policy to support it, which are exclusively at the national level may founder on this problem of diversity. Policy and analysis in Canada, based on an innovation systems approach, must take into account the economic and social differences among the regions. "Innovation, Institutions and Territory" explores the influence of regional culture and institutions on innovation in Canada. The authors begin with a discussion of conceptual issues underlying analysis of the innovation process in a regional setting and then turn to an examination of Canada's research infrastructure, a factor that strongly influences the innovative potential of regions across the country. Finally, case studies focusing on Quebec and British Columbia provide a detailed picture of the strengths and gaps of individual regional innovation systems. Written by members of the Innovation Systems Research Network (ISRN), a cross-national network of regionally oriented researchers, "Innovation, Institutions and Territory" provides useful insights for scholars and for policymakers at the federal, provincial, and subregional levels.