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Key External Client Services Planned
The GOL Action Plan is proposed to include:
1. Innovation
WD is supporting innovation in Western Canada through strategic investments in the key economic sectors of telehealth, geomatics, genomics, fuel cells, ocean industries, new media, Canadian Light Source, Greenhouse Gas Sequestration, Design Engineering and Advanced Transportation.
These types of science and technology projects will result in an exchange of high-level information among diverse groups. The projects will be enhanced through the use of information and communication technology. All levels of government, the university research community, and corporate research and development organizations will participate and collaborate on innovation projects. Innovation project partners will be able to share critical information on-line in a timely fashion through the WD Website. This will enhance the growth of the research and development base in Western Canada.
Projects, such as Fuel Cells research in Vancouver and the Synchrotron initiative at the University of Saskatchewan, will establish leading-edge research centers and institutions in Canada as well as create spin-off companies and industries. The economic benefits of such projects may span many jurisdictions and provinces. Vertical and horizontal supply chain and integration opportunities may develop as a result of the on-line exchange of information.
2. Business Development and Entrepreneurship
Develop a suite of virtual e-tools to expand the reach and clientele of WD to include as many Western Canadians as possible, and to serve international clients who wish to know more about doing business and investing in Western Canada. The e-tools will provide tutorials and expert advice on a wide range of small business and Western Canadian economic development topics.
A key goal will be to deliver those projects, business seminars, business planning and analysis tools which provide the best impact for our clients, and focus strategically on those initiatives that are achievable by 2004.
3. Partnership and Coordination:
A new Partners On-Line (POL) Program, called the GOL Investment Fund, is proposed. This new generation of POL would allow partners to use the suite of e-tools developed by WD for promotion and information purposes. The opportunity may also exist to collaborate with our partners on the development of other on-line projects.
The POL program has been used to assist partners in the Western Canada Business Services Network (WCBSN) to acquire web technology. The WCBSN partners include the following groups in Western Canada: Community Futures Development Corporations, Women's Enterprise Organizations, Canada Business Services Centres, Francophone Economic Development Groups.