Council To Help Expand Innovation in Nova Scotia

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Council To Help Expand Innovation in Nova Scotia

The outgoing president of Acadia University, Kelvin Ogilvie, will head up the newly appointed Premier's Advisory Council on Innovation.

In announcing the 16-member council today, June 26, Premier John Hamm said it will provide government with independent expert advice on how to stimulate the best conditions for innovation in Nova Scotia.

"Nova Scotia's health and competitiveness depend on our ability to innovate," said Premier Hamm. "Innovation spurs productivity, which in turn drives sales, income, and employment and, ultimately, improves our quality of life. This council will improve our ability to innovate in products and services by sharing knowledge and resources and fostering a more advanced, closely linked innovation system."

Dr. Ogilvie says Nova Scotia is already on the right track. "With the challenges of global competition and changing traditional industries, Nova Scotians in all sectors are adapting to the times through innovative approaches to the work of their organizations," said the council chair. "I am confident that with the exceptional calibre of professionals and expertise on this new council, we can identify a focus for Nova Scotia that will increase our level of innovation and enhance the quality of life and sense of well-being of all Nova Scotians."

Economic Development Minister Cecil Clarke said the key is putting new ideas to use. "Whenever we come up with a better production process, or create or improve a product or service to take to market, we expand our economy. That is why our growth strategy recognizes innovation as key to economic progress."

The province's growth strategy identifies a leading role for the premier's council in helping to build a more robust culture of innovation in Nova Scotia.

The council's high-level guidance will assist government's implementation of Innovative Nova Scotia, a new policy also released publicly today. The policy's objective is to expand the use of knowledge-based innovation to levels that match or exceed those found in the leading regions of the nation. The policy is available on line at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/ .

Other members of the Premier's Advisory Council on Innovation are:

• Malcolm Fraser, president ISL Internet Solutions
• Bill McMullin, CEO InfoInteractive Corp.
• Steven Ashton, director, careers, Aliant Inc.
• Stephen Plummer, president and CEO, IMP Group International Inc.
• Lawrence Paul, band chief, Millbrook First Nations
• Louis Deveau, president, Acadian Seaplants Ltd.
• Mary Anne White, professor of chemistry and physics, Dalhousie
• George Iwama, director general, National Research Council
• Jacqueline Thayer Scott, president and chair, University College of Cape Breton (UCCB) Foundation, former president and vice-chancellor of UCCB
• Sandy MacEachern, department of mathematics and computer science, St. Francis Xavier University
• Eric Whyte, senior partner, AG Research Inc.
• Myrna Breen, principal, Nova Scotia Community College
• Hugh Roddis, president and chief engineer for Orion Electronics Limited
• Wendy Paquette, senior vice-president, customer service, Aliant Inc.
• J.D. (Jim) Eisenhauer, president, ABCO Group Limited