Comments on: ICT Toronto Launches http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/ any technology distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: robhyndman.com » Blog Archive » A Tech Cluster in Upstate New York? http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-21234 robhyndman.com » Blog Archive » A Tech Cluster in Upstate New York? Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:33:27 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-21234 [...] Some time ago Toronto launched ICT Toronto, “An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cluster Development Strategy”, a plan to make the Toronto region “one of the five most innovative, creative and productive locations in the world for infotech research, education, business and investment by 2011. I’m a sceptic - I’m dubious that government can achieve anything of the sort - and my scepticism deepened considerably when I learned recently that the program has effectively no budget. Be that as it may, it’s a noble goal, and you can’t help but wish such well-meaning efforts well. [...] [...] Some time ago Toronto launched ICT Toronto, “An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cluster Development Strategy”, a plan to make the Toronto region “one of the five most innovative, creative and productive locations in the world for infotech research, education, business and investment by 2011. I’m a sceptic – I’m dubious that government can achieve anything of the sort – and my scepticism deepened considerably when I learned recently that the program has effectively no budget. Be that as it may, it’s a noble goal, and you can’t help but wish such well-meaning efforts well. [...]

]]> By: Remarkk! » Incendiary Accordion Blast http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2215 Remarkk! » Incendiary Accordion Blast Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:26:56 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2215 [...] I have to agree with Joey, Rob Hyndman and others that it is very curious that an initiative intended in large part to promote Toronto as a tech cluster (to foreign investment, in part) did a launch event before making a reasonable attempt at a web site. With the plethora of cheap/free tools and high quality design talent in this city, you would think that ICT Toronto would have at least setup a nice little WordPress site. Unfortunately, government is even worse than large companies at being agile, adaptable and resourceful. [...] [...] I have to agree with Joey, Rob Hyndman and others that it is very curious that an initiative intended in large part to promote Toronto as a tech cluster (to foreign investment, in part) did a launch event before making a reasonable attempt at a web site. With the plethora of cheap/free tools and high quality design talent in this city, you would think that ICT Toronto would have at least setup a nice little WordPress site. Unfortunately, government is even worse than large companies at being agile, adaptable and resourceful. [...]

]]> By: Albert Lai http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2139 Albert Lai Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:21:53 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2139 Sutha: I couldn't agree more! Well said. Sutha: I couldn’t agree more! Well said.

]]> By: Sutha Kamal http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2138 Sutha Kamal Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:32:49 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2138 We don't need no stinkin' strategy... :) We just need smart people to hang around one another, build a community organically, and get some seed money from angels who've been here and done this before... on not-stupid, not-onerous, innovation-inducing terms. It's what we got when we needed it most (thanks guys!), and it's why Boston and the Bay Area are the clusters they are. Anyway... enough of my rant, see you in a few minutes Rob :-) We don’t need no stinkin’ strategy… :)

We just need smart people to hang around one another, build a community organically, and get some seed money from angels who’ve been here and done this before… on not-stupid, not-onerous, innovation-inducing terms. It’s what we got when we needed it most (thanks guys!), and it’s why Boston and the Bay Area are the clusters they are.

Anyway… enough of my rant, see you in a few minutes Rob :-)

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2137 Joey deVilla Thu, 20 Apr 2006 14:59:45 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2137 Hey, Rob! The PDF of the full report is available here: http://www.toronto.ca/business/pdf/ict_toronto_final_report.pdf Hey, Rob! The PDF of the full report is available here:

http://www.toronto.ca/business/pdf/ict_toronto_final_report.pdf

]]> By: Timothy Li http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2136 Timothy Li Thu, 20 Apr 2006 14:37:25 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2136 Hi Rob, Thank you for the review on yesterday's event =) Perhaps an existing blog (David's or even this one) would be a good place to start giving ICT Toronto a web presence. My next projcet 4) hire David Crow, or slice off some DNA and clone him Hi Rob,
Thank you for the review on yesterday’s event =)

Perhaps an existing blog (David’s or even this one) would be a good place to start giving ICT Toronto a web presence.

