Regional Innovation Systems - Industry, Energy and Technology

As identified in The Way Forward, a commitment was made to enhance regional innovation potential and competitiveness. IET coordinates and facilitates five Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) pilot projects in the Province. The RIS pilots foster and support regional cooperation, build networks to support innovation, advance regional opportunities and promote and facilitate information sharing and collective action. The pilots are designed to advance economic development through more formal cooperative approaches among existing stakeholders without creating additional operational.

The five Regional Innovation Systems pilots with specific sector focus include:

Southern Labrador and Great Northern Peninsula related to fisheries and tourism;
Corner Brook and surrounding area related to forestry and agriculture;
Gander and surrounding area related to aerospace and defence;
Burin Peninsula with connections to Clarenville and area related to industrial technology development; and,
Avalon region related to ocean technology.

A Steering Committee is established for each pilot. Each Committee explores challenges and opportunities for existing and new technologies that are driven by innovation, research, development and strategic partnerships.

The goal of each committee is to identify two to four common and attainable initiatives that will lead to innovation in each sector and region.

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