{"id":1242,"date":"2009-06-16T03:56:58","date_gmt":"2009-06-16T08:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2009-06-22T12:08:27","modified_gmt":"2009-06-22T17:08:27","slug":"globalization-innovation-new-vs-old-economy-how-much-does-nation-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/2009\/06\/16\/globalization-innovation-new-vs-old-economy-how-much-does-nation-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Globalization &amp; Innovation: New vs. Old Economy &amp; How Much Does &#8216;Nation&#8217; Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Notes from north of 49\u00baN.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I now live in a relatively small country, ranked 36th. in population, at 33.7M {versus 306.7M in the US}, but in the top 10 in terms of economies with a GDP of $1.3T {#9 ranking}, versus 13.8T for the US {#1 ranking}. \u00a0I mention this, as I wonder about scale and innovation, <em>i.e<\/em>., can smaller countries effectively compete in technology in a global environment? \u00a0One of my interests in innovation is biotechnology, a &#8220;new economy&#8221; area\u00a0focusing on better outcomes for &#8220;health, the environment,\u00a0and for industrial, agricultural and energy production.&#8221; \u00a0Advances in genetics are creating a race for companies and countries, with the idea of dominating the biotech field in order to enjoying profits and prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>Last summer, I saw on a Canadian network a segment on how Canadian government investments in biotech were getting bought up by US firms, implying that the relatively small Canadian government was, in part, subsidizing innovations flowing south of the border. \u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matthew_effect\">The Matthew effect<\/a> <\/strong>kicks in, as rich get richer and the poor get poorer, given that Canadian firms were being snapped up by US firms with deep pockets, transferring value southward. \u00a0According to a <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/servlet\/story\/RTGAM.20090116.wcover17\/BNStory\/Technology\/home\">Globe &amp; Mail article<\/a> <\/strong>{click on license option}, another issue is that Canadian venture capital is lacking, so Canadian biotech firms often are capitalized by US venture capital firms that like to keep close tabs on operations and encourage offices\/operations in the US.<\/p>\n<p>Well, is Canada even a player in this biotech area?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-1243\" title=\"biotechoecd\" src=\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/files\/2009\/06\/biotechoecd-400x270.jpg\" alt=\"biotechoecd\" width=\"400\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/files\/2009\/06\/biotechoecd-400x270.jpg 400w, https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/files\/2009\/06\/biotechoecd-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/files\/2009\/06\/biotechoecd.jpg 654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to 2006\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/4\/23\/42833898.pdf\">OECD data<\/a><\/strong>, Canada is a player in terms of the number of firms {532}, the number of patents {ranked #6 in 2004}, and revenues {$83M}, along with an 11% compound annual growth rate {CAGR} of revenues from 1999-2005.<\/p>\n<p>Given how collaboration and capital are now global, does it even matter where innovations are incubated? \u00a0A study by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.informaworld.com\/smpp\/content~db=all~content=a713606079\">Bagchi-Sen &amp; Scully {2004}<\/a><\/strong> is illuminating. \u00a0They divide biotech forms into two categories:: high R&amp;D intensity and low R&amp;D intensity. \u00a0Each has a different take with respect to strategies within the context of globalization::<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>High R&amp;D Intensity:<\/strong>: Ties to local universities\/Canadian researchers &amp; collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, but desire global capital inflows. \u00a0Prototypical firm is in health theraputics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low R&amp;D Intensity::<\/strong> Emphasis on local production and development of Canadian market. \u00a0Focus on strategic alliances with foreign firms. \u00a0Prototypical firm is in diagnostics or agricultural biotech.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In terms of innovation policy, this brings up interesting food for thought for Canadian politicians in light of this recession. \u00a0Thanks to Barack Obama, Canada&#8217;s large neighbour to the south is pumping\u00a0$21.5B of stimulus towards science and technology, which begs the question, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bioscienceworld.ca\/ShouldTheCanadianBiotechIndustryFearBrainDrainToTheUS\">how will this affect Canada<\/a><\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>It makes sense that Canadian policy would encourage the projects of low-intensity R&amp;D firms with ties to the US, as these firms:: may be able to capitalize on relationships with stimulus-receiving firms, will develop innovations for the Canadian market, and will be focused on local Canadian production and manufacturing. \u00a0The high-intensity R&amp;D firms could use funding {<em>hint:: <\/em> even more than <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/crossborderbiotech.ca\/2009\/03\/19\/250-million-ontario-emerging-technologies-fund-seen-raised-by-825-million-quebec-venture-capital-fund\/\">$1B+CAN stimulus<\/a><\/strong>} that focuses on spurring innovations and the building of a sustainable base of Canadian talent and resources. \u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ogov.newswire.ca\/ontario\/GPOE\/2009\/01\/05\/c5173.html?lmatch=&amp;lang=_e.html\">Dalton McGuinty&#8217;s {Liberal Premiere} efforts in Ontario<\/a> <\/strong>might be a step in the right direction, but I&#8217;m not seeing clearly how this all fits together with an economic recovery plan. \u00a0Biotech. is not without risks, particularly with respect to agricultural biotech, which consumers are uncertain of. \u00a0Activists have alerted consumers with terms like &#8220;Frankenfood&#8221; for genetically-modified organisms {GMOs} and Monsanto&#8217;s lawsuits against <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bovine_somatotropin#Lawsuit_against_Fox_television\">journalists<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monsanto_Canada_Inc._v._Schmeiser\">farmers<\/a><\/strong> don&#8217;t help the cause. \u00a0So, maybe ag. biotech is a lose, but developing Canadian competitive advantage in innovations, in terms of other forms of biotech, nanotechnologies, clean energy, and green collar jobs, may provide fertile terrain for politicians and policymakers.