Improving Canada's Digital Advantage: Strategies for Sustainable Prosperity
Theme(s): Building Digital Skills, Canada's Digital Content, Digital Infrastructure, Growing the ICT Industry, Innovation Using Digital Technologies
Executive Summary
The Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategy represents a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to build upon scientific and technological research, and expand regional innovation networks with a strong digital focus. We must leverage existing cross-sector collaborations and support new research convergence opportunities, develop the digital skills of our workforce and educate the next generation of knowledge workers.
Common pillars needed to stimulate Canada's digital economy include:
- Evidence-based research, which provides key insight to inform policy decisions about the complex social and cultural issues raised by digital culture's rapid expansion. Fuelled by university-based research, this has the potential to inform all five themes the consultation paper highlights.
- Network infrastructure to facilitate and stimulate innovation.
- Collaboration across sectors — as driven by incentives from new government research and economic development programs — is essential.
- Regional innovation networks, anchored by convergence centres, provide the physical space and environment required to support grass roots innovation, collaboration and grow Canadian knowledge companies.
- Regulatory frameworks must be improved and better coordinated to avoid unintended barriers to growth.
- Digital skills are essential for everyone; high level skills are essential for the digital economy.
Canada needs decisive and coordinated strategic action now to secure and advance our position in this crucial globally competitive sector.
York University welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process on a digital economic strategy for Canada. Digital media is among York's top strategic priorities for both research and the ongoing evolution of its degree programs and post-graduate studies. This focus has yielded partnerships with government, community and private sector partners, providing us with insight into the broader opportunities that exist in the digital economy.
We believe that placing strategic focus in this area will propel research and strengthen industry-academic collaboration to a higher level, building on the many research strengths that already exist at York and within academic, private and not-for-profit institutes and corporations across Canada.
Submission
Consultation Paper on the Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategy
Submitted by Stan Shapson
Vice-President Research & Innovation
on behalf of York University
July 9, 2010
Contents
- Executive Summary
- Theme 1 - Capacity to Innovate Using Digital Technologies
- Theme 2 - Building a World–Class Digital Infrastructure
- Theme 3 - Growing the Information and Communications Technology Industry
- Theme 4 - Digital Media: Creating Canada's Digital Content Advantage
- Theme 5 - Building Digital Skills for Tomorrow
- The Way Forward
Executive Summary
The Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategy represents a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to build upon scientific and technological research, and expand regional innovation networks with a strong digital focus. We must leverage existing cross–sector collaborations and support new research convergence opportunities, develop the digital skills of our workforce and educate the next generation of knowledge workers.
Common pillars needed to stimulate Canada's digital economy include:
- Evidence–based research, which provides key insight to inform policy decisions about the complex social and cultural issues raised by digital culture's rapid expansion. Fuelled by university–based research, this has the potential to inform all five themes the consultation paper highlights.
- Network infrastructure to facilitate and stimulate innovation.
- Collaboration across sectors - as driven by incentives from new government research and economic development programs - is essential.
- Regional innovation networks, anchored by convergence centres, provide the physical space and environment required to support grass roots innovation, collaboration and grow Canadian knowledge companies.
- Regulatory frameworks must be improved and better coordinated to avoid unintended barriers to growth.
- Digital skills are essential for everyone; high level skills are essential for the digital economy.
Canada needs decisive and coordinated strategic action now to secure and advance our position in this crucial globally competitive sector.
York University welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process on a digital economic strategy for Canada. Digital media is among York's top strategic priorities for both research and the ongoing evolution of its degree programs and post–graduate studies. This focus has yielded partnerships with government, community and private sector partners, providing us with insight into the broader opportunities that exist in the digital economy.
We believe that placing strategic focus in this area will propel research and strengthen industry–academic collaboration to a higher level, building on the many research strengths that already exist at York and within academic, private and not–for–profit institutes and corporations across Canada.
Theme 1 - Capacity to Innovate Using Digital Technologies
Context
The Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategy represents an unprecedented opportunity for Canadians to strategically focus our efforts toward building a stronger and more competitive economy that reflects the important role that digital content and new technologies will play in Canada's future in a globally competitive environment.
