Western Businesses Benefit From New Access to Global Markets

News Release

May 09, 2008
Edmonton, Alberta

Two new initiatives launched by the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta will create more opportunities for local firms to commercialize and export products or services to emerging international markets.

The joint federal and provincial investments, totalling more than $2.3 million, were announced today by the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and the Honourable Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology.

"The Government of Canada is helping western Canadian businesses take advantage of emerging opportunities to commercialize and introduce their products and services in markets around the world," said Minister Ambrose. "The launch of these new initiatives will enable Alberta companies to become more globally competitive and create new synergies with international partners."

"These initiatives fit well with our government's Global Commerce Strategy, which aggressively seeks to advance Canada's prospects in the global economy," said the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. "Two-way investment initiatives such as this one helps our economy by supporting our companies to be more competitive and innovative and provides new opportunities to increases the prosperity of Canadians workers and businesses."

"Alberta is an emerging technology leader and it's critical to seek partnerships to help Alberta companies build relationships and presence in the world's fastest growing economies," said Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. "These two programs recognize the importance Alberta places on our future and building a knowledge-based economy to compete globally."

More than $1.1 million in combined funding will help establish the Alberta International Business Partnering Program, which will support local firms looking to capitalize on export opportunities with China, California and India. The program will provide businesses in the information and communications technologies (ICT) and life science sectors with the highly focused information and training needed to build partnerships in international markets.

"The Government of Alberta plays a critical role as a conduit for Alberta businesses looking abroad and we are pleased to be a partner in this important initiative," said Ron Stevens, Deputy Premier and Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations.

The Alberta International Business Partnering Program will be carried out over a 20-month period and will support activities such as symposia, seminars and trade missions. Participating companies will also have an opportunity to temporarily locate to facilities within Hong Kong or California as they begin conducting business in those markets.

In addition, a combined investment of $1.2 million toward the International Science and Technology Partnerships (ISTP) China-Alberta Program will support Alberta companies, academic research institutions and other private sector institutes in building research and development partnerships with organizations in China. The program will facilitate technology collaboration and commercialization by providing firms with access to China's best facilities, equipment, talent and knowledge.

"Building global technology partnerships has become an imperative for all regions of the world because technological innovation is now one of the most important factors affecting economic and social development and also because no region can acquire technological capacity on its own," said Dr. Henri Rothschild, President and CEO of ISTPCanada. "ISTPCanada takes its mission to help build productive Alberta-China partnerships very seriously and is grateful to the participating governments for having the vision and foresight to make these partnerships a priority. Together with our counterparts in China, we will make every effort to help build strong and productive Alberta-China technology partnerships."

The ISTP China-Alberta Program will provide cost-shared funding for the Alberta component of China-Alberta collaborative research and development projects that are put forward by industry and academic research institutions in Alberta. International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada Inc. (ISTPCanada), a not-for-profit organization that also delivers the International Science and Technology Partnerships Program on behalf of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, will lead the initiative in Alberta.

For additional information contact:

Donna Kinley
Manager, Communication, Consultation and Marketing
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone: (780) 495-6892
Cell: (780) 991-7432

Earl McKenzie
Public Affairs Officer
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
Telephone: (780) 415-0891

Gary Gudbranson
ISTPCanada
Telephone: (613) 727-9507 (Ext.224)

WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder

ISTPCanada's ISTP China-Alberta program

The International Science and Technology Partnerships (ISTP) China-Alberta Program provides support for partnership development and joint industrial research projects among businesses, academia, corporations and organizations from Alberta and China.
The joint funding can assist to coordinate and focus suitable government resources in support of industrial cooperation and commercialization of research and development projects.

Alberta International Business Partnership Program (AIBPP)

International partnerships are a key component in technology commercialization leading to expansion into international markets for Alberta companies. The AIBPP program will be introduced as a 20-month pilot program. The program focuses on companies in the information and communications technology and life sciences sectors and targets key markets including China and Hong Kong. The program has three-phases: Partnership Exploration, Partnership Engagement, and Market Penetration.

