Report to: Development Services
Committee Date:
September 8, 2009
SUBJECT: The
International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference on Science
and Technology Parks,
Raleigh NC
and Economic Alliance with Cary,
North Carolina Partners, June 1 – 4, 2009: Report on Outcome
PREPARED BY: S. McCrimmon,
ext. 2655
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “The International Association of
Science Parks (IASP) World Conference on Science and Technology Parks, Raleigh
NC and Economic Alliance with Cary, North Carolina Partners, June 1 – 4, 2009:
Report on Outcome” be received for information; and
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to
inform Council on the results of Markham’s
participation in the IASP Conference and meetings with members of Markham’s
Economic Alliance Partners in Cary North
Carolina.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Markham staff
conducted multiple meetings with The Town of Cary’s senior officials and staff.
These meetings were intended to strengthen the economic relations between
Markham and Cary, and also to explore new business opportunities. Cary
senior officials and staff who participated in the meetings included: the
Deputy Mayor Julie Aberg Robison, Regional Councilor Jennifer Robinson (Economic
Development Chair for the Town of Cary)
Sandy Jordan, Economic Development Director and Howard Johnson, President of
the Cary Chamber of Commerce.
The meetings resulted in a mutual agreement to continue to
strengthen the relationship between our communities through taking advantage of
opportunities to work together on economic programs and activities.
During the workshop sessions at the IASP Conference, Markham
staff was provided with a framework for assessing, planning and developing a
research and development park (R&D). Also, staff was provided with valuable
information regarding strategies for fostering technology-based research and
development business parks.
In an effort to further promote the Town of Markham as a
place to do business and to showcase innovative economic ideas captured in our
economic blueprint, Markham staff distributed copies of “Markham’s 2020
Strategic Plan” and World of Opportunity DVD’s
to members of Cary council, the Canadian Consulate Office, delegates from the
conference and to members of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2009, Economic Development
staff traveled to North Carolina
to participate in the IASP World Conference in Raleigh,
and to Cary with the objective to
reconnect with our Cary Economic Alliance partners.
The IASP Conference provided staff
with ideas and insights into the development of Science
Park clusters, and the development
of Life Science Incubation Centres.
The meetings that took place in Cary
provided opportunities for Markham
staff to re- affirm and advance our alliance with the Town of Cary
and the Cary Chamber of Commerce related to our Economic Strategy. Also, staff engaged in business meetings with
private companies and NGO’s, such as ‘Canadian Expat Network’ to share our
Economic Strategy and seek out possible opportunities.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
Staff participated in the following key business meetings and events:
Cary
North Carolina Chamber of
Commerce Business Partnering Breakfast – Ian Henshaw,
Sister City President, hosted a breakfast meeting for Markham
staff to make a presentation on Markham 2020 Strategy. Attendees included,
Howard Johnson, President of the Cary Chamber of Commerce; Councillor Jennifer
Robinson, Chair of the Economic Development Committee; Mayor Pro Tem, Julie
Aberg-Robsion; Sandy Jordon, Director of Economic Development for the Town of
Cary; Scott Fogleman, Budget Director for the Town of Cary; Paula Dickerson,
Public Affairs and Advocacy Officer, Consulate of Canada; and members of the
Cary Sister City organization. Those
attended were enthusiastic and appreciative of Markham
staff sharing our vision and economic ideas from the Strategy. The next step
will be to set up teleconference meetings with Cary’s
Director of Economic Development and Cary’s
Chamber President on partnership opportunities.
Cary North Carolina Town Hall
Event – Mayor Pro Tem, Julie Aberg-Robsion, introduced Markham staff to Town
of Cary’s senior staff members, which included: Ben Shivar, Town Manager; Susan Moran, Public Information Officer; Sue
Roland, Town Clerk; and Bill Stice, Director of Technology Services.
Markham staff shared ideas for
economic initiatives related to the Markham 2020 Strategy that both communities
can collaborate on. Examples of these
projects included Cary’s downtown
revitalization plan and Markham’s
cultural mapping project. The meeting
was successful and positive as Cary
staff expressed strong support for economic ideas in the Markham Strategy. It
was agreed that the next step would be to update and enhance Cary’s
presence on the Town of Markham’s
website.