Canadian universities have a solid foundation of scientific and technological research upon which to build and many of the strengths and skills necessary to support the digital economy, but we cannot afford to be complacent. Canada's policies, programs, incentives and priorities must now be aligned to foster the investments necessary to create jobs, foster growth and to create the workforce of the future allowing Canada to regain its competitive advantage in a knowledge–based economy that increasingly relies on digital technology and expertise.
Seizing this opportunity requires action in three key areas:
- Canada must build upon its solid investment base in research and training while providing more incentives for collaborative and cross–disciplinary research that powers the digital economy.
- Canada must close the innovation and productivity gap between discovery and innovation by building research partnerships that link the market pull of entrepreneurs (especially those in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)) and consumers to the knowledge and talent of researchers.
- Speed is of the essence. Canada must move quickly to leverage our current strengths into a leading position within the digital economy lest we be outmatched by countries and economic regions that have already invested in policies and programs aligned to support their digital economic activity.
Building upon our Research Investments
Canadian investments in research through the tri–councils, the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCEs) the Canada Council and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) have benefited from the inclusion of digital media within their broader ICT priorities in both the federal and Ontario R&D strategies. The gap that remains is the incentive to stimulate multi–sector and cross–disciplinary research required to advance the digital economy.
Programs such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)/Canada Council for the Arts' New Media Initiative provide funding for projects involving scientists, engineers and artists. These programs are instrumental in enabling projects that otherwise do not fit current the granting councils' program offerings. The Ontario Media Development Corporation's (OMDC) Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund has stimulated the development of industry–academic collaboration in Ontario's cultural industries sector.
The New Media Initiative provided the funding for one of York's innovative cross–faculty collaborations involving researchers from the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
If we are to increase incentives for a broader multi–disciplinary research approach, the United Kingdom's Digital Economy Programme might serve as a model for Canadian tri–council funding for digital economy research and build on the success of the New Media Initiative. The UK's programme is led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which brings together EPSRC's work with that of the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Reducing Canada's Innovation/Productivity Gap
Research alone does not create prosperity. Knowledge and talent must be mobilized across the economy to support innovation and growth. If Canada is to secure leadership in the digital economy, collaboration and partnerships across academic disciplines must be extended to include both the for–profit and not–for–profit sectors. Academic institutions must be strongly positioned within regional innovation networks and have flexible technology, commercialization and knowledge mobilization services to meet this sector's unique needs. This positions universities to seize new opportunities in strategic S&T areas, such as e–health, digital media and strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICT).
York University's innovative Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides brokering services and access to research expertise and information across both the for–profit and not–for–profit sectors. York is a founding partner of the Markham Convergence Centre (MCC), scheduled to open in October 2010. The MCC facility will provide a physical location for industry–academic teams to conduct collaborative research leading to the next generation of products, processes and services, while providing a one–stop location for business acceleration services, entrepreneurship, R&D support and commercialization solutions.
Speed is of the Essence
Canada's international competitors have already recognized the digital economy's importance to their national economic strategy. Digital Britain, released in 2009, is an example of the comprehensive national digital economy strategies being developed to guide government investments and policy. "Connecting Canadians" provided the impetus for Canada's early leadership in the digital economy, but it was only a beginning. The Digital Economy Strategy must provide the guidance, policy directions and incentives for investments to accelerate the next stage of our digital economic growth. A coordinated strategy must also be accompanied by new investments to implement its goals and fulfill its mandate.
Theme 2 - Building a World–Class Digital Infrastructure
Context
Growth in the digital economy is impossible without world–class digital infrastructure as it provides the platform upon which digital services succeed or fail. Smart phones had little market presence until 3G networks provided sufficient capacity to offer meaningful consumer services. Cloud computing - a technology that can substantially reduce IT costs for business will not achieve its potential without high–speed, reliable and secure broadband infrastructure. Building a world–class digital infrastructure demands more than filing gaps in basic broadband service it provides capacity to support business needs and foster collaborative research.
Investments, such as Broadband Canada's $225 million to connect unserviced or underserviced communities, represents a critical first step by giving more Canadians access to the basic level of broadband service and infrastructure that participation in today's economy demands.
