Vancouver institution loses funding, has not met development expectations

Vancouver’s New Media Innovation Centre (NewMIC) was on the cusp of changing its research focus to study ambient intelligence (AmI) before the funding plug was pulled in November (CNM, Dec. 4/03). A confidential report, obtained by Canadian NEW MEDIA through Access to Information provisions, paints a picture of an institution stumbling from mission to mission and spending too much time on fundraising to survive. It had pinned its last hopes on a new research thrust under the stewardship of Roger Lea as it sought a renewed lease on life. The report, commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), indicates the centre would likely have been renamed and moved out of its downtown Vancouver quarters had the coffers not run dry. The study, Review of the New Media Innovation Centre for Western Economic Diversification, which includes a lengthy analysis of the new media and wireless industries in Western Canada, also compares NewMIC to TRLabs, though the copy of the report furnished to CNM, which has several significant areas blacked out, makes no evaluation of which is the more viable research body. PwC makes several observations and recommendations. It notes the new AmI research focus, and concludes that NewMIC: would require a "significant new commitment from its government sponsors" to survive; had unfilled staffing requirements at the time of its demise; would likely have to end its small- and medium-sized enterprise recruitment program that added "little value, funding or other benefits while requiring significant management attention;" would require attention to its business development "to develop revenue from existing under-utilized labs, to develop programs to roll out developing intellectual property, and to redefine the relationships with SMEs and major enterprises;" would have to be careful not to let in-fighting over intellectual property divide stakeholders; and, "presents a good opportunity to provide the benefits that B.C. and Canadian governments anticipated: development of an intelligence and economic cluster, evolution of emerging businesses and growth in the B.C. economy. But it will not occur quickly or without substantial investment of capital and rigour around pre-determined milestones." Further recommendations were made to help NewMIC become viable, including leasing access to facilities - including the "impressive" wireless lab - to bring in revenues. PwC had also offered to provide advice on how to deal with its crippling $750,000 per year property lease from Polaris Realty (Canada) Ltd., an amount the landlord reportedly refused to budge from. On the topic of its new research direction, PwC is encouraging. AmI, the study of how people will use, enjoy and interact with technology in the future, is seen as an exciting new research avenue, with few practitioners in Canada. PwC notes that the lab was undergoing change as the original promises of the dot com boom went unrealized. "The results from NewMIC have not met the expectations for the development of a new media cluster of companies or skills, for business and economic development, or for the creation of intellectual property. There have been notable successes but not at the level or notoriety anticipated during the days when NewMIC was conceived. "In addition some of the founding companies appear to have had conflicting objectives. Some anticipated products to evolve; others anticipated having access to exceptionally skilled people who would be drawn from university programs; and others did not seem to have clear goals for participation. This resulted in an unclear direction for NewMIC, which seemed to be more concerned with developing programs to suit the founding companies than with focusing on compelling technology areas. "NewMIC is embarking on a different direction at this time. The concept of Ambient Intelligence is not widely discussed in current North American technical circles and, thus, the relevant concepts and technologies are unclear. However, AmI is a more familiar research topic in Europe and is a major thrust of one multi-national enterprise, Phillips." An important financial analysis was not furnished to CNM, subject to Access to Information exemptions.

Vancouver institution loses funding, has not met development expectations

News | 04/16/2004 4:00 am EDT

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