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The Ontario Science and Innovation Council (OSIC) recently released the 2002 Ontario Innovation Index. The report measures all aspects of Ontario\u2019s innovation system, from community awareness and support for science and technology, to levels of investment to support its infrastructure. The report also looks at Ontario\u2019s incentives for commercialization and growth, innovative performance and innovation outcomes.<\/p>\n
Three indices are used in the report to track the research performance of Ontario\u2019s universities, including one which ranks universities across the country by the percentage of research papers involving international collaboration in the natural, biomedical and engineering fields, where York is ranked as Canada\u2019s third most internationally collaborative research university. The ranking is\u00a0just\u00a0two percentage points out of top spot.<\/p>\n
The report states that \"international research collaborations improve the quality of scientific research by exposing domestically-based researchers to scientific research generated elsewhere.\"<\/p>\n
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\"International research and collaboration are a key hallmark for York\u2019s research,\" says VP Research & Innovation Stan Shapson. \"Most impressive is that York is able to accomplish this without having a medical school, research hospitals, or a large engineering program, and shows the incredible strength and vision of our researchers.<\/p>\n
\"It will certainly be our goal to take over top spot,\"\u00a0adds Shapson.<\/p>\n
OSIC, a council under the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity\u00a0& Innovation,\u00a0was created in June 2000 to provide government with strategic advice on science and technology policy and on how to make Ontario more competitive. The council\u2019s membership comprises individuals who are successful in developing and practising innovative ideas.<\/p>\n