Access to ultra–broadband networks is also essential to grow Canada's digital media and entertainment sector. Companies must be able to move terabyte, and perhaps even petabyte, data files in real time to undertake highly specialized multi–national collaborative productions. Investing in such networks will enable Canada to facilitate better productivity growth and international alignment, regaining our competitive advantage.
Wireless infrastructure is equally critical to building Canada's digital economy. Mobile applications are placing increasing demands for wireless network capacity and represent one of the digital economy's most dynamic growth areas. Termination of analogue broadcast services on August 31, 2011 will expand radio spectrum for wireless applications and provide essential capacity to continue growth in wireless services. Allocating this spectrum provides a key strategic opportunity for the Government of Canada to stimulate innovative wireless services while creating a potential revenue source to fund a digital economy strategy.
To create an effective digital infrastructure that will support the digital economy, Canada requires action in four areas:
- Set goals for next–generation networks based on use–case scenario projections. For example, research on broadband use in specific areas, such as education and cloud computing, could inform decisions on network capacity.
- Support research on security protocols for emerging technologies to ensure Canada's network infrastructure and data remains in a secure Canadian environment.
- Support the development of ultra–broadband networks and connectivity protocols for digital media clusters and university research collaborations. Specialized digital zones require access to ultra–broadband network capacity to support collaborative digital media processes, such as creating digital special effects. Academic researchers will require access to increasing network capacity to support their collaborative research efforts.
- Establish regional convergence centres. Investment in convergence centres from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario would help build the innovation infrastructure necessary for southern Ontario communities to become more competitive, innovative and productive.
Next Generation Networks Based on Use Cases
University research can help define the functionality required by users of next generation networks and the business processes for which an ultra–broadband network would be used. York believes a use case should be developed for an ultra–broadband network to connect companies involved in digital media that routinely move the massive data files during film and television production. This case approach would provide evidence to inform discussions about future digital infrastructure investments.
Evidence–based research could also help to define the impact of access to advanced networks on rural and remote communities. This research could assist policy makers when evaluating the case for continued public funding of broadband networks in rural and remote locations.
York's Advanced Broadband Enabled Network for Learning (ABEL) and the Institute for Research on Learning Technologies are defining the speeds and other network requirements for the education and training settings. Interactive entertainment research in York's Mobile Media Lab will define network requirements, both mobile and wired, to deliver compelling user experiences.
Support Security Protocol Research
Our success in adopting emerging technologies and advancing Canada's digital economy in areas such as e–health will depend on network and data security. Security must be both easy to use and resistant to compromise. Research can create protocols that decrease the likelihood of external attack while creating understanding of the need for security that must be among all Canadians' digital skills and core competencies.
Support Ultra–Broadband Networks
The UK's Sohonet Website is an example of a specialized service network that caters to the media and entertainment industry's needs. Originating in London, it now serves the U.K., United States and Australia, with links to Japan, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Germany and Canada. Sohonet's clients include studios, labs, post production facilities, VFX vendors, production houses, content delivery specialists and advertising agencies. A Canadian industry source cited Sohonet as one of key success factors in maintaining London's prominence in digital media, despite its high costs in comparison to other world centres. Sohonet provides crucial access to other international digital media centres and allows firms in London to collaborate with partners and better leverage their specialized expertise and knowledge.
The Importance of Convergence Centres
Convergence and partnerships require physical and virtual spaces to facilitate their development at the regional level. A convenient location, collaborative spaces and services that attract SMEs create the environment that industry–academic, industry–industry and not–for–profit partnerships need to develop. Municipalities, business associations and academic institutions can provide some of the funding to create convergence centres, but additional funding is required to ensure success. These physical spaces need to be supported by virtual infrastructure, broadband and social collaboration tools to foster collaboration with firms and researchers in other research clusters.
Theme 3 - Growing the Information and Communications Technology Industry
Context
The Greater Toronto Area is home to:
- 95 of the companies listed in the 2010 Branham Top 250 Canadian Technology Companies, 28 of which are headquartered in York Region.
- 19 of the top 25 foreign IT multinationals operating in Canada, four of which are headquartered in York Region.
