Meeting Summary
Alberta Research and Innovation Authority (ARIA)
May 25 – May 28, 2014
OVERVIEW
The Alberta Research and Innovation Authority (ARIA), represented by provincial, national and international
members, convened in Edmonton from May 25 – May 28, 2014 for one of the Authority’s twice-annual inperson meetings. ARIA’s mandate is to develop and deliver strategic research and innovation advice to the
Government of Alberta and support collaboration opportunities within the Alberta innovation system by
engaging stakeholders in system discussions.
THE INNOVATION COUNCIL
Premier Hancock, Deputy Minister MacDonald and members of Innovation and Advanced Education’s (IAE)
Executive Team joined ARIA for a discussion of proposed enhancements to the provincial innovation system,
building from an Expert Panel Report on Transforming Alberta’s Innovation System, the outcomes of the April
29, 2014 Innovation Forum and subsequent plans to establish an Alberta Innovation Council for the province.
HEALTH INNOVATION
The ARIA members met with the Honourable Fred Horne, Minister of Health and Dr. Cyril Frank, CEO of Alberta
Innovates – Health Solutions, to discuss new initiatives in health innovation in the province, including the
Strategic Clinical Networks and the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research.
SOCIAL INNOVATION
ARIA met with project team co-leads from Culture, Human Services and IAE to learn about Alberta’s new Social
Innovation Endowment (SIE). ARIA noted that similar initiatives have already been implemented in other
jurisdictions and provided input on the design features of SIE from an international perspective and
commented on the focus for overall objectives of the endowment.
PRIVATE SECTOR INNOVATION
As part of a continuing initiative to understand and advance private sector innovation in Alberta, ARIA
members collaborated with members of the Alberta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) on a number of
company visits in the Edmonton region. The ARIA and AEDA member visits included companies from a diverse
range of sectors (industrial construction, metal fabrication, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials and food
processing).
PERFORMANCE OF THE INNOVATION SYSTEM
An ARIA working group has been addressing the topic of performance measurement for Alberta’s overall
innovation system. ARIA reviewed work on assessment models, indicator identification, and comparator
jurisdictions. ARIA will be recommending ways to enhance existing innovation performance measurement
activities in the province in a report to the Minister of IAE.
Final Report: ARIA Spring 2014 Face-to-Face Meeting
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