In the business of developing business, there is tangible benefit in creating an environment where like-minded people are encouraged to associate. Significant synergy is generated when creative and motivated individuals share their enthusiasm for their respective fields.

In Saskatchewan, research parks are prime examples of such success.

"Investing in research and innovation, new technologies and in sustainable strategies are the keys to the successful construction of the 21st-century economy," says Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, an enthusiastic proponent of Regina's Research Park as part of the so-called "Knowledge Corridor."

Actively engaged in promoting Regina's capacity to accommodate world-class economic players, Fiacco sees the Knowledge Corridor tracing through some of Regina's major economic installations including the sound stage, the University of Regina, SIAST (Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology), the First Nations University, Wascana Centre, and the Science Centre and Regina Research Park (RRP).

Kathleen Livingston, Business Edge
The Petroleum Technology Research Centre is one of the clients in a unique 70,000-sq.-ft., three-storey building that is part of Regina's research park section of the Knowledge Corridor.

The National Research Council's Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSIR) is among those clients who appreciate the value of the RRP.

"Some of our projects involve U of R professors and students working in the CSIR lab, so proximity is important," says CSIR's David Hubble.

Hubble also welcomes the collegial interchange made possible through the co-location of firms and agencies working in many fields of science and technology. "There may be equipment in RRP or on campus that we wouldn't purchase, but if we need to have a particular test done, we can pay a fee for it. And if we need to talk with a specialist from another discipline, they are close by."

The concept of a research park associated with a nearby university was developed in the U.S. in the 1950s. Its appearance in Saskatchewan dates back to 1981, with the construction of Innovation Place in Saskatoon.

Situated on land leased from the University of Saskatchewan, the original Innovation Place relied almost exclusively on public-sector tenants.

"Since then many different organizations have moved in," says Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison, who was a city councillor 25 years ago when then NDP premier Allan Blakeney officially opened the new Galleria building of Innovation Place. "The spinoff is huge. It's equal to or greater than what exists in the downtown core."

In 2005, only 17 per cent of Innovation Place tenants were government related; the rest were occupied by private-sector clients. And like Regina's mayor on his city's Research Park (also operated by Inno-vation Place), Atchison sees Innovation Place as part of a larger grouping of facilities that includes the Canadian Light Source.

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), one of Innovation Place's anchor clients, relies heavily on the proximity of both the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Light Source.

Ken Owens, SRC director of corporate services, stresses the value of an environment that encourages interaction of like-minded businesses. "It's almost impossible not to have some kind of osmosis happening between individuals of similar types of activity," he says. "I think that relationship is critical to success."

The economic effects of the research parks now stretch far into the province.

In 1996, the impact of Innovation Place was assessed at less than $100 million. But by 2004, the combined economic effect of the organizations located at Innovation Place and RRP had grown to half a billion dollars.

Innovation Place supports more than 3,700 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Saskatoon in addition to 4,200 jobs across the province.

Regina Research Park contributes more than $163 million to the city's economy and $238 million to the province's. More than 1,700 FTEs exist in Regina as a result of the activities in the Park and approximately 2,000 FTEs provincially.

Austin Beggs, director of corporate relations at Innovation Place, is not surprised by the rapid growth of the two research parks.

Having been given a mandate by the Saskatchewan government to "assist in the diversification of the province," Innovation Place endeavours "to develop products that will appeal to clients."

In addition to searching out clients with the right "fit" and adapting existing inventory to suit, Beggs reveals that there are qualitative enhancements in the Place that make a big difference.

"(We try) to understand how they (the clients) see themselves growing," he explains. "We also provide programming for our clients. Among other things, we provide recreational facilities, technical seminars, social events, food services, a newsletter ... We promote our clients' activities and encourage community event participation."

The success of these efforts is indisputable. An independent survey reveals a 99-per-cent approval rating among client CEOs and a 96-per-cent client employee approval rating.

The model of the research park is growing, as evidenced by the success of the two facilities and the opening in the fall of 2005 of the Saskatchewan Forest Centre Building in downtown Prince Albert.

The new 70,000-sq.-ft. facility houses several organizations whose business is forestry, including Saskatchewan Environment, Geo-Spatial Consulting Inc., Prince Albert Model Forest, the Saskatchewan Forest Centre and the Saskatchewan Forestry Association.

The Forest Centre does for forestry in Saskatchewan what Regina Research Park does for the petroleum industry and municipal infrastructure innovation, clustering and fostering businesses with similar interests and related challenges.

Implementing the research-park model required not only unflagging support of the provincial government, but leaders with vision.

Proponents of Innovation Place leveraged existing capacity in biotechnology to create a business environment that is all about innovation and development. The same vision was applied to Regina Research Park, with petroleum and sustainable development being at the forefront.

In Regina, that vision continues to take shape. Determined to encourage new and innovative industries to do business in the city, Regina has fostered a partnership with the National Research Council to develop efficient monitoring systems for municipal underground pipes and innovations in asphalt road surfaces.

A recent announcement regarding the Canadian Police Research Centre coming to Regina holds yet more promise of close partnerships.

"What's going to happen now is that Regina is going to be a living laboratory for security and law enforcement. Best practices will be developed here," says Mayor Fiacco.

(Kathleen Livingston can be reached at livingston@businessedge.ca)