1. Shawna L. Reibling, BA, Cert. CED Centre for Sustainable Communities Canada MEASURING REGIONAL CAPACITY IN SUSTIANABLE WATER, WASTE WATER, WATER REUSE (W 3 R) TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN WESTERN CANADA

2. 6/1/2015 Outline of Presentation Context Characteristics Findings Comparisons (Multimedia, Biotech) Exciting (Possible) Next Steps

3. 6/1/2015 Acknowledgements Project Participants: CSCC Provincial –Ministry of Competition, Science & Enterprise –Ministry of Community, Aboriginal & Women’s Services –Canadian Institute for Market Intelligence (CIMI) Federal –Western Economic Diversification –IRAP/ National Research Council

4. 6/1/2015 Centre for Sustainable Communities Canada Not-for-profit virtual business consortium Comprehensive analysis of the Water-related Environmentally Sustainable Technology (EST) Industry in western Canada. This included SWOT & Cluster Studies and reviews of supporting service groups.

5. 6/1/2015 A Unique Commodity Potable water is a finite resource Finite resource due to fiscal pressures 16% U of C vs. 28% SFU students drink bottled water everywhere (2002/03 survey of U of C & SFU students) changing patterns/sources of input (Langford)

6. 6/1/2015 Measuring Cluster Capacity 1.Export opportunities and description of sector 2.Venture capital supports 3.Regional Patents Filed 4.Law firms sector support 5.Post-secondary education sector support 6.Governmental program supports 7.International program supports

7. 6/1/2015 W 3 R- EST Definition “…including activities which produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit or correct damage to water, air and soil...It also includes activities that produce clean technologies, processes, products and services...” Two Categories of Water-related ESTs: resellers/repackagers system integrators/manufacturers Product/service divide is blurry: consultants service is a product

8. 6/1/2015

9. Cluster Characteristics Both technology development and service oriented Firms are mostly small and young (5-10) No large anchor firms, small firms contract out work to other firms 60% of employees are highly qualified personnel Most firms serve the domestic market (foreign market opportunity) Problem specific solutions (products) Partnerships do occur, based on testing & manu.

10. 6/1/2015 Cluster Description Cont. Breakout of Core WrEST Firms in BC by City Lower Mainland Total75BC Interior12 Vancouver29Fraser Valley3 Burnaby14 Richmond/Delta8BC Island Total12 Surrey16Victoria6 Langley8Island Other6

11. 6/1/2015 Cluster Characteristics Cont. Note: We recognize that the system isn’t linear

12. 6/1/2015 Venture Capital Investors not aware of sector Not a risk problem, but perceived to have a low return on investment Due diligence is an issue Investors are recovering from “dot com crash” Exposure to water technologies is met with expressions of interest

13. 6/1/2015 Patents

14. 6/1/2015 Patents Continued

15. 6/1/2015 Law Firm Support Boutique firms Strong support capacity to file new R&D patents and developments (patent, trade-mark and IP firms) Lawyers also patent agents with technical professional backgrounds

16. 6/1/2015 Academia Specialized training programs present Lack of networking with private sector and universities –Professors are consultants and have weak links with industry i.e. Manufacturing Limited demonstration and testing sites Canadian universities hold 8% of patents in this area, compared to 2% held by US Universities

17. 6/1/2015 Gov’t & Int’l Support High market demand with leverage of gov't infrastructure programs. Government does support innovation through post-secondary funding Gov't programs not appropriate for small R&D Weak Canadian legislative environment at all four levels of government (innovative policy?)

18. 6/1/2015 Cluster Similarities: Multimedia Both industries are small, young and innovative Both are service industries and technology integrators problem based Both are supported by patent friendly law firms Difference: Multimedia has a champion: Don Mattrick of Electronic Arts Diff: regulation & requirements; channelling

19. 6/1/2015 Cluster Similarities: Biotechnology Both industries are small, young and innovative Both require specialized lab facilities and have high start up costs Difference: Has an industry champion: Julia Levy of QLT Phototherapeutics Technocentric bias?

20. 6/1/2015 Further Research Opportunities Pacific Centre for Water-related Environmentally Sustainable Technologies (PC - WrEST): –Case study: Artificial creation of a champion? What does increasing the social capital contribute? Map it? Track it? CEO forum to establish/solidify network connections: –Opportunity to direct the formation of networks. Perceptions before and after info exchange. Degree of trust? Verification of innovation policy?