Proposal Summary *

Background *

Current State of Manitoba’s Advanced Technology Associations *

CATA as Manitoba’s Proposed Global Partner *

1.Technogate *

2. Business Publications *

3. Group Benefit Insurance *

4. CATA Travel Alliance *

5. Communication & Marketing Resources *

7. GlobeRunner Conference Proceedings *

8. I.T. Commercial Officers—(Cdn Embassy/Consulates—U.S. Only) *

9. Management Training Programs *

11 Office & Household Relocations *

12. Public Relations Debut Packages *

13. Shad Valley Alliance *

What is Shad Valley? *

14. Software Success *

15.Virtual Advisory Network *

16. Wage and Salary Survey *

17. Advocacy *

CATA (Manitoba)---- Organization *

Financial Projections *

conclusion *

A. Immediately Becoming Part of the Global Economy *

B. The Quality of the Executive Director Will be Enhanced *

C. Access to New Partnerships Will Make Our SMEs more Competitive *

D. Ability to Increase Our Network Capabilities Will Increase Markets Available to Manitoban SMEs. *

EIAM (Attachment #1) *

ManCET (Attachment #2) *

A PROPOSAL TO GLOBALIZE MANITOBA’S TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONS

This proposal is made on behalf of the Electronic Information Association of Manitoba (EIAM) and the Manitoba Corporation for Enabling Technologies (ManCET) representing the preponderance of high-tech organizations in Manitoba. We are concerned that the advanced technology associations in Manitoba are not adequately connected with potential global partners, suppliers and sources of information and that they lack a multiplicity of benefits available to their competitors in other communities. Further exasperating this challenge is that no single organization is large enough on its own, or even in partnership with others within the Province, to overcome these perceived disadvantages while at the same time providing a wide-range of benefits that would make joining worthwhile.

To overcome these hurdles, while propelling our small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) into the global trading community, we propose establishing a branch of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA) in Manitoba. This organization is described in depth later in this document.

There are significant benefits to this proposal with no discernible downside risk.

Benefits to Manitoba:

• Our SMEs immediately obtain access to a wide range of services that are listed later in this document; (see attached testimonials at the end of this plan)
• For associations (EIAM for example) current membership fees could remain the same as now but would also entitle the member to full participation in CATA. Fees will be split between the two groups with some of the existing administration duties for associations being handled by the Executive Director of CATA.
• To assist in the early setup up costs CATA are prepared to absorb up to $25K pa for the first two years.

The challenges we confront in making this transition are as follows:

• We will need to incur noticeable startup costs in hiring a dynamic Executive Director and establishing an office suitably equipped with computer and software;
• Even though we will be quickly joined by up to 50 companies we will need to expend considerable effort to market the new organization to the remainder;
• The fee structure in place for CATA presupposes a larger economy and much larger firms than Manitoba can support. We will need to work with all participants over the next couple of years to find a suitable funding arrangement that will make our organization self-sustaining.

This proposal, then, is a request of the EITC to join our organizations in financially supporting our efforts over the course of the next two years. The total sum required over the 2 year startup period, as detailed in the financial section is: $216K, of which CATA is contributing $50K, ManCET $11.5K, membership and services revenues $104K, and $50K is being requested of the EITC.

In sum, we are asking the EITC to join a community-based effort in assisting the many SMEs that constitute our industries to become full participants in the global economy. The changes that we confront are coming at us with a dramatic speed and a competitive forcefulness that few of us have experienced before. Without a gateway to these changes, such as CATA represents, there is a serious possibility that our companies will lag behind the product and efficiency cycles inherent in the "new economy". Potential job loss will result.

We are living through a historic period of technological change, brought about by the development and the widening application of information technology (I.T.). This process is both different from, and faster than, anything we have seen before. It has a huge potential for wealth creation, higher standards of living and better services

I.T. is already an integral part of our daily life, providing us with useful tools and services in our homes, at our workplaces, everywhere. The Information Society is not a society far away in the future, but a reality in daily life. It is adding a new dimension to society, as we know it, a dimension of growing importance. The production of goods as well as services is becoming more and more knowledge based intensive.