My next projcet
4) hire David Crow, or slice off some DNA and clone him

]]> By: Remarkk! » Updated: ICT Toronto Strategy http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2135 Remarkk! » Updated: ICT Toronto Strategy Thu, 20 Apr 2006 13:26:05 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2135 [...] The ICT Toronto strategy launch event at MaRS marked an important milestone in the development of a vibrant technology community in the city. It wasn’t exactly a barn-burner as far as these events go, but it was great to hear from Mayor David Miller. More of interest to policy wonks and strategy nerds like me than to a broad technology audience, the event brought out a selection of well-suited professionals along with the “dungarees”, i.e. the BarCamp crowd. David, Sutha, Joey, Jay, Bryce and I were noticeably underdressed (Tom always looks good). Joey does a good job summarizing the main elements of the ICT report on the Accordion Guy blog.  [Updated]:  Rob Hyndman posts some good points here. The strengths of the Toronto ICT (that’s “Information & Communications Technology” for you non-policy wonks) cluster are formidable. Toronto is the third biggest cluster in North America, next to Silicon Valley and New York. Interestingly, Toronto also has the third biggest entertainment cluster in North America, as well as having a very strong Financial Services cluster. The combination of these assets have the potential to be much greater than the sum of their parts, but there are deep structural barriers to be overcome. During Q&A, I was glad to hear David Ticoll take on one of those structural barriers - the dominance of U.S. transplants in Toronto’s cluster in the context of the acquisition of innovative companies and talent by U.S.-based multinationals. [...] [...] The ICT Toronto strategy launch event at MaRS marked an important milestone in the development of a vibrant technology community in the city. It wasn’t exactly a barn-burner as far as these events go, but it was great to hear from Mayor David Miller. More of interest to policy wonks and strategy nerds like me than to a broad technology audience, the event brought out a selection of well-suited professionals along with the “dungarees”, i.e. the BarCamp crowd. David, Sutha, Joey, Jay, Bryce and I were noticeably underdressed (Tom always looks good). Joey does a good job summarizing the main elements of the ICT report on the Accordion Guy blog.  [Updated]:  Rob Hyndman posts some good points here. The strengths of the Toronto ICT (that’s “Information & Communications Technology” for you non-policy wonks) cluster are formidable. Toronto is the third biggest cluster in North America, next to Silicon Valley and New York. Interestingly, Toronto also has the third biggest entertainment cluster in North America, as well as having a very strong Financial Services cluster. The combination of these assets have the potential to be much greater than the sum of their parts, but there are deep structural barriers to be overcome. During Q&A, I was glad to hear David Ticoll take on one of those structural barriers – the dominance of U.S. transplants in Toronto’s cluster in the context of the acquisition of innovative companies and talent by U.S.-based multinationals. [...]

]]> By: Mark Kuznicki http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/comment-page-1/#comment-2134 Mark Kuznicki Thu, 20 Apr 2006 13:23:00 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/04/20/ict-toronto-launches/#comment-2134 Rob, you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the need for ICT Toronto to embrace the web and the seriousness of the challenge ahead. I give them due credit for making a start, but ICT Toronto is going to need lots of help to realize its vision. That help needs to come from beyond the established players and the usual suspects. David Crow and some other BarCamp/DemoCamp folks are meeting with the ICT Toronto people Wednesday, April 26th. While some may think that BarCamp is a new organization that would be seeking funding, the reality is that ICT Toronto needs BarCamp/DemoCamp far more than an "unorganization" needs money. ICT Toronto needs the energy and creative vitality that the community continues to create. It needs a marketplace for new ideas and talent. It needs to develop the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. It needs help to put Toronto on the international geek map. A new research institute is all well and good, but it is the community of geeks, strong and independent, that are the raw material of the ICT Toronto vision. With the best and brightest on the web coming to mesh, ICT Toronto should be rolling out the red carpet, comping lots of tickets and providing guided tours of Liberty Village, Queen West and the Distillery District, and maybe a complementary consultation with an immigration lawyer. Rob, you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the need for ICT Toronto to embrace the web and the seriousness of the challenge ahead. I give them due credit for making a start, but ICT Toronto is going to need lots of help to realize its vision. That help needs to come from beyond the established players and the usual suspects.

David Crow and some other BarCamp/DemoCamp folks are meeting with the ICT Toronto people Wednesday, April 26th. While some may think that BarCamp is a new organization that would be seeking funding, the reality is that ICT Toronto needs BarCamp/DemoCamp far more than an “unorganization” needs money. ICT Toronto needs the energy and creative vitality that the community continues to create. It needs a marketplace for new ideas and talent. It needs to develop the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. It needs help to put Toronto on the international geek map.

A new research institute is all well and good, but it is the community of geeks, strong and independent, that are the raw material of the ICT Toronto vision. With the best and brightest on the web coming to mesh, ICT Toronto should be rolling out the red carpet, comping lots of tickets and providing guided tours of Liberty Village, Queen West and the Distillery District, and maybe a complementary consultation with an immigration lawyer.

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