Released on June 27, 1996
Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation (SOCO), as represented by Dwain
Lingenfelter, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for SOCO, Regina
Mayor Doug Archer, University of Regina President Dr. Don Wells, and
Regina Economic Development Authority Chair Muir Barber today reached
an agreement to develop a conceptual plan for a research and
development park associated with the University of Regina.
"One of the objectives of the province's economic development strategy,
Partnership for Growth, is to develop a conceptual plan for a research
and development park in Regina," Lingenfelter said. "With today's
announcement, the Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation has that
objective in sight.
"This partnership will explore further development of our province's
strengths in research and development. Saskatchewan's experience with
research and development parks is a very positive one. Firms attracted
to a research and development park are the companies that will be
manufacturing and merchandising products tomorrow. That is the
direction Saskatchewan needs to take for job creation and economic
development as we prepare for the next century."
The four parties to the agreement have formed a steering committee,
chaired by SOCO, to prepare a detailed plan addressing governance
structure, financial structure, commercial viability and economic
impact for the creation of the park. The committee will also prepare
a detailed implementation plan for the park's development. It will be
assisted by Gord Staseson who has been contracted to provide project
co-ordination.
"This agreement is good news for Regina," Archer said. "The conceptual
plan will further define the city's capacity for growth in areas of
strength such as information technology, and telecommunications. A
research and development park would do much to build on the city's
existing assets as well as support the establishment of new advanced
technology sectors."
Information Systems Management Corporation, the Software Technology
Centre, and TR Labs are already located adjacent to the university.
Regina is home to several national call centres and to many companies
involved in software development.
The steering committee will review current research and scientific
activities at the university, within industry, federal and provincial
government, Crown Corporations, and institutions. The members will
assess and define areas of expertise available and potential for
collaborative research and development. This expertise would form the
nucleus needed to develop a centre of research and development.
"The university is pleased to participate in this project," Wells said.
"A research and development park associated with the university would
provide a fertile environment for collaboration between academic,
government, and industry organizations involved in research."
"The Regina Economic Development Authority's economic development
strategy, FUTUREGINA, has identified telecommunications and information
technology as a sector of strength for Regina," Barber said. "That
sector is an ideal one to consider in the context of a research and
development park. The agreement today provides an excellent
opportunity to explore how Regina's other sectors of strength in areas
such as film and new media, agri-business and the energy sector would
interact with the park."
Successful research and development parks are based on the
establishment of a cluster of organizations undertaking research and
development in a given sector who wish to interact with similar
organizations in co-operative and competitive ways to enhance their
individual and collective strengths. Once a cluster is established and
becomes known, the core nucleus of companies attract other
organizations to the synergistic environment. The steering committee
expects to complete its conceptual plan by the end of the year.
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For more information contact:
Jan Carter
Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-8576
Mark Gregory
City of Regina
Phone: (306) 777-7486
Frank Flegal
University of Regina
Phone: (306) 585-5158
Muir Barber
Regina Economic Development Authority
Phone: (306) 522-0227
