Polytechnics Canada supports Ottawa's new expert panel on business innovation

OTTAWA, Oct. 14 /CNW/ - Polytechnics Canada welcomes the Government of Canada's creation of an expert panel to evaluate federal support for business innovation in Canada.

Nobina Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Polytechnics Canada, is one of the experts named to the panel.

"We believe Nobina Robinson's appointment acknowledges Polytechnics Canada's advocacy for more applied research support for small- and medium-sized companies," said John Davies, Chair, Polytechnics Canada and President of Humber College. "Polytechnics Canada is extremely pleased that she is a member of this expert panel."

"Her appointment also recognizes Polytechnics Canada's position that colleges with research capacity are important contributors to Canada's innovation system."

Polytechnics Canada looks forward to contributing ideas to enhance business R&D in Canada and will participate actively in any consultation process the panel may consider launching.

Polytechnics Canada is an alliance of nine leading research-intensive, publicly funded colleges and institutes of technology in key economic regions of Canada. The members, all of whom emphasize applied education and applied research, are: Humber, Algonquin College, Conestoga College, Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, George Brown College and Seneca College in Ontario; SAIT Polytechnic and Olds College in Alberta; and British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver.

The mandate of the panel includes a review of federally funded research activity in universities and colleges that is targeted to assisting business improve its R&D activity. It will also examine tax- and sector-funding programs in support of industry innovation.

Nobina Robinson is a former diplomat and Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL). She became CEO of Polytechnics Canada in May 2009. For more biographical information, see link to bio. http://www.polytechnicscanada.ca/about/governance.shtml

To learn more about Polytechnics Canada, see www.polytechnicscanada.ca.

For further information:

Ken Doyle
Director of Policy, Polytechnics Canada
[email protected]
Tel: [phone]