The InnoCom Sub-Network carries out multi-disciplinary research on the regional innovation systems of Western Canada. The Sub-Network works in the context of a theoretical framework with a much broader definition of innovation and which embeds innovation itself in a more extensive framework of industrial competitiveness. Although we focus on technology innovation, case studies and in-depth interviews will link technology innovation processes to other innovative activities, and we will develop statistical indicators of technological and other forms of innovation, and of other determinants of industrial growth and profitability. The work sets the stage for a more ambitious program in future years to develop a system of innovation accounting and a set of broader measures that can be used to assess the overall strengths and weaknesses of regional industrial structures.

There are four major areas of investigation:

• Innovation profiling in technology-intensive firms
• Measurements of human capital in research and development
• Identification of innovation indicators
• Theory of innovation systems and phenomena of innovation
  studies of innovation theory, spontaneous and induced innovation, and the impact of university research

InnoCom brings together the work of researchers experienced in both the practical management of science, technology and innovation policy at senior levels of government and in academic research in disciplines relating to science, technology and innovation policy and practice. InnoCom's activities are designed to integrate and build on the complementary strengths of the investigators: statistical analysis and measurement of science and technology (Holbrook), analysis of actors and networks in technology-based firms (Smith), systems of innovation and technical skills management (Schuetze), government policy and industrial economic geography (Padmore), tax policy and management of technology (Lipsett), theory of innovation and historical evidence (Langford & Langford) and the role of universities, government laboratories and multinational enterprises in the development of "entrepot" clusters (Phillips).

Both ISRN and InnoCom were set up at a critical moment in the evolution of science and technology policy. The National Research Council is seeking ways to position itself to support industrial innovation and to tailor its operations to regional industry clusters. Our indicator development project and the innovation survey will support the NRC's wish to characterize innovation processes in firms. The province of British Columbia is seeking new ways of measuring innovation activity and developing innovative industrial clusters, and has released a strategic plan for science and technology that calls for more innovation in the primary resource sector, as well as advanced manufacturing and service industries. Other federal and provincial agencies will benefit from our work, and will participate in the planned workshops.

The sector-based situation analysis and innovation profiling is as relevant to corporate policy formation as it is to public policy. In the long term, we will test this idea directly by seeking corporate support for portions of our research program.