OCRI’s Global Marketing group, re-branded as Invest Ottawa, will market Ottawa to attract investment, people and companies critical to the city’s sustained success. Additional funding will enable the group to expand international relationships with rising economies, such as China, India and Brazil, as well as, build its capability in business expansion and retention.

OCRI will continue to deliver innovation programs to develop, attract and retain talent; support entrepreneurs in the startup and early growth of their business; promote entrepreneurial and innovation success skills; support the acceleration of high potential companies; and offer training and skill enhancement events to Ottawa’s professional community.

The funding announcement felt like a well-earned pat on the back from the Mayor and City staff – recognition of the valuable work that OCRI has done to accelerate innovation while promoting Ottawa to the world on a tight budget with a small staff. Increased funding for both the investment and innovation initiatives as well as the great work done by the Entrepreneurship Centre for the broad business community allows OCRI to continue to lead the way for Ottawa and we’re happy to take up that challenge.

Some time has passed and the news of the Christchurch earthquake has dropped from media attention in North America, but the suffering continues. The death toll is now pegged at 166 with 10,000 homes destroyed. The latest reports suggest that fully one third of the buildings require demolition. The can-do attitude of the Kiwi was apparent in their approach to the disaster from the first minutes. In this tragic time, it was heart-warming to see the response and level of international support, including Canada and especially Australia. 

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Although described as a nerd by someone close to me, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit Hobbiton while travelling across the North Island. Portions of the The Hobbit movie, precursor to the Lord of the Rings, is being filmed there later this year.  The investment in unbelievably “real” backdrops for filming on location helps to explain why New Zealand is able to attract so much attention from the movie industry. The amazing scenery and diversity in relatively short distances is a contributor as well.

While in Auckland, I had the opportunity to meet with Andy Hamilton, CEO of the ICEHOUSE, a local business incubator. They occupy a complete floor of an old warehouse in the Parnell textile district. The incubator is configured as completely open concept, with everyone, including Andy, working in open desks around the outside of the space and glass walled meeting rooms in the center of the floor space. The ICEHOUSE was formed in 2001 and is a partnership between University of Aukland, Bank of New Zealand, Boston Consulting Group, Ernst & Young, HP, Microsoft and Telecom NZ.

The ICEHOUSE has two main lines of business: ICE Accelerator, ICE Network and ICE Bridge. ICE Accelerator is the incubator, which provides a modest office space along with full support (IT, communications, reception etc.) plus access to in-house consulting partners covering areas of HR, strategy, marcomms etc. Of the 25 active clients at any one time, 15 are located within the incubator and the others have graduated to their own premises. The companies pay $1,000 per month to be clients and an additional $1,500 per month to be housed in the incubator.

ICE Bridge is a collaborative learning environment for owner-managers with a focus on tools to move their business forward. These companies are typically profitable and ready to undertake expansion opportunities. ICE Network is described as the ICEHOUSE extended family including entrepreneurs, owner-managers, speakers, partners and alumni. In addition, the ICE Angels have been operating for the past seven years and have selected 17 companies for investment ($26 million) and active mentorship. They are typically young, innovative New Zealand companies ready to build a global enterprise.

ICEHOUSE was named one of the Top 10 technology incubators in the world by Forbes magazine in 2010 following the Vero Excellence in Business Support award in 2009.

The Auckland area has about 200 of the 600 startup companies across New Zealand. With a population of 1.5 million in the greater Auckland area this is comparable to Ottawa-Gatineau region in size and strength. There are definitely some interesting ideas that can be garnered from the visit. Providing a strong nexus of people, knowledge, expertise and best practices has a significant impact on both the quantity of new companies produced and hopefully their success rate. It will be interesting to follow ICEHOUSE progression over the next five to 10 years. I’ve invited Andy to visit Ottawa to see what we have going here and to continue the learning process.

Thanks for all the comments for my first two blogs. Now that I have a few blogs under my belt, I hope to sit down every month to organize some of my thoughts into what I hope you’ll find interesting and informative posts. I look forward to sharing some ideas comparing and contrasting wine production with technological innovation next month.

Claude

It is the morning after a devastating earthquake here in New Zealand.  I would like to extend my condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who were killed or injured in powerful earth quake that struck Christchurch.  My family and I are safe but it is a harsh reminder to always live life to its fullest and to not take anything for granted.

