Western's Response to Improving Canada's Digital Advantage

Submission

On behalf of The University of Western Ontario (Western), I am writing in response to the request for feedback on the consultation paper Improving Canada's Digital Advantage. The Associate Deans (Research) professors and members of the Research Development & Services team at Western, reviewed the consultation paper and provided feedback on the discussion questions posed in the document. Here is a summary of the main points raised by our review, for your consideration.

There is a general consensus that this consultation paper is a starting point to developing a national strategy to advance the opportunities around digital media. This is an area of vital importance to Western and to Canada. The digital revolution has changed the way that Canadians learn, work and communicate. In order to address the new digital economy, Western is bringing digital media into its teaching and learning, and it is one research strength that crosses a number of our faculties. The digital economy has already changed the way most people, institutions and businesses interact with each other. The prosperity of Canada depends on the success of a unified federal strategy for fostering digital technology innovation and improving Canada's digital infrastructure. The consultation paper addresses what the Federal government is currently doing to strengthen the Canadian digital economy and looking toward the future to examine what needs to be done to keep the Canadian economy viable, globally competitive, and accessible to all Canadians.

The University of Western Ontario

Western is committed to its mission of providing the best student experience among Canada's leading research–intensive universities. A vibrant centre of learning, Western is home to approximately 3,500 full–time faculty and staff members and over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Through its 12 Faculties, and three affiliated University Colleges, the University offers more than 400 different majors, minors and specializations. Research is an integral part of the University's mission and external support for research projects exceeds $245 million per year.

Western has a longstanding record of understanding the complex Canadian context and the need for leading edge knowledge in relation to national and international trends. The University has a demonstrated track record of applying the best available research evidence and bringing innovative thinking and best practices to bear on complex policy and programming issues. In the field of digital media, Western has made significant advances in research, development and commercialization. Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies, is now a decade old and has over 40 researchers focused on critical studies of new media. Western's Computer Engineering and Computer Science Departments support on–going research in digital interactive games, middleware, audio compression and streaming and numerical optimization.

Western has increasingly focused on three main areas relating to the rapidly evolving digital economy: High Performance Computing (HPC), Digital Game Technology, and Medical Imaging Technology. Our methods of teaching, learning and researching have taken a dramatic new turn in the face of immense technological change. We believe that by focusing on our strengths in these key areas, Western will be able to attract and retain top researchers, and both undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of Medical Imaging, Computer Engineering, and Applied Mathematics, as well as a number of fields that seek to understand the impact of digital technology on our society, our health, education, well–being and prosperity.

Strategic Areas of Focus

1) Medical Imaging
Western is actively involved in initiatives with industry to develop and promote digital technology, specifically for digital gaming, high performance computing (HPC) and medical imaging technology.

Medical Imaging Technology is one of Western's 10 signature areas with nationally recognized leaders in the use and development of imaging technology across the disciplinary spectrum, including sophisticated tools used in medical diagnostics and advanced analysis of materials and anthropology. In particular, neuroscientists have been leading internationally recognized research undertaken in a variety of disciplinary areas pivotal to the understanding of the brain, its functioning and health by linking research in cell biology, brain imaging and psychology. Western will be the host institution for the proposed Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization and Research (CITCR), which will address barriers in place that impact the success of SMEs, and are limiting the commercialization of imaging technology emerging from Canadian academic institutions. The proposed Centre's vision is to be a driving player in the advancement of the Ontario medical imaging technology sector. If successful, a national cluster of imaging technology focused on the translation of imaging innovations to clinical use will be centered in London.

2) Digital Game Technology
The Canadian Digital Game Technology industry is the third largest in the world, but is losing ground to new international competition. Canada can only remain competitive if it is able to rapidly move new technologies into the growing global game development technology market. Western is collaborating with industry and post–secondary institutions on the proposed Canadian Centre for the Commercialization of Digital Games Technology (CDiGiT) that serves to assist existing companies and researchers in developing, licensing, and integrating their technology and moving it to market more quickly. It will attempt to help them overcome some of the existing barriers including the cost of labor, technology, and talent. The Canadian talent pool is rich with highly qualified personnel, whose specializations are expansive — art and animation, programming, virtual reality, audio and visual effects, 3D rendering and mobile applications. The skills of these highly trained individuals are in demand in many sectors, including game development, mobile applications, film, art, television, and business. Technology–centered businesses need to offer attractive work packages, flexible workdays and added incentives to attract and retain top talent. In order to support a technology–based sector, it is imperative that there be access to state–of–the–art technology and there be a broadband infrastructure to support it. The goal of the collaboration is to create sustainable economic prosperity for Canada through domestic partnerships and international exports.