<\/p>\n<p>Well, enough of this talk of the &#8220;new economy&#8221; of biotech and innovations, what about the old economy, still prevalent in many parts of Canada? \u00a0Globalization has drawn Stephen Harper&#8217;s {Prime Minister} Conservative government <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/Business\/bailout+regrettable+necessary+Harper\/1652295\/story.html\">into bailout fever to the tune of $9.5B<\/a><\/strong>, in order to secure that 16% of GM&#8217;s production remains in Canada. \u00a0This includes $3.1B that the Province of Ontario ponied up by Dalton McGuinty&#8217;s government. \u00a0Unfortunately, this might <em><strong>only save <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>4,400 jobs<\/strong><\/em><em><strong>,<\/strong><\/em> after projected layoffs, according to CBC::<\/p>\n<p><object width=\"425\" height=\"344\" data=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/lLB2JYgucAQ&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" \/><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/lLB2JYgucAQ&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;\" \/><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" \/><\/object><br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Given how the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conservative_Party_of_Canada\">Tories<\/a><\/strong> and the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liberal_Party_of_Canada\">Grits <\/a><\/strong>have played their cards in this {along with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thestar.com\/news\/canada\/article\/651364\">playing a current game of Federal &#8220;chicken&#8221;<\/a><\/strong>}, I see an opportunity for the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ndp.ca\/platform\/jobsandaffordability\/newenergyeconomy\">NDP to make inroads with their platform<\/a><\/strong> based on developing new technologies and saving jobs. \u00a0Alas, more on &#8220;GMfail&#8221; and job losses in Canada in a future post.<\/p>\n<p>So, it looks like nation matters, but in a global milieu. \u00a0Nothing surprising. \u00a0If you were to advise Canadian politicians, should new technologies {<em>e.g<\/em>., biotech, green, energy} be developed more aggressively {or at least explored} and does it make sense to commit billions to save jobs with an untested GM restructuring?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Twitterversion::\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: normal\">#newblogpost How should Canada compete {bio}tech, given globalzatn, US domnce, &amp; recession? #GMfail bailout, good idea?\u00a0http:\/\/bit.ly\/18bBq8\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/Prof_K\">@Prof_K<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Song::<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imeem.com\/people\/cyLoApk\/music\/lG_ZIvpk\/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-genetic-engineering\/\">Genetic Engineering &#8211; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 300px\"><object width=\"300\" height=\"110\" data=\"http:\/\/media.imeem.com\/m\/XDuznNCxFx\/aus=false\/\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\"><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/media.imeem.com\/m\/XDuznNCxFx\/aus=false\/\" \/><\/object><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding:1px\">\n<div style=\"float:left;padding:4px 4px 0 0\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imeem.com\/\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<form style=\"margin:0;padding:0\" action=\"http:\/\/www.imeem.com\/embedsearch\/\" method=\"post\"> <\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Video::<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><object width=\"300\" height=\"243\" data=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/_YkEBtFbOGg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" \/><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/_YkEBtFbOGg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;\" \/><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" \/><\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Notes from north of 49\u00baN. I now live in a relatively small country, ranked 36th. in population, at 33.7M {versus 306.7M in the US}, but in the top 10 in terms of economies with a GDP of $1.3T {#9 ranking}, versus 13.8T for the US {#1 ranking}. \u00a0I mention this, as I wonder about scale [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[656,1512,356,1518,1514,1516,64,1291,886,1517,1519,1388,1526,1510,1511,1513,814,1456,1064],"class_list":["post-1242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bailout","tag-biotechnology","tag-canada","tag-conservative-party-of-canada","tag-dalton-mcguinty","tag-genetic-engineering","tag-globalization","tag-gm","tag-innovation","tag-liberal-party-of-canada","tag-matthew-effect","tag-ndp","tag-notes-from-north-of-49n","tag-omd","tag-ontario","tag-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark","tag-recession","tag-stephen-harper","tag-stimulus"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1242"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1250,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions\/1250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}