The consultation paper enumerates the many studies that point to SMEs' underinvestment in ICT and other economic sectors as one of the key factors in Canada's poor productivity and innovation performance compared to our international competitors. Global economic challenges over the past 18 months have likely further reduced ICT investment, despite incentives such as accelerated depreciation allowances for ICT investments. These private sector investments also need to be linked to training programs at Canadian universities and colleges.
Focusing only on growing the ICT sector misses the real potential for digital media growth. Surveys such as the Branham do not include key ICT users, such as financial services companies and media and entertainment companies. Digging more deeply into the results of the Branham 250 companies demonstrates that IT professional services across Canada enjoyed the strongest growth in 2010 at 21.43 per cent, while ICT hardware and infrastructure firms experienced a 21.5 per cent decline in revenues. Software experienced modest growth of 13.15 per cent in revenues over 2008 levels.
Growing Canada's ICT sector requires policies and programs that target the needs of the sector's various segments. IT hardware manufacturing and infrastructure firms need utilize research to resume growth. Software firms need to accelerate their modest 2009 growth through research and investment. Researchers need to better understand the needs of IT professional services companies to determine if their research can further accelerate its high growth rate.
Individual firms, however, continue to find the formula for growth. Ruggedcom.com of Woodbridge, Ontario provides communications networking equipment for harsh environments and enjoyed a 54 per cent revenue increase in 2009. The software category went from a seven per cent decline in 2008 to a 12.15 per cent growth based on increased sales by Canada's sector leaders. Open Text, which focuses its research on social networks at its offices in Richmond Hill, produced an eight per cent sales increase in sales in 2009, growing its dominance in enterprise content management software.
Declines in research and development, sales and marketing, and other core expenditures during 2009 reflect the industry's focus on near–term profitability and cash–flow pressures. If these trends persist, long–term sector growth will not occur.
Growing Canada's ICT industry requires the following action:
- Target research funding to fuel collaborative projects that exploit convergence across industry sectors, such as ICT with digital media, health, social sciences and design.
- Create spaces for collaborative research and development.
- Fund design and other forms of practice–based research.
- Develop financing to support companies as they grow to the next level.
Target Research Funding to Fuel Convergence and Collaboration
Convergence and collaboration provide opportunities for the ICT sector to renew growth. Apple, arguably one of the most successful firms in the worldwide ICT sector, has developed innovative solutions in content (iTunes), services (the App Store) and platforms (the iPhone and iPad). Each of these examples brings technology and design together in packages that create value for consumers.
In the GTA, we have an opportunity to create the environment and ecosystem that will allow this region to draw upon its strengths in technology, design and user experience to create products with equally compelling consumer value. Creating programs and policies to foster cross–sectoral collaboration will help create a research culture among Canadian SMEs and build national research strength. University incubators - such as convergence centres - also provide environments in which these companies can become competitive.
Collaborative research is among York University's core competencies. Our Department of Computer Science & Engineering has strong relationships with Canada's leading ICT firms located in the York Region. IBM, Platform Computing, AMD and Open Text are partners in the Centre for Innovation in Information Visualization and Data–Driven Design, launched in 2010.
Create Space for Collaborative R&D
ICT growth stems from industry–industry, industry–academic and industry–not–for–profit collaboration on applied R&D and commercialization projects. Physical collaboration spaces bring researchers and industry together in environments that support innovation. Designers, industry and academic researchers need opportunities to collaborate on a continuous basis if they are to create the next generation of products and services. The Markham Convergence Centre will create the environment for this type of interaction to occur.
York's Faculty of Fine Arts and the Centre for Vision Research are at the forefront of research that seeks to understand users' experience of 3D film. They are working with filmmakers in York's Future Cinema Lab to create a new language for stereoscopic 3D film that enhances story telling and narrative.
Fund Design and Practice–Based Research
Design and other forms of practice–based research provide essential contributions to convergent research teams. Design research is not addressed in current granting council programs, leaving this important component an afterthought in research activities. Design is an essential element for success in the growing health care IT segment. The success or failure of products, processes and services targeting this segment will depend on usability, interface design and other elements of human factors research.
Provide Financing to Support Growth
While stronger collaborative research and collaboration spaces do not create more venture capital, they do create new products, services and content that attracts venture investors to the region and industry while providing the returns that stimulate greater venture investment. Convergence centres also provide one–stop access to business acceleration services to better prepare entrepreneurs to seek venture capital.