Government of Canada

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is announcing investments of $500,000 toward the Alberta International Business Partnering Program and $400,000 toward the International Science and Technology Partnerships (ISTP) China-Alberta Program. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, through International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada Inc. (ISTPCanada), will invest up to $400,000 towards the ISTP China-Alberta Program.
WD works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and diversify Western Canada's economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national economic policy.
WD's investment toward the Alberta International Business Partnering Porgram is made through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA)-a joint federal/provincial initiative aimed at fostering increased economic activity and improving the quality of life in communities across western Canada.
WEPA projects fall under one of two theme areas:
- Innovation and value-added industries: Includes investments that strengthen Alberta's innovation and value-added industries by supporting initiatives that contribute to increased capacity, awareness and use of new technologies, as well as the development of industry-specific research infrastructure and technology commercialization.
- Regional Economic Development and Sustainable Communities: Includes investments that improve the viability, prosperity and quality of life in Alberta communities by supporting initiatives that contribute to a sustainable approach to regional development that incorporates economic, environmental and social considerations.
WD's investment toward the International Science and Technology Partnerships (ISTP) China-Alberta Program, made through its Western Diversification Program (WDP), supports the Government of Canada's commitments to invest in research, development and technology commercialization; support small- and medium-sized enterprises; and promote a diversified and expanded business sector.
The underlying objective of the WDP is to create a stronger West and a stronger Canada. Several guiding principles are used to help assess how initiatives contribute to this objective, including:
- increased economic activity that improves the viability, prosperity, and standard of living for individuals and communities across Western Canada.
- increased economic research in the areas of community economic development, leading-edge technologies and entrepreneurship to provide a sound base for economic development in areas of importance to Western Canada.
Other elements that are considered when determining the relative merit of proposals include: the measurable impact on the western Canadian economy, viability, long-term benefits, and the participation of other stakeholders.

Government of Alberta

Alberta Advanced Education and Technology

Alberta Advanced Education and Technology supports research and development, and technology commercialization activity through its agencies, research institutes, and programs supporting the discovery and development of innovative value-added products. This support helps ensure that the world-class research conducted in the province is developed to its full potential resulting in the development of a robust knowledge-based, next generation economy.

Alberta International & Intergovernmental Relations

International and Intergovernmental Relations coordinates Alberta's relationships with various levels of government in Canada and around the world. Working on behalf of Albertans, the department enhances Alberta's national and international presence in areas such as export, trade development and governmental relations.

International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada Inc. (ISTPCanada)

ISTPCanada, was incorporated with the primary objective of strengthening Canada's science and technology (S&T), business to business relations and ultimately overall economic, trade and political relations.
ISTPCanada fosters and supports the development of research partnerships for Canadian companies and research organizations with international counterparts, with an emphasis on research and development projects with commercial relevance and potential products and services.
ISTPCanada was selected by the Government of Canada, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to deliver the India, China and Brazil elements of its International Science and Technology Partnerships Program (ISTPP). Reflecting that bilateral S&T agreements are already in place with India and China, funding for these two countries was provided to ISTPCanada in April 2007, with additional funding for Brazil expected in 2008/2009 on completion of a similar bilateral agreement.
ISTPCanada also supports early stage partnership development activity, such as workshops, symposia, conferences and exchanges that have the potential to foster increased or expanded international research collaboration (Products & Services). Our raison d'être is to make Canadian firms more globally competitive through the increased use of international research-based alliances.

ISTPCanada's Goals

Encourage domestic competitiveness through the transfer of technology and knowledge resulting from international science and technology partnerships;
Foster international science and technology partnerships and collaborative research in all sectors, with an emphasis on industry-industry partnerships and university-industry partnerships;
Accelerate the commercialization of research and development of benefit to Canada through international partnerships with a focus on small and medium sized enterprises;
Access international technologies for Canadian enterprises;
Promote Canadian research and development capacity and Canada as a destination for foreign technology based investments;
Encourage the international mobility of Canadian researchers and promote Canada as a career destination for foreign researchers and highly qualified personnel; and
Strengthen overall bilateral science and technology relations.

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