I.T. has led to an enormous reduction in the cost of storing and processing of information over the last 50 years. We are now witnessing a similar reduction in the cost of transmitting information. Technological progress now enables us to process, store, retrieve and communicate information in whatever form it may take - oral, written or visual - unconstrained by distance, time and volume. This is the beginning of the information distribution revolution. In this way, I.T. is reshaping working life, the organization of enterprises and the whole of society. Enterprises are being transformed away from hierarchical and complex organizations with simple jobs to more decentralized and network-oriented organizations with more complex jobs. The most successful communities and enterprises are combining I.T. with education and training and with organizational transformation in an integrated approach.

The world is changing around us so fast that managers now refer to a year in the life of an information driven company as a "dog year" because each year is like seven calendar years. We have a small population of about 1.1 million people, and many of these are active in the resource extraction industries. Consequently, Manitoba does not have the capability, on its own, to keep pace with the competitive implications of the changes going on about us. To keep our I.T. and information-based companies as sources of job creation we must seek out partners that will provide us with global contacts and sources of information.

Manitoba has many associations catering to the high technology and highly skilled sectors of our economy. The most prominent of these would include the Electronic, Information and Technology Association of Manitoba (EIAM), the Data Processing Association of Manitoba (DPMA), Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS), the Health Telematics Association and the Aerospace Association of Manitoba. Emerging ones would include the New Media West Consortia and The Database Association of Manitoba. In total, these combined with several others would constitute 200-300 companies and approximately 1000 professionals/individuals.

While each of these organizations are performing valuable services for their members they all have short comings when confronted with similar organizations in other communities with whom we are being forced to compete:

• the organizations are comparatively small with a very limited range of membership benefits to offer their adherents;
• their range of activity, and hence the numbers and types of relationships into which they might enter is limited chiefly to Manitoba;
• they lack the bracing entrepreneurial stimulus that comes with daily exchanges with organizations acting on a global basis;
• most of them have either low levels of professional support or none at all;
• the ability to organize conferences, select training modules is limited;
• they are organized hierarchically with outdated computer support

The proposal put forth in these pages invites Manitoba’s high-tech organizations to come together to form a branch of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA). Consequently, we will have a vehicle that would be Provincially autonomous while substantially mitigating many of the shortcomings of the present arrangement.

Canadian Advanced Technology Association

CATA is a multi-sector technology trade association dedicated to stimulating global growth through strategic partnerships, innovation and entrepreneurial values. The Canadian Advanced Technology Association is the leading advocacy and business organization representing the growing ranks of advanced technology industries in Canada. It represents more than 1,000 New Economy enterprises. The common purpose that unites the membership is CATA’s commitment to business growth. CATA emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic partnering, all aimed at world markets. It also focuses on fostering world-class performance in skills training and upgrading; ensuring management competency, pinpointing global resources and profitable market niches; and attracting equity capital

CATA uses the most sophisticated technology and the best-designed network architecture to achieve a wide range of low-cost benefits for its members. Joining them will assist in a large measure in having local businesses change their attitudes and business procedures. In a networked business environment, cooperation among firms and between regions can prove more rewarding than unbridled competition, and information-sharing more fruitful than information control. With the rapid social, economic, and technology changes taking place, successful businesses will be those that use information technologies to adapt to their changing environment.

TechnoGate is a major CATA offering. It allows the technology community to benefit fully from electronic commerce via the Internet. This is being done via an Internet site, which can best be described as an electronic marketplace, where businesses meet and information is shared.

The purposes of TechnoGate are to:

1.help executives in the technology industry with their global business networking

2.provide up to date databases of company profiles and their business interests

3.offer an electronic platform for the advanced technology industry

Databases accessible are:

• a directory of high-tech companies;
• resource providers;
• employment services;
• business intelligence;
• business services and
• strategic partners.

CATA publishes papers and studies that have a direct applicability to the high-tech community. These are readily available to members.

CATA provides access to low cost insurance, including: Group Health & Dental Plans; Business and Home Office Insurance; Personal Home and Auto Insurance as well as individual health and dental plans for employees who have been laid off.