Government–sponsored funds drive venture capital investment. Research indicates that government intervention in venture markets is most effective when done as an arm's length investor providing seed capital to create privately–run venture funds.
York's Schulich School of Business, Ontario Research Chair focuses on key topics such as, entrepreneurial finance, venture capital, private equity, IPOs, hedge funds, and exchange regulation and surveillance. This work involves the assessment of regulatory and other policy initiatives towards stimulating market activity.
Theme 4 - Digital Media: Creating Canada's Digital Content Advantage
Context
Developing Canada's digital content advantage demands the creation of compelling digital content that both entertains and projects Canadian values, diversity, and culture to the world. Content creation and aggregation will continue to be one of the GTA's key drivers for employment and growth in this sector and beyond. Strengthening the GTA as a Centre of Excellence in the digital economy does not come at the expense of other regions; rather it complements other regions' expertise and builds on our global position.
The benefits that stem from creating a digital content advantage would extend beyond the media and entertainment sector. Advertising, financial services and the health care sector must have expertise in digital content as social media and online access become increasingly important in customer engagement strategies. For example, revenue from electronic games, as driven by new distribution platforms such as the Apple App Store, is one of the fastest growing segments of the media and entertainment sector.
Competition for digital content is now worldwide. TV shows are increasingly viewed on the Internet. Piracy and unauthorized copying present increasing challenges for creators and content owners seeking to capture the benefits of their creative activities. Yet copyright and intellectual property regimes designed for the analogue world are inadequate for the digital world. Regulatory frameworks will need close and continuous attention to ensure they are supporting growth of digital content and not producing unintended consequences in the digital economy ecosystem.
Growing Canada's digital content advantage will require action in the following areas:
- Consolidating and strengthening the GTA's role as a centre of excellence in the creation of digital content, positioning Canada to advance in global markets.
- Updating copyright and intellectual property law to balance the needs of creators and users in the digital world.
- Coordinating regulatory frameworks in all areas that influence the digital economy to collectively facilitate new content and services development while providing the necessary infrastructure to support delivery.
Consolidating and Strengthening the GTA's Digital Content Cluster
Consolidating and Strengthening the GTA's Digital Content Cluster The GTA digital economy, home to Canada's key clusters in media and entertainment, financial services, health care and advertising, will power our future growth. The region has deep research resources, a broad cross section of industry and specialized services required to support growth, but lacks a culture of collaboration to fully capitalize on these existing strengths.
Despite the GTA's considerable strengths, growth depends on continued investment. Regional development funding to create digital infrastructure would act as a catalyst for the region to build collaboration across sectors and between industry and academic institutions to support growth and innovation.
Updating Copyright and Intellectual Property Law
For the digital economy to flourish, regulatory frameworks must protect the rights of creators, encourage information sharing as a basis for innovation and allow new platforms and services to develop, sometimes to the detriment of established business. Bill C32 starts the process of updating Canada's copyright and intellectual property regimes. Questions arising from the rights of original creators and those who use the vast and increasingly available collections of digital content must be resolved for Canada's digital economy to achieve its full potential.
IP Osgoode, Osgoode Hall's centre of excellence is leading research on Canada's IP law and regulations to better understand their impact on both the creation of IP and innovation in Canada's in the context of international obligations.
Coordinating Regulatory Frameworks that Impact the Digital Economy
Copyright and IP law are essential, but broadcast policy, personal privacy and internet security, Canadian content regulations, the availability radio spectrum and foreign investment policy also have direct impact upon digital innovation. Evidence–based research is required to understand the impact of policy changes and the interactions of various regulatory frameworks upon the digital economy.
Theme 5 - Building Digital Skills for Tomorrow
Context
Developing Canadians' digital skills, talent, creative and innovative capacity in the labour force and across all economic sectors is one of the best ways to promote long–term productivity, economic growth and prosperity.
Universities are at the heart of developing the high quality labour force that Canada needs to remain competitive. Access to talent pools is one of the most critical considerations in investment decisions and was a critical factor in attracting and convincing international game development companies to locate major studios in Canada.
To ensure Canada's workforce has the digital skills to support tomorrow's industry, government and academia must work together as never before to ensure all Canadians have the required skills. These efforts must start with how we train and develop our teachers, construct our degree and graduate programs, and build a culture of life–long learning.
Building digital skills requires action in the following areas:
- Understanding and developing digital skills through the education system and ongoing workforce development.
- Developing "T–shaped skills" and creating programs and degrees that develop these skills in students.
- Overcoming the barriers to SME investment in employee development and training through incentives.
Understanding Digital Skills
Teaching and learning in the digital economy have changed, and the rate of change will continue to accelerate as digital technologies evolve and additional content becomes available online. Learners can no longer be expected to organically pick up digital skills; instead, digital learning must become an integral part of teachers' professional development and of all levels of the education system's curriculum.
Every citizen will need digital life skills to access government services and information, participate in community life and communicate with friends and family. A digitally–literate population provides the sophisticated domestic market to drive the adoption of new products and services, along with a base skill level from which new and evolving skills can be acquired. Addressing the digital skills needs for labour market entrants and the current workforce will require focused and coordinated efforts on many fronts, including universities.
York's Institute for Research on Learning Technologies is examining the impact of blended learning programs on personal soft–skills development and job performance in a project involving York's Schulich School of Business and Scotiabank. Studies such as this deepen understanding of learning in the workplace and open the possibilities of a highly individualized approach to workplace blended learning strategies, something considered impossible in the past due to the infinite possibilities.
Developing "T–Shaped Skill Sets"
The Consortium on New Media, Creative and Entertainment R&D in the Toronto Region (CONCERT) Regional Innovation Strategy identified "T–Shaped Skills" as critical to the growth of the digital media sector in the GTA. T–Shaped Skills equip people with the concepts and vocabulary necessary to design and improve service systems. We need to educate deep problem solvers in their home discipline but also encourage interaction with and understanding of specialists from a wide range of disciplines and functional areas. Interdisciplinary course development requires significant support from both business and government as it goes against the grain of discipline–based education.
Creating Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) is one of the most tangible benefits of university post–graduate programs and post–doctoral fellowships, and should be a key deliverable of collaborative R&D funding, programs and projects.
York is creating new programs,such as the Digital Media Degree program, that draw on existing strengths of the Departments of Computer Science, Fine Arts, Cultural Studies and Social Sciences. The program offers new media career opportunities that range from Internet applications to computer game development; installation art to motion capture systems in film; film effects to animation; and from pervasive computing concepts, such as wearable computers, to virtual communities.
Engaging SMEs in Training and Development
Providing skills training to the current workforce is a difficult challenge, particularly when Canadian firms under–invest in employee training and development. This practice has a direct impact on Canada's capacity to adopt and utilize ICT for innovation and enhance our productivity. We must overcome this barrier to advance Canada's digital economy.
Although Canada's current underinvestment in training and development among SMEs is well documented, it is not well understood. New approaches that engage SMEs in knowledge co–creation may be part of the solution. By focusing on current issues in knowledge co–creation environments, employees learn and become engaged in knowledge creation to support future innovation.
The 3D Film Innovation Consortium (3D FLIC) will help building Toronto's capacity for 3D stereoscopic film making. Camera and lighting crews, post–production services and digital data management capabilities to support creation of 3D film and television will develop new skills. 3D FLIC brings together 12 industry partners from every segment of the digital production pipeline. This highly–focused effort represents a strategic response to the film industry's need to rapidly gear up its capacity for 3D film making. University–industry collaboration creates the necessary environment for the co–creation of knowledge to advance the art and science of 3D film.
The Way Forward
Convergence Opportunities
New forms of collaborative R&D and training won't just provide the stimulus for innovation based on digital technologies - they will be at the heart of creating Canada's digital content advantage.
The Consortium on New Media, Creative and Entertainment R&D in the Toronto Region (CONCERT) report concluded that the most advantageous opportunities for the Greater Toronto region do not lie in giving priority to one or two digital media sectors. Rather, the key to moving the sector forward will be found in exploiting opportunities that maximize the convergence of content, services and infrastructure.
The Convergence concept (see figure above) is an important step forward if Canada is to seize the opportunity and play a leadership role in the digital economy.
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