CANARIE and high tech employment opportunities in Manitoba

This CANARIE is not a bird, but like the canary in the coal mine, it provides a signal to Manitobans when things are not going well. Two weeks ago, the signal came through loud and clear – there are big problems with the way the NDP government is approaching support of Manitoba companies who are in a position to apply for CANARIE funding. This CANARIE is the Canadian Network for Advanced Research and Education. It provides funding, on a competitive basis, to companies in the high tech area involved in various aspects of information technology, networking, and advanced software development. In recent rounds of applications, competitive applications from Manitoba companies have been turned down. A primary reason is that CANARIE funding needs matching support, and Manitoba, under the NDP, has no structured mechanisms to ensure small high tech companies in this area have a decent chance. In addition, the innovation support network in Manitoba is rather fragmented and companies find it difficult to build collaborative teams to pursue such opportunities

There is a better way. In the United States they have what are called Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. The funding is highly competitive and is based on excellence. It has enabled small businesses to do research and to develop novel products. In addition to the United States, Europe also has programs exclusively for SMEs. If we had an SBIR-like program in Manitoba for Manitoba companies, it would provide the initial funding for companies applying to CANARIE which could then be dollars which could be matched by CANARIE funding allowing high tech firms in this area in Manitoba to grow and to compete nationally. CANARIE is a good program for large organizations, but for small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) it does not work well when there is no provincial support.

At the moment, all too many young people working in this field who train in Manitoba are being attracted out of province because we do not have adequate numbers of such high tech information technology companies growing and developing here. It is time to change the Manitoba approach. I believe we need to put in place an SBIR like program which will help Manitoba small businesses and allow them to compete successfully for CANARIE funding and to grow and develop into significant high tech employers here in Manitoba. This approach will provide more high tech opportunities for employment in Manitoba. Such opportunities are critical to keep young Manitobans in our province and to attract other young people to our province.