The CATA Travel Alliance is a management service sponsored by the Canadian Advanced Technology Association. The Alliance provides innovative travel information technologies to reduce air travel costs, streamline travel administration and provide time sensitive information on travel destinations. Personal travel benefits include the services of CLIA certified Cruise consultants.

CATA has developed many resources aimed at building SMEs:

A. CATA's Home Page

CATA’s Home Page is updated constantly and contains information on coming events, CATA’s Annual Conference, and additional information of use to CATA’s members.

B. TechnoGate

TechnoGate is an electronic marketplace where businesses meet and information is shared.

C. The CATA list (email)

To subscribe, a customer sends an email message to info@cata.ca.

D. The CATA forum

This is a forum for Canada’s high tech executives to discuss issues of concern and ask each other questions. It can be reached via a web browser or by entering a newsreader and subscribing to the newsgroup "can.org.cata".

E. The CATA InfoLine

The CATA InfoLine is a fax-on-demand service which allows you to dial in, select items you wish information on, and have them faxed back to you.

F. The CATAlyst

A 2-page fax communiqué containing information on technology trends, legislative developments and business risks and opportunities. CATA has a direct mail program to connect subscribers with investors, distributors, joint venture partners or customers depending on need. The CATAlyst fax service—with a distribution to over 6,000--is a nationwide voice for industry events, services and other newsworthy items in the advanced technology community. For companies, targeting the U.S. CATA offers Go USA—Exports Unlimited.

This feature is particularly important for firms competing in the global economy where special expertise is needed. CATA knows how to strategically position an opportunity to attract top talent.

Previous projects include:

• President •Chief Executive Officer •Chief Operating Officer •Chief Financial Officer •Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing •Vice President of Research and Development •Director of Public Relations •Technology Manager •Product Manager •U.S. Sales Manager •Account Executive •Software and hardware engineers

A feature whereby the contents of important conferences are provided on-line.

Names addresses and telephone numbers for the American Commercial Officers. Also included are introductions, if needed.

A. Certified Advanced Technology Manager

The Certified Advanced Technology Manager is a unique management development program designed for industry by industry.

Managers from technology-based companies receive graduate-level training in business administration and management skills, with an emphasis on project and product level management. The program makes use of an integrated model of management development balancing the theory of business administration with skills necessary to apply that knowledge.

A sponsor within their company supports each candidate’s application to and enrollment in the program. The sponsor role enables companies to monitor participants’ progress and learning and offers a useful support mechanism and sounding board for participants.

B. Advanced Technology Executive Forum

The Advanced Technology Executive Forum is an exciting opportunity to share best practices for successful management of advanced technology companies. The Executive Forum provides an unparalleled environment for exchanging ideas, discussing common managerial challenges, and building the knowledge base required for global competitiveness.

The seven-day program features workshops conducted by leading academics and consultants. Workshop topics include:

• Strategic Intent: Industry Leadership and Global Preemption
• Financial Management: Risk, Uncertainty, and Strategic Imperatives
• Development Project Selection and Management
• Cycle Time Reduction Strategies
• Marketing: Strategies for Launch, Diffusion and Mass Customization
• Intellectual Assets: Vision, Knowledge, Leadership, and Learning
• Embracing Change: Managing in Turbulence

CATA helps members boost their corporate profile by distributing corporate news electronically to CATA’s top media contacts.

AMJ Campell Van Lines and CATA have a partnership, WorldWide Moving services.

CATA members will be provided with a comprehensive program, including on going communications throughout their entire relocation. In addition, through the AMJ/CATA partnership members will receive:

• a guaranteed discount of 10% off published rates on all local moves
• a 53% discount off the total linehaul charges and 25% off the total packing and unpacking charges for long distance shipments
• on U.S. shipments, in and out of the U.S., a 45% bottom line discount which entails linehaul charges, packing charges and surcharges a guaranteed 10% discount on tariff rates for international moves (outside of North America)

CATA offers entrepreneurial firms several cost effective PR debut packages aimed at helping companies get their messages out to the people who really matter - the buyers of their products and services. The goal is to communicate who you are and why your products or services are better than any of those offered by competitors.