We are in Auckland (North Island) until Friday when we fly back. The quake and the many aftershocks were very close to downtown Christchurch on the South Island. At 6.3 this was lower intensity than the 7.0 in the fall but was closer to the surface and closer to the city center. Death toll sits officially 38 but is expected to be higher since about 200 people are still missing in the rubble. It hit at 12:50 pm so office buildings were full. They have just pulled out six people without injury so everyone is hopeful for the rest. We did have the chance to visit the South Island earlier in our trip when we stayed three nights in the hotel across the street from Christchurch Cathedral which has now lost its tower in the quake.

While sombered by the news of the quake we continue exploring this amazing country. 

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There have been several comments and questions since my first post and I’ll attempt to answer them here or in the third part next week. Please see my first blog about entrepreneurism and innovation.  While on vacation I couldn’t resist creating an opportunity to find out more.

Lord of the Rings hype is increasing since filming of “The Hobbit” starts next month. Peter Jackson has apparently recovered enough to get the production underway. During the visit to Queenstown, to sample some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world, I took time out to visit a few of the filming locations for Lord of the Rings and other films. Visiting some of sites via narrow roads clinging to the sides of the mountains gave me a hint about the Kiwi approach to risk and danger, more on this later.

I was asked why New Zealanders, or Kiwis, are more entrepreneurial than Canadians. While I’m still not sure that I’ve found the complete answer, there are a few items of note. First, NZ is a frontier country; second, it has been relatively recently settled by people from afar; and third, it missed the smoke and grime of the industrial revolution. The post-secondary institutions in NZ are excellent and they attract students from many countries. At this stage I’m not sure that this contributes to the innovative environment but I suspect that it does by bringing in people from different cultures, experiences and new ideas at a minimum. New Zealand spends 6.2% of GDP on education (Canada 4.9% and USA 5.5%).

Although some parts of New Zealand have been settled for more than 150 years, most areas have been settled during the past century. The total population was only 100,000 in 1850 and less than 800,000 in 1900. This gives the country, and especially the South Island, a feeling of a new frontier. In contrast, Canada had 3.5 million people in 1867 and four times the current New Zealand population back in 1950. Of course, the Canadian west was developed in a significant way over the past century and explains why some parts of NZ feel like parts of BC and Alberta. This “cowboy” mentality brings a risk taking, get-the-job-done approach to life. Just try making a living raising 20,000 less than intelligent four-legged animals at a sheep station in Central Otaga.

New Zealand, like Canada, was founded by people from other lands. First, by the South Pacific warriors, the Moari, and then by the English, Scots, Irish, Dutch, Germans and Scandinavians. Later, by the Chinese and Indians and more recently by people from around the world. This melting pot of cultures and languages brings an innovative spirit. Often the most enterprising people are those who have chosen to move their families to seek a better life in a new world. Although 91% list English as their first tongue, many different languages are spoken here.

Finally, New Zealand seems to have missed most of the industrial revolution that blighted many centres in Europe and North America. The country was predominately agrarian while we built our traditional industries in Canada. This leaves the country with a pristine environment and a wonderful place, with the highly educated and international population, to excel in this world of innovative solutions and a service-oriented economy.

I’ve set the following questions for my informal survey:

• Why do so many people own their own businesses and are there government incentives?
• Are tech businesses encouraged in any specific ways and what influences local innovation?

Stay tuned for Part 3, where I will discuss innovation in wine production before getting on to technology pursuits.

Claude

Greetings from the South Island of New Zealand, which lives up to its reputation as a scenic, almost magical place. We haven’t seen any Orks yet, or Hobbits for that matter, but we have encountered a friendly and inquisitive local population that always has a story to share. I hadn’t intended to work or even blog on my visit to New Zealand as a tourist. We have planned this vacation for more than two years and saved vacation days from last year in order to stretch it to a full three weeks. So far we’ve visited Christchurch, the garden city, and travelled by rail through Arthur’s Pass in the Southern Alps and then by coach down to Franz Josef, an alpine town in the rain forest at the foot of the glacier of the same name.

Over the past year, when not hosting OCRI professional development events, entertaining visiting delegations from various countries, participating in youth entrepreneurship initiatives and meeting with the various funders of our innovation programs, I have led a group called Innovation Leadership Team (ILT). ILT has been focusing on cataloguing the assets in Ottawa, defining our innovation objectives and comparing to other leading innovation centers globally. We have had multiple opportunities to see what’s happening in China, places like Z-Park with their 18,000 technology companies in one industrial park. I’m taking the opportunity while on vacation to get a sense of the New Zealand approach. To that end, I will be meeting with the CEO of the ICEHOUSE, a company incubator in Auckland later in the trip.

