The thematic network seeks to bring scholars and institutions together to support research and teaching on commercially viable scientific and technological innovation that will support northern families, communities, and societies. The network will collaborate with government agencies, commercial associations, and private companies on the identification of:

  • opportunities for practical and applied products and services,
  • barriers to commercial innovation in the Circumpolar world,
  • infrastructure investments that will allow the North to be an active participant in the innovation economy, and
  • other elements required for the North to be truly competitive and properly supported in the rapidly changing circumstances of the 21st century.

 Innovation comes in many forms in the modern world—from social innovations designed to spur major societal changes, to new directions in government programming and administrative operations that improve social or cultural outcomes or organizational efficiencies. The development of scientific and technological solutions to pressing societal needs is a sub-set of the broader academic, government, and organizational world of innovation. Commercial innovation has become a high government, regional, and entrepreneurial priority as Northerners seek to capitalize on the global opportunities emerging out of sustained scientific and technological discoveries.  

The network will focus on finding innovative scientific and technological solutions to the economic barriers to sustainable northern development. The network will also endeavor to identify the scientific and technological possibilities for northern development. Our work will include hosting interactive biannual workshops with academics, business, and government agencies to examine developments in Circumpolar innovation. Identified solutions will be highlighted in publications and open-source materials hosted on the network website. The network will seek to become the “go to” knowledge hub for northern citizens and stakeholders alike.

The first network activity will be to host a meeting in which all interested partners would be invited to help develop the network’s activity plan. The side event is scheduled to take place in January 2015 during the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway with a follow-up larger meeting in Whitehorse Fall 2015.

ICNGD seeks interested partners to join the network. We are looking, in particular, for:

  • scholars doing research on northern innovation or with active interest in fostering the commercial development of scientific and technological innovation,
  • managers of research centers or higher education institutions which act as incubators/business-university collaboration centers,
  • members who are located in one of the Arctic Eight countries (Denmark, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the United States) or who have extensive experience working with northern partners.

 Interested partners are requested to send the following information:

  • a short biography of the collaborator(s) – max. one page,
  • a short institutional profile, including research activities which are related to innovation, commercial incubators, spin-off companies, and any major contribution to the development of S&T innovations for the North.

 All interested partners are requested to submit their documentation by November 3, 2014 to Emmy Neuls, network coordinator, at emmy.neuls@usask.ca. Requests for more information can be sent directly to Emmy or myself (ken.coates@usask.ca).