CATA, the NRC and Shad Valley all recognize the benefits of identifying, encouraging and cultivating Canada’s top talent - before university, giving our future leaders a better sense of the future - and their place in it.

Shad Valley is a summer program for outstanding high school students, dedicated to the advancement of the scientific, technological and entrepreneurial capabilities of Canada’s brightest youth. Shad Valley’s primary goal is motivational, providing participants with encouragement and an appreciation of their ultimate potential while broadening their perspectives and fostering their scientific, technological and entrepreneurial instincts. It is an incubator for scientific entrepreneurs.

The Shad Valley Program is an initiative of Shad International, a certified educational institution and charitable organization. Established in 1981, Shad Valley now boasts over 4500 alumni across Canada and around the world, with over 80% of them having pursued studies in science, engineering and computing. Shad Valley is industry driven, with almost 200 sponsoring companies and organizations supporting the program, most of whom have been supporters for over 5 years.

Under Software for Success, participating companies designate specific software for CATA members, who can request a free copy with an option to buy more at a discount.

The program helps CATA’s software companies establish their market base and build brand awareness. Participating companies and their employees get access to the best and most affordable solutions to their technology needs.

Companies, including Corel Corporation, Northern Telecom, Microstar, Nifco and FTP Keyword have handed out over 3000 packages so far. CATA will announce new offerings throughout the year. Participants need only to email if they wish to participate.

CATA provides access to a diverse network of technology companies, investors, business consultants, government contacts and individuals with special expertise. This network represents the very best of business advisory resources.

In order to effectively evaluate compensation programs, an organization must have access to reliable and up-to-date data. The CATA Compensation Survey provides such a primary source of data.

Advocacy takes place on specific issues such as:

• research and development tax credits •government procurement •tax and finance policy •Telecommunications Policy •capital formation and investment •export regulations and international trade •human resource development and education

CATA Manitoba’s organization would consist of an Executive Director, a Board of Directors chosen from the companies that comprise its membership and member firms grouped into combinations that best represent the interests of their constituents.

Reality check: Using Stats. Canada numbers there are about 3300 business in Manitoba that could use CATA services and 15 separate associations from whom to draw upon. Of this total CATA will need only about 200 to be economically viable.

Working life is becoming increasingly dominated by new ways of organizing as e.g. "virtual", "network" or "knowledge-based" organizations, which rely on networks, alliances and global markets for their supplies, production capacities or sale. Being able to access the services of CATA from a single terminal, SMEs will be able to:

• Undertake an increasing number of tasks that can be totally or partially dealt with any time and anywhere, at home or at the customer’s location. This will substantially increase the flexibility of the SME businessperson while at the same time the distinction between working hours and spare time is withering away for many jobs. Having access to many services from any location will be welcome for the increasing number of business people, technologists, advertising people etc. who work from their homes and only attend at the workplace in connection with meetings.

• With the CATA arrangement, we will witness a substantial job expansion for the Executive Director. With the aid of cutting-edge software and the CATA suite of services and contacts, the employee will be able to carry out a far larger portion of the working tasks for customers/clients than is possible to day. Because a single person will now be able to solve tasks, which earlier demanded the work of several people there will be a noticeable drop in overall costs. ("One-stop-shopping").

• Because of lower overall costs, a broader range of services and a higher degree of job satisfaction as a result of the contents and conditions of work, Manitoba will be able to hire an Executive Director with substantially higher qualifications than is now the case. This will result in better advice and guidance being given to our SMEs.

• Networked information technologies are especially useful in helping SMEs restructure and reengineer their operations to become more competitive. Business people can use CATA’s technologies and data bases to reorganize their activities into more versatile and flexible networks and teams. For example networking technologies can be used to build long-term, integrated business relationships with producers, customers and suppliers. They can be used to team up with other businesses, suppliers and associations on specific, short-term ventures. Some of these relationships can operate through electronic networks, across national as well as organizational boundaries. Networking technologies such as broadband transmission, video- conferencing, and electronic data interchange (EDI) can be used to support these flexible arrangements.

