Report card says province fares best at adopting new technology
 
By Stephane Massinon
The Daily News- November 3, 2005

HALIFAX – The province’s knowledge economy is growing, albeit slowly.
That was the finding behind NovaKnowledge’s annual report card, which it officially released yesterday.

Nova Scotia is doing very well in adopting new technology, but poorly in attracting venture capital. The report tracks 10 indicators they believe help to spawn innovation and growth. The indicators are then compared with national averages to determine if progress or regression is taking place and a grade is assigned. “None of these measures are going to be moving rapidly from year to year,” said Kay Crinean, executive director of NovaKnowledge.  Foundation versus company She said the province does well at a foundation level (university funding, learning), but not as well in innovation at the company level. “I am pleased with the new fast-growing exports. Our biggest exports over the years have been wood, fish, Michelin tires and paper. It’s good to see the blueberries and some of the agricultural products,” said Crinean yesterday.

Michael Gardner: “You’re creating more and more dead-end jobs.” (Photo: Mike Dembeck)

Conversely, the lack of venture capital remains a worry for her.

With the not-for-profit organization concentrating its focus on environmental economy, she said, there is also room for growth in minimizing the environmental footprint we continue to leave behind.

“We’re very dependent on coal, and that’s not something we can change overnight,” she said. “It’ll take 20 to 30 years to change.”

The man behind the report, Michael Gardner, president of Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists Ltd., said one figure that may be misleading is employment growth.

While it was assigned a grade of “lagging but improving,” he noted that many new jobs are low-wage, dead-end jobs.

“You’re creating more and more dead-end jobs. I shouldn’t be pejorative like that, but there’s no growth there,” said Gardner.

THE RESULTS
NovaKnowledge’s grades are organized into four levels: 1. Leading. 2. Lagging but improving. 3. Signs of turn-around. 4. Lagging and stuck.

Here are the results:
• Research and Development: Lagging but improving.
• Lifelong Learning: Lagging but improving.
• Venture Capital: Lagging and stuck.
• Business Start-ups: Lagging but improving.
• Adoption of New Technology: Leading
• Immigration: Signs of turn-around.
• Productivity: Signs of turn-around.
• Exports: Signs of turn-around.
• Employment Growth: Lagging but improving.
• Quality of Life: Signs of turn-around.

smassinon@hfxnews.ca  
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