Around the World in TBED

Although the economic ramifications of the recent global recession still remain, countries across the world have remained committed to supporting their innovation economies. Several initiatives across the globe highlight these efforts including the European Union (EU) announcing that it will commit significant funding to three innovation-focused programs and an economic development strategy in British Columbia, Canada, to support the province's technology sector and spur job creation. A recent report also found that a positive link exists between economic development, technology transfer, increased rates of innovation and the strengthening of IPRs in both developed and developing countries.

European Union
The European Commission announced the largest financial commitment to support research and innovation across the EU. Approximately €8.1 billion ($9.94 billion US) will be committed in 2013 to support projects and ideas that will boost Europe's competitiveness and provide solutions to societal issues such as human health, protecting the environment, urbanization and waste management. This commitment will make up approximately 75 percent of EU's research budget for 2013. Open to all academic institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations within the EU and its partner countries, the commitment is intended to build a bridge to the next funding program for EU research that will run from 2014-2020.

To help facilitate the distribution of research and development (R&D) funding throughout the EU member countries, the EU will establish the European Research Area Chairs (ERA Chairs) initiative. A €12 million ($14.7 million US) pilot program that will select five ERA Chairs, to be hosted by universities or other eligible research institutions, in less developed regions in five different EU countries. To host an ERA Chair, institutions must demonstrate the ability to support excellence in R&D through providing the necessary facilities and complying with European Research Area principles. Read the release...

The European Commission also announced that it will commit approximately €365 million ($448 million US) per year to a public-private partnership aimed at boosting the development of smart technologies in cities across Europe. Via a limited number of approved projects, the European Innovation Partnership will work with private businesses to support scalable research projects related to energy, transportation and information and technology in Europe's urban areas. Read the release...

Canada
Government officials in British Columbia (BC), Canada, announced the BC Commercialization Voucher Program, a new $7-million (Canadian) initiative intended to connect small and medium-sized companies with researchers in B.C.'s post-secondary system to help get innovative products to market faster. The vouchers will range from $15,000 to $50,000 (Canadian) and will be open to small and medium-sized companies from a variety of key sectors and regions throughout the province. It is part of the province's new economic development strategy to create and support jobs in the fast-growing technology sector. Other programs announced include a program to increase private sector productivity (Productivity BC) and a new government procurement program. Read the release...

IP Rights in Developing Countries
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), especially patents, are actively facilitating and contributing to upstream and downstream biotechnology activities in both developed and developing countries, according to a new report commissioned by the Biotechnology Industry Organization. In Taking Stock: How Global Biotechnology Benefits from Intellectual Property Rights, the evidence points towards a positive link between economic development, technology transfer, increased rates of innovation and the strengthening of IPRs. This is particularly strong in certain knowledge-intensive sectors such as biopharmaceuticals. Based on this and other findings, the report's authors discuss and explain the impact of IPRs on biotechnological innovation in the upstream process. The report provides an examination on how small and medium-sized businesses, universities, spin-offs and biopharmaceutical manufacturers are using IPRs (chiefly patents) in their day-to-day operations. The report also shows that biotechnology alliances between countries for research and technology transfer have increased markedly since the early 1990s. Read the report...