3) High Performance Computing
HPC (High Performance Computing) is the use of high–end computing resources (computers, storage, networking and visualization) to help solve highly complex problems, perform business critical analyses, or to run computationally intensive workloads that are in scale far beyond the tasks that could be achieved on today's leading desktop systems. Western is home to SHARCNET, a network of HPC computers that services Ontario. SHARCNET is in high demand and over capacity; however, despite its success, funding for continued operation is not secure. SHARCNET provides a valuable service while it accelerates computational academic research and attracts the best students and faculty to our partner institutions by providing cutting edge expertise and hardware. Federal funding mechanisms need to be in place so that initiatives such as SHARCNET are able to provide a much–needed resource to academic institutions.

4) Teaching and Learning
Canadian institutions and businesses are investing less in information and communication technologies than companies in other countries. Canadian organizations are facing incredible challenges in the maintenance of aging digital infrastructure. With technology rapidly changing, the cost to maintain existing digit infrastructure is high. However, the amount of money needed to invest in technological infrastructure is prohibitive for academic institutions and certainly to SMEs. Ideally, being able to invest in state–of–the–art infrastructure would ensure the resources to maintain the system and keep it viable. Many companies are faced with buying the more economical systems or simply maintain their status quo.

For Canadian universities and colleges, the digital technology revolution has had a profound impact on how students learn, how professors teach, and continues to change both how and what content is being delivered. The use of technology in the classroom has created unique opportunities but also challenges. How we conduct research, capitalize on innovation and access, and disseminate information has changed dramatically. Universities face a number of challenges to integrating technology into the academic setting.

The new generation of students is technology savvy and connected to the world. Canadians drive the need for technology and content that is faster, affordable and that is accessible anywhere, at any time. To support this new economy, a clear vision of our digital future is needed in order for the government of Canada to set priorities, develop policy, create necessary infrastructure and support the digital technologies. Canada must adopt a multi–year, multi–sectoral, realistic plan to drive the digital economy, strengthen our infrastructure, and ensure our future economic prosperity.

5) Partnerships
Students preparing to enter the workforce in digital technology must be equipped not only with advanced, specialized content and expertise, but also with an understanding of business, the economy and the global marketplace. Entrepreneurs and innovation need to be fostered in a way that benefits the student and the economy. As an educational institution, we strive to provide the best education for our students. Within digital technology fields, we must be able to provide students access to the top technology available, including high performance computing, multiple development engines, and fast, reliable broadband. It is also imperative that we have up–to–date security mechanisms in place to avoid the exploitation of intellectual property and proprietary knowledge.

In order to provide these services, there is an increased need for post–secondary institutions to develop partnerships with government and business, and to leverage revenue streams and funding opportunities. To prosper in the new digital economy, Western has developed an extensive network of industry, academia, government and not–for profit organizations with the aim of sharing expertise, stimulating the digital economy and developing the next generation of highly qualified professionals. Through this network, we will be able to leverage national funding mechanisms and develop international collaborations in an effort to strengthen Canada's economy as it relates to innovation, research and commercialization for the digital economy.

Our researchers are making innovative and important technological advances but there are challenges along the way as these new technologies are conceived, developed and capitalized. These are exacerbated by the fact that technology is evolving at lightning speed.

Discussion Points

Capacity to Innovate Using Digital Infrastructure
Key areas of focus: Foundational policy for innovation, protection of IP, security, globalization of the digital economy.

Building a World–Class Digital Infrastructure
Key areas of focus: Aging infrastructure, access to remote and rural communities, increased speed (HPC) and performance demands (HPC), cloud computing.

Growing the Information and Communications Technology Industry
Key areas of focus: Early stage, government incentives, and acceleration from conception to market.

Digital Media: Creating Canada's Digital Content Advantage
Key areas of focus: Artistic design, users as creators of content, information sharing, business leadership, training support.

Building Digital Skills for Tomorrow
Key areas of focus: Training and education, attraction and retention of top talent, fostering entrepreneurial spirit.

On behalf of The University of Western Ontario, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for the opportunity to review the consultation document Improving Canada's Digital Advantage. We hope that our feedback will assist you in developing future directions in the digital economy.

If you require more information or would like to discuss any of our feedback, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

W. E. (Ted) Hewitt, Ph.D
Vice–President (Research & International Relations)