As I learn more about the Kiwis, as they call themselves, I discover a people that are both very enterprising and innovative but also hard working with a balanced life style. These are people who value living well but not to excess. The focus on locally produced food, beer and wine was driven I’m sure by the distance to other countries but continues today as distances become smaller. Their focus on sustainable living rivals the Scandinavian approach. Everyone, at least on the South Island, is very connected to the natural environment, how could you not be with such diverse and beautiful surroundings.

Another striking feature of life in this area of New Zealand is the average age. With a massive influx of university students and recent graduates from countries from around the world, there is a youthful flavour about the population. Add that to the fact that most people we have seen are quite fit, I’m feeling decidedly old and out of shape in comparison.

I’m planning to ask the locals the following questions:

• Why do so many people own their own business?
• Are there gov’t incentives?
• Are tech businesses encouraged in any specific way?
• What has influenced local innovation?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I hope to be able to talk about innovation in wine production. Consumption of course is part of the experience.

Claude

OCRI has been supportive of and involved with the economic refresh activity by City staff although not directly involved with the steering committee. The organization fulfills a leading role in economic development for the region including the entrepreneurship centre, global marketing (investment and trade activities in Ottawa and abroad) and regional innovation activities in addition to other OCRI activities for members.

Leading the way for Ottawa, OCRI fully supports the bolstering of key economic development activities in the region. Investment has decreased over the past few years and fallen far behind investment by other cities and regions. More investment will result in a more diversified local economy with strong international success.

Key economic development initiatives include the creation of strong ecosystems in the areas of: international trade and investment, entrepreneurship, and clusters (including cleantech, life sciences, wireless/mobile applications and digital media). (See our KBI white paper response for more detail.)

Talent is a key focus area for Ottawa. While we have high quality, local talent with many students graduating every year from our universities and colleges, we need to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) participation to meet the demands. Strategies must be implemented to attract, engage and retain talent in Ottawa. Leadership and early entrepreneurship education are also key focus areas. (See our Talent white paper response for more detail.)

OCRI is a leader in providing a full range of commercialization and investment resources to companies across knowledge-based industries to accelerate their growth in the global marketplace. This includes support for startup company creation through Entrepreneur’s Edge, Lead-to-Win, Exploriem and other programs. OCRI works to bring capital to the region through investment in high potential emerging technology leaders in Ottawa.

OCRI programs and services touch many business people and youth in our community. Because of the broad range of services, it is difficult to fully understand the value that OCRI brings to the community. OCRI partners with the City of Ottawa to deliver a number of services to the community which I have outlined below. Key OCRI services that support Ottawa’s economic development include:

Entrepreneurship Centre

• Helps entrepreneurs make informed business decisions while starting or growing their businesses (seminars and workshops on management, legal and accounting)
• Youth focus via programs like Ottawa Innovation Challenge, Junior Achievement, Canada Youth Business Foundation, Summer Company and others;
• Operates resource centre at City Hall, kiosks in Orleans, Barrhaven and Kanata.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

• Delivers Entrepreneur’s Edge series for entrepreneurship training;
• Delivers TalentBridge which engages entrepreneurial engineering students in work terms that develop marketing, sales and business management skills and connects students with supportive mentors from the local knowledge-based sector.

Global Marketing

• Provides assistance for export-oriented businesses seeking to market products and services internationally;
• Provides support for in-bound and out-bound trade missions with emphasis on Asia, Europe, U.S. and Latin America;
• Active founding member of the Ontario Technology Corridor (Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, London and Niagara) which was established for joint marketing abroad;
• Supports Ottawa’s established and emerging knowledge-based clusters (Photonics, Wireless, Software, eBusiness, Contact Centres, Life Sciences, Cleantech, Security and Digital Media.)

Investment and Commercialization

• Provides business advisory services, business acceleration, market intelligence and mentoring to build the next wave of knowledge-based companies;
• Hosts the annual Ontario Venture Summit (OVS) to showcase companies to qualified investors;
• Actively supports community-based initiatives including: Lead to Win, Exploriem, TiE, and The Ottawa Network.

Community Leadership

• OCRI hosts and chairs the Innovation Leadership Team;
• OCRI chairs the Ottawa Technology Round Table for industry, academic and research institutions, and federal, provincial and city governments;
• OCRI CEO is a member of the Tourism Leadership Team;
• OCRI contributes to the Digital Strategy Round Tables at Industry Canada.

