Download Presentation Title Centered Here

Innovation
The NWT Economy
and Innovation
Kevin Todd
Director IEA
Innovation – what is it?
• The creation of better or more effective
products, processes, services,
technologies, or ideas.
• Innovation differs from invention in that
innovation refers to the use of a new idea
or method, whereas invention refers more
directly to the creation of the idea or
product.
Canada has a poor track record on
innovation
• Generous R&D incentives
• High investment in advanced education
• Business R&D investment has been falling
since 2001
Innovation in the North
Forced to be innovative • Challenging operating environment
• High cost
• Transportation, construction and
communications needs
• Applying existing technology in innovative
ways
Efficient Innovative Mines
Chart Title
1.4
•
Energy costs are the major
expense for our diamond
mines.
•
Diamond mine power plants
are extraordinarily efficient.
Most internal combustion
engines extract 35 per cent of
a fuel’s energy, their plants
delivers 40 per cent as
electrical energy, and another
40 per cent is extracted as
heat.
•
As a result, the NWT has one
of the lowest rates of CO2
emissions per $million in GDP
in Canada – even with a cold
climate.
Kt. CO2 per $million GDP
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
NFLD
PEI
NS
NB
PQ
ON
MB
SK
AB
BC
NU
NT
YT
Mining and Water
All new mines have world standard water
treatment.
For production, their plants process as
much water as large cities in southern
Canada - up to 30,000 cubic metres per
day – the same as the city of North Bay
Ontario.
Water returning river and lake systems is
clean, and surpasses the drinking water
quality of most Canadian cities.
Sewage at Diavik is treated through a
tertiary treatment plant, the first of it’s
kind in the Northwest Territories. The
treated effluent returning to the lake is
clean, and almost meets drinking water
standards.
Innovation in HR - Mine Training
The Mine Training Society is
a unique partnership of
mining companies,
communities, Aboriginal
government and the GNWT.
Placed more than 800
northerners.
Has state-of-art simulators jumbo drill, a scoop tram &
roof bolter.
Comments from innovative NWT
Companies
• Never enough financing to bring a product to
market
• Challenge is manpower, risk and energy to
get a product to market
• Restricted access to funding
• Existing federal programs such as Scientific
Research and Experimental Development
(SRED) were too complicated to apply for.
• Need more direct funding programs such as
Industrial Research Assistance Program
(IRAP)
Federal Budget Changes
•
• Shift $500 million per year from SRED
($3.6 billion budget) to IRAP
• Should fund company research and
incentives
• More changes forthcoming?
ITI’s Role
• Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic
Development Policy (SEED)
• Northwest Territories Manufactured Products
Policy
• Developed a series of sample profiles, around 3
innovators - Diavik Diamond mines, Energy Wall
Systems and Discovery Air.
• Role for Chamber in expanding the list?
– Recognize and promote business innovators.
– Profiles can be posted on the Chamber's website, or
InvestNWT.
– Annual recognition?
Example Innovators
Discovery Air’s
Work on Air Ships
Example Innovators
Diavik’s Wind
Farm
Example Innovators
Energy Wall’s new
IS3000 energy
cladding wall
system
Summary
1. Innovative solutions in the NWT have developed largely in
response to our geographic, climatic and economic challenges;
ice road construction, energy wall building systems and so on.
2. Numerous studies have noted the NWT is well positioned to
contribute technological innovation related to cold weather
technology, transportation, arctic construction and advances in
environmental remediation.
3. A lot of innovation in training and staff development is originating
with the NWT mining industry.
4. Work is continuing in other areas, energy testing, alternate
energy, mineral processing, construction techniques, ice road
construction, and so on.
The End