Tour of ‘SAS’ International
Headquarters Business
Park – Lyn
Jackson, liaison for the Cary Sister City Committee conducted
a tour with Markham
staff to showcase the SAS business campus (700 acres in total). The park is a leading edge example of a
sustainable business park that is diverse in use and activities that support a business
cluster of 4000 employees (ie. health care and community centers, day care
facility, multiple office towers, walking and riding paths, restaurants,
etc..). SAS is the leader in business analytics services, and the world’s largest
independent vendor in the business intelligence market. SAS Canada is
headquartered in Toronto.
Cary Chamber of Commerce Annual
Golf Tournament – Sandy Jordon, Director of Economic Development invited
Markham staff to participate in the Tournament, which provided the opportunity
for staff to meet and build connections with Lew Ebert, President and CEO of North Carolina Chamber, and key leaders
from the business community.
Canadian Consulate Meeting – Markham staff held a one-on-one meeting with Dr.
Robinson, Trade Commissioner from the Consulate of Canada in North Carolina to discuss the Markham 2020 Strategy with
a focus on the opportunities within the four identified key sectors. Dr. Robinson shared with Markham
staff contact lists of Bioscience Companies in North
Carolina, and North Carolina’s
Strategic Plan for Advanced Medical Technologies. Dr. Robinson will be following
up with information on the Business Technical Training Centre (B-tech training
center) program which is offered at North Carolina
State University.
Canadian EXPAT Network Business
Meeting – Markham staff held a
meeting with Sean Mitton, President of EXPAT Network to discuss opportunities
that would help match Canadian companies with business leaders whom are
returning to Canada
to work. The next step is for Mr. Mitton
and Markham staff to design a database to match employers with staffing/recruiting
opportunities.
IASP Conference – Markham
staff participated in the following 3 breakout sessions of the Conference:
Session 1 – Getting Started
Valuable Experiences for Newcomers to Science Parks and Innovation Centers
– session provided methods and best practices from delegates of four
internationally known business parks and regions from around the globe.
Session 2 - Gearing up the
Next Generation Knowledge Workers – session discussed methods on how to
leverage the Gen Y and the Millennium generation, who have different work
styles, learning habits and communication methods. Understanding their culture can help parks,
places and their companies recruit such talent.
Session 3 - Attracting and
Retaining Talent in the Global Economy – session examined successful
strategies that communities are using to recruit and retain new and valuable
workers.
Examples of the presentations from
the breakout sessions are attached as Attachments 2 and 3.
NEXT STEPS:
Economic Development staff is working
on business opportunities including:
-
Following up with North
Carolina State University
on B-tech Training
Center
-
Setting up virtual meetings with Cary’s
Director of Economic Development and Cary’s
Chamber President on partnership opportunities.
-
Updating Cary’s
presence on our website
-
Continuing to build on the network of private and
public partners in Cary that
support the Markham 2020 plan.
-
Following up with Dr. Robinson from the Consulate to
provide information on Charlotte North Carolina emerging Financial sector, and
Centennial College Bio-Network
ALIGNMENT
WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
The IASP World Conference and the
Economic Alliance with Cary North
Carolina are integral parts of the Town’s 10 Year
Economic Strategy, “Markham 2020”. The
program focused on all of Markham’s
4 targeted economic sectors, and addressed the objectives of building Talented Markham and Infrastructure Markham.
RECOMMENDED
BY:
___________________________ _________________________________
Stephen A
Chait, Ec.D., CMC Jim
Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director,
Economic Development Commissioner
of Development Services
ATTACHMENT A:
Right to Left –
Lyn Johnson,
Cary Sister City Representative
Sandy Jorden, Director of Economic
Development for Cary NC
Ian Henshaw,
President of Oakhaven Research Inc.
Jennifer Robinson, Regional
Councilor (Economic Development Chair for the Town of Cary)
Suzanne
McCrimmon, Senior Business Development Officer for t he Town of Markham
Julie Aberg
Robison, Deputy Mayor for Cary NC
Howard Johnson,
President of the Cary Chamber of
Commerce.
Markham Varley book presented to
Julie Aberg Robison, Deputy Mayor for Cary NC
as a gift of appreciation.
ATTACHMENT B: