Canada Should be a 'Launch Lab For the World' to Stay Competitive in an
Innovation-driven Global Economy, Says Canadian Futurist
STRATFORD, ON, May 3 /CNW/ - Canada needs to act swiftly to ensure we can participate and prosper in the future economy driven by innovation, becoming a 'Launch Lab' attracting investment and intellectual capital, says Tony Chapman, Canadian media entrepreneur and a keynote speaker at the upcoming Canada 3.0 2010 digital media forum May 10-11 in Stratford.
"Technology is the primary enabler for capitalism to seek the Holy Grail of being faster, better and cheaper and it's touching every aspect of society - from what we consume to what we experience. To participate in the new economy, Canada needs to carve out the means to compete, ideally lead and defend our position at all cost," said Chapman, who is also known as a social catalyst and futurist.
"Canada in many ways is a microcosm for the world, and can therefore create the appropriate climate -- a Launch Lab -- for the world's innovators to germinate, validate and commercialize their ideas and gain the increasingly important first-mover advantage," said Chapman.
Chapman cautions, however, that this is not an easy feat, as other countries and multi-national companies have vast access to necessary talent and investment, often not encumbered by the same level of bureaucracy as a developed nation like Canada.
"It will require our Private, Public and Educational sectors to act in unison, so that we can attract and develop the intellectual capital, technology and processes to lay claim to innovation leadership - and that's why forums like Canada 3.0 2010 and its 'Moon Shot' goal for anyone in Canada to do anything on-line by 2017 is so crucial," Chapman said.
One of the key elements of the Canada 3.0 2010 forum is to enable alignment so that attendees can act in unison to advance digital media, making it a unique event. The forum attracts people from all walks of life, from the general public and students, to business and industry leaders, to entrepreneurs, academics, government representatives and media.
"Digital media leadership will allow Canada to reap benefits from increased productivity gains - an area where we are falling behind many G8 countries," said Kevin Tuer, Managing Director of the Canadian Digital Media Network which is organizing the forum with the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus. "This will allow Canada to accelerate the pace of commercialization, responsiveness to market opportunities and changes, and enable people across the country to benefit from streamlined infrastructure."
Chapman is a keynote speaker on the first day of the Stratford forum and will be joined by other industry, academic, and government leaders participating as speakers and break-out stream leads at the forum. For full information on Canada 3.0 2010 go to: (less than)http://www.canada30.com/(greater than) www.canada30.com
About Canada 3.0 2010
Canada 3.0 2010 is a forum organized by the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) (less than)http://www.cdmn.ca/(greater than) www.cdmn.ca and the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus (less than)http://www.stratfordcampus.uwaterloo.ca/(greater than) www.stratfordcampus.uwaterloo.ca intended to advance Canada's strength in digital media. The CDMN will link Canada's digital media expertise and capability from coast-to-coast, enabling collaboration between researchers, implementers and entrepreneurs.
For further information: For further information: Media Contact: Shelley Grandy, Sr. PR Advisor Canada 3.0 2010, (905) 866-2656, [email protected]
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