1. Building capacity for Innovation March 23, 2010

2. Thanks to our partners 2

3. Why are we here?

4. Next two days 4

5. 5

6. Ecosystem defined e·co·sys·tem (ē'kō-sĭs'təm) n. a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. Science Dictionary A community of organisms together with their physical environment, viewed as a system of interacting and interdependent relationships and including such processes as the flow of energy through trophic levels and the cycling of chemical elements and compounds through living and nonliving components of the system. Cultural Dictionary A collection of living things and the environment in which they live. For example, a prairie ecosystem includes coyotes, the rabbits on which they feed, and the grasses that feed the rabbits. 6

7. 7 Ecosystemmmmm

8. 8

9. Traditional models have failed!

10. Not this….

11. Or this….

12. What’s this about ecosystems for building tech clusters? Relevance to developing a regional strategy Why is this a good approach? A holistic view of community Recognition of interdependence Awareness of need to think & act at all levels & with all constituents relevant to the growth & success of tech companies, and the sector overall 12

13. a mash-up of informed linkages 13 Technology companies at all levels of enterprise Academic institutions Research institutions Non-technology companies at all levels of enterprise Sources of funding All levels of government Other enabling organizations Every player matters!

14. Enabling organizations Entrepreneur The Company Government Venture Services/EiRs Knowledge Creation Angels Venture Capital Firms Public Listing Agencies Financial Institutions 550 Tech Firms Financing Expertise Professional Services Firms Entrepreneurial Culture 14

15. What it means for Communitech Catalyst for technology-focused economic development in Waterloo Region. We have a vested interest in every organization with potential to impact the success of our companies. We need to know what they do and how they help. We take responsibility for community awareness of tech sector needs, and tech sector involvement in community needs. We remain firmly committed to the needs of tech companies at all levels, and to continually improving our capacity to deliver. 15

16. Why now? Because we’ve evolved

17. Why now? 1997 – 2004 Trade association 2007 – 2009 Enabling organization 2004 – 2007 Information hub 2010+ Enabling organization & ecosystem catalyst

18. What’s next for 18

19. Digital Media

20. 20 mobility

21. 21 mobility

23. Successful ecosystems: Culture Risk-taking Entrepreneurship Connectedness Uber-networks Partnerships – usual and unusual Capability System-wide i.e. Tech talent and business talent Capital The right kind at the right time Community Identification with industry/ cluster as well as company Building towards these objectives will make you successful 23

24. How to make it work for you Invest in an accurate understanding of what the companies do, and what each other organization in the ecosystem does Blur the lines to become more intentionally involved in business success Understand where engagement is urgent and where it isn’t Embed yourself at the local, provincial and national levels 24

25. Deployment 101 Asset inventory – who’s in your universe? Partners Technology capability Existing players companies What’s missing? What are the gaps? Leadership Step into the void – don’t wait for the stars to align Engagement Find a way to get everybody on the bus (process, structure and culture) Win-wins, common enemies, and one team Critical: Build a strong enabling organization 25

26. What is an enabling org? There’s no one model – they characterize themselves as: Business incubators EcDev Trade associations Off-shoots of universities Tech councils Different, yes. But all follow the same principles. 26

27. Core principles It’s not about YOU Put your companies/ customers first Be focused & strategic Ensure your activities align with objectives Business-driven – it’s about making $$$, stupid! Relevance (not just responsiveness) – know what your companies don’t know yet Business-led Respond to company needs using a life-cycle model Programs for companies at every stage Understand gaps / barriers along the way Feed the whole system 27

28. http://www.inlandbuilders.net/ongoing/windsors_clubhouse.jpg 28 What it takes to build the enabling org? Place – building and belonging (the right environment) Club house – real estate as a strategy; engineering interactions A sense of attachment / identity/ belonging Your cluster in context

30. Events; networking; capacity-building; relationship-engineering; cultural

31. Govt relations; public relations

32. Peer learning

33. Venture support

34. Workforce development: recruitment/ training/ youth outreach

36. What it takes cont’d Profile – the right awareness of the sector, its needs and its contributions External: get the world to take notice Give your companies a street address that matters Balancing act: building the brand of your org so people know where to go vs. the brand of your cluster Company profile as brand driver for your cluster 31

37. What it takes cont’d Pennies – the right governance, funding and organizational model Diversity in your funding model Sustainability plans Cult or Culture? Your customer service model Your back-end enterprise model Commitment to constantly reinventing yourself 32

38. What it takes cont’d People – the right staff and the right board Skill sets; networks; experience; credibility Cult? Or culture? Proof– the right measurement - Varies by region and by program area - Set your bench marks, check in regularly and report back 33

39. On being strategic Intersection of Org and Ecosystem… What you do needs to line up to what you’re trying to achieve 34

40. 35 Ecosystemmmmm

41. Iain Klugman Communitech Waterloo Region iain@communitech.ca 36

42. Building capacity for Innovation March 23, 2010