• While information and communication technologies will have an impact on how businesses will conduct their business, they will also affect the size, structure, and openness of markets. As these technologies are integrated into reliable networks, more trade will take place online in electronic markets. How these electronic markets evolve and the form they take will have significant consequences for the functioning of Manitoba’s economy as a whole. Electronic markets can reduce the net costs of doing business in a vastly larger marketplace, and thus improve overall efficiency and expand trade.

The EITC, with $50K can make a valuable contribution to a restructuring that will take us from many small organizations to a larger community-based one and from a local focus to one that is global.
 
 

The Electronic and Information Association of Manitoba (EIAM) -----

Mission Statement

EIAM’s mission is to develop and maintain an association which will assist in the promotion and growth of the electronics manufacturing, distribution, and software industry in the province of Manitoba.

Benefits of Membership:

• NETWORK with other members and sell, purchase or form strategic relationships with other firms in your industry;
• BUSINESS LIASONS with member firms serving your industry. Accounting firms, law firms, banks and research facilities that specialize in your industry sector;
• ACCESS to information on government programs for industry and business opportunities and information through the EIAM OFFICE;
• HUMAN RESOURCE PROGRAMS administered by the EIAM in cooperation with Human Resources Development Canada and Manitoba Workforce 2000;
• Advertise in the EIAM MEMBERSHIP AND CAPABILITIES DIRECTORY, used to sell Manitoba’s diverse electronics and information technology capabilities both in and outside Manitoba;
• Be listed on EIAM’s W.W.W. HOME PAGE and link to your company’s HOME PAGE;
• Have a VOICE in the rapidly advancing electronic hardware and software industry, through general membership or participation on an EIAM committee.

• OTHER

• EIAM Capabilities Directory
• EIAM Newsletter – NetWords
• Office Support Services
• Skills Development Upgrading and Inventory

Electronics & Information Association of Manitoba

476-435 Ellice Avenue

Winnipeg, MB

R3B 1Y6

Main telephone number

Phone: (204) 982-3426 Contacts

Ms. Megan Bowman

Administrative Assistant

Phone: (204) 982-3426

Fax: (204) 982-3420

e-mail: eiam@mbnet.mb.ca

Mr. Alan Pollard

President

Phone: (204) 982-3426

Fax: (204) 982-3420

e-mail: eiam@mbnet.mb.ca

Fax: (204) 982-3420

e-mail: eiam@mbnet.mb.ca
 
 

The Manitoba Corporation for Enabling Technologies (ManCET) was initiated by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, the Electronic Informatics Association of Manitoba, and the Department of Industry Trade and Tourism. Other organizations such as the Federal Government Winnipeg 2000 and the University of Manitoba quickly joined them in their endeavors.

ManCET’s VISION

Through the strength of our partners, ManCET provides leadership and a unified voice to Manitobans in maximizing the benefits attainable within the information economy.

ManCET HAS TWO KEY OBJECTIVES:

• Facilitate the growth of existing and new information-based industries and organizations.

• Encourage the accelerated adoption of information technologies and practices by Manitobans to enhance global competitiveness.

• Obtaining a large membership embracing Manitoba’s Colleges, Universities, Chambers of Commerce, Governments and associations;
• Developed (and rapidly growing) arguably Manitoba’s most popular Website for the information economy;
• Prepared an in-depth look at the new-media industry that resulted in substantial funding and the establishment of an Executive Director to foster the growth of this new industry;
• Held two major conferences---one on Education in the Information Economy and another on New Media;
• Financed a Study for an Innovation Centre in the down town core of Winnipeg;
• Proposed a Community Network that will make us competitive with other jurisdictions in the area of broadband usage;
• Held 5 seminars on such diverse issues as Agriculture and Innovation Centres;
• Taken 7 Companies to a major computer show in Atlanta;
• Working on: 2 conferences: Networks and Databases as well as a Fall seminar on the downtown Innovation Centre.