Planning for High Technology Regions

Silicon Valley, California, and Route 128, Massachusetts remain today icons of high technology industrial development; ones based largely on innovative ideas, people, and products. In their search for economic betterment, planners and policy makers have often viewed regions such as these to be economic Holy Grails. Still, the successful recipe for creating an economy based on innovative industries such as biotechnology, advanced materials, and microelectronics remains somewhat of a mystery to the two parties. The purpose of my research is to aid in this regard by working towards the creation of a public policy framework with which planners may help create the conditions that are necessary to orchestrate such a successful high technology economy. Using a case study method, I have analysed arguably the three most important indicators of high technology health (venture capital availability, research and development activity, and educational attainment) to help illuminate their relative health in three Canadian cities. The case study is situated as a comparative study of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in relation to both Calgary, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.