OCRI is a diverse and dynamic organization that aims to be responsive to the needs of our local business community. If you are interested in learning more about OCRI and the many ways that our programs, services and individuals contribute to the economic well being of the city visit our website www.ocri.ca, stop by the Entrepreneurship Centre at Ottawa City Hall or get in touch with one of our program managers.

Ottawa Hello from 36,000 feet over the Canadian Rockies!

We were up bright and early before dawn and arrived at the airport just at daybreak, weather looking good for a flight to the other side of the world. It’s very exciting to be going to China, if only we had the Enterprise transporter working by now. Five plus hours to Vancouver, three hour wait and then another 11 hours to Beijing is the pain before the gain on a typical trade and investment mission. This brings back memories of long flights to distant lands to meet important customers back in the heady days of the telecom boom during the 90s.

Waiting at the airport on my just in time arrival (I don’t like to spend extra time at airports), is our mission team including the Mayor of Ottawa and his advisor. At the request of OCRI, Mayor Larry O’Brien has agreed to lead a trade and investment mission to four cities in China over the next 10 days. Travelling to Asia is old-hat for the Mayor, having visited many times in his business persona, but this is his first time to China as the Mayor of the capital city of a G8 country.

So far, we have been treated very well by the Chinese with letters of invitation, visas and itineraries produced efficiently and as requested. Thankfully, we have the tireless Joan Sun as our coordinator for the mission. She not only took care of many of the protocol and logistics items but was willing and able to call Beijing at all times of the day and night to get everything ready for our trip.

The trade and investment mission includes: Mayor Larry O’Brien and Robert Thompson, the mayor’s advisor; OCRI; Ottawa Tourism; and eleven companies from the investment, Cleantech and ICT sectors. Representing OCRI is Mike Darch, Executive Director, Global Marketing, OCRI who is on his fifth mission to China over the past five years; Joan Sun, OCRI China Program Manager; and myself, Claude Haw, President and CEO, OCRI on my first trade mission since joining OCRI last year. Representing Ottawa Tourism is Noel Buckley, President, a frequent traveler to Asia and other areas of the world whose tourism perspective is very valuable.

While in China we hope to secure a number of new agreements and reaffirm others including the Sister City Cooperation agreement between Ottawa and Beijing. We will be meeting with groups of investors looking for bilateral investment opportunities, municipal officials considering alternatives for water, energy and waste infrastructure projects and companies looking for the latest innovation in information and communications technologies.

This is the first of many blogs from the mission to China.  Look for insight from a number of participants on the trip. Everyone will have their own stories to tell!

It seemed strange to leave Ottawa in sunny early morning, travel almost around the clock in sunlight to arrive in Beijing mid-afternoon of the next day. We were well received in China with the coordinator from the Beijing Foreign Office  coming to the airport to meet us. After traveling nearly 12,000 km, this was a wonderful personal touch.

First impressions of Beijing from a sleep-deprived state of mind was …. well a fog actually, not the crystal clear air of the Rockies at least. The route from the airport downtown was very much that of a modern city with many tall buildings, both commercial office towers and residential, a few older apartment buildings and much more English writing on buildings than I expected. Mid-afternoon traffic from the airport to our hotel in central Beijing was moderate to heavy but moved well. There were bicycles and motorbikes on the road but not a huge number. The block around the hotel holds dealerships for Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin, shops for Gucci, etc. and even a Starbucks.

People at the airport, on roads, streets and hotel seem courteous and friendly. The Regent Hotel people were very helpful and fast on check-in. There was whole contingent at the door to welcome the Mayor including the hotel manager. Our home for the next five days and four nights looks to be excellent.

Lucky for us the itinerary for our first short day was to get settled in our hotel, get a briefing from the Vice Counsel from the Canadian Embassy in Beijing followed by a light dinner and then off to bed to attempt to synchronize our body clock with the local time. Asking my body to stay awake for more than 24 hours was so much easier a couple of decades ago – oh to be 30 again!

More to come after a very full day tomorrow….

The approach the City chooses  to economic development is key to all of our success.  The consensus now is that we can no longer simply default to expansion of the Federal Public Service as our engine of prosperity.  Your voice in this discussion is important.  I would like to encourage you to participate as well by logging on to OPINIONOTTAWA.CA where you will be able to review position papers on subjects including the role of knowledge-based industries, talent and more and comment on them in the discussion forum.

Please take the time to make your opinion heard as an actively involved member of our community and business leader.  Ottawa has a great economic future filled with potential across so many industries. 

Let’s do what we can to ensure that the City has significant and sincere input that they can use to define an approach to economic development that reflects the realities of our great city!