Lessons from 2020, Insights for 2021

We asked our contributors some questions about their reflections on 2020 and what they are excited about in 2021.  Here’s a Christmas gift - their ideas and insights.

Jeff White

NBIF | LinkedIn | Twitter

Our team were resilience in adapting and serving our portfolio of researchers and entrepreneurs.  We grew our research funding, our partnerships, launched a COVID-19 Emergency Fund with NBHRF and ACOA, and launched an Early-Stage Commercialization fund with ACOA and Innovacorp too. 

For 2021, we will see continued building of momentum and renewed confidence. We will enter the year with the notion that it is because of being here, we can deliver world-class research and support companies solving global opportunities.

I invite our ecosystem to be part of owning and building the Atlantic Canadian Innovation story. Share and support the success of everyone!

Malcolm Fraser

Innovacorp | LinkedIn | Twitter

I am especially proud of our team’s ability to shift gears quickly after the start of the pandemic. In a short time, we were able to engage with our clients, understand what they needed to get through a difficult economic shift and get the resources out in record time. Since April we have put out or committed over $6M dollars in investment that has leveraged an additional $78 million in capital into our portfolio companies.  Our start-up founders demonstrated how remarkably agile they are – weathering the storm, making tough decisions, being extra resourceful, even finding new opportunities during the crisis.

2021 is going to be an exciting year. If history teaches us anything, challenging economic circumstances instigates more innovation and the corporate change required to realize the value of innovation. This means more companies/ideas coming out of our region and faster progress for those in market already.

Kendra MacDonald

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster | LinkedIn | Twitter

Our accelerated ocean solutions program call for proposals in response to the impacts of the pandemic on ocean sectors resulted in an overwhelming response with more than 250 project ideas, more than 400 organizations engaged, 36 projects approved since March and 20 projects announced this year.  The energy is exciting! 350 members and growing!

 In 2021, we will build on this momentum as an ocean nation and building back bluer!  Our projects will be hiring and training resources.  We are seeing an increase in international interest in what we are doing and that will continue to create incredible opportunities for our companies.  We will see a further increase in the number of tech companies that will see opportunities in the ocean and that a strengthened ocean technology supply chain will have the opportunity to bring their solutions to the world.

 The world is noticing what is happening in Atlantic Canada and Canada, and we are building incredible companies with the support of great organizations throughout the region. 

Kathryn Lockhart

Propel | LinkedIn

Though new to this ecosystem, I am nothing but optimistic for 2021. The year will be what we make it, and from what I see, our region has all the right ingredients to take our tech industry to the next level. Our pursuit to find, shape, and launch baby unicorns will keep us busy and energized at Propel as our coaches continue the important work they do, helping build foundational skills of quality founders and supporting their journeys. Bring on 2021!

Barbara Ells

Venn Innovation | LinkedIn

While 2020 was a challenging year, entrepreneurs and tech companies from across the Atlantic Region have shown their resilience and determination in moving forward.  We have seen success demonstrated in many ways – from pivots, to partnerships, to financing, to acquisitions, all of which will lead to continued growth in the region.  

In 2021, Venn is excited to continue working alongside innovative clients and ecosystem partners to increase the global visibility of Atlantic Canada and the innovative products that we offer to the world.

Tyson Johnson

Cyber NB | LinkedIn

We reflect on a year that will be remembered for many reasons.  2020 placed the digital economy under a spotlight and all citizens, from the shop floor to the boardroom, are now keenly aware of the need for resiliency and security in the digital landscape across which we all operate.  This has created increased opportunities for technology companies and entrepreneurs to grow and develop new, innovative ways to support the global digital economy.  Cybersecurity firms we work with have reported record years with the services they provide. 

Gaps are also being identified as the world goes ‘digital’, and in particular the ability to secure the digital supply chains across the world and the interoperability of technologies across sectors.  This has created opportunity for new business and we anticipate companies across Atlantic Canada to innovate and fill these gaps that the market identifies.   Best of luck to everyone in 2021.

Eric Cook

RPC

The pandemic was devasting for many and disruptive for most, and we are looking forward to 2021.   An intervention or crisis can stimulate change, some of which leads to innovation.   Three positives as we look forward to the new year are:

1. An appreciation for technology.  Videoconferencing, cloud computing and other technologies are invaluable during the pandemic and are sure to be adopted, improved and incorporated in our businesses. 

2. An appreciation for value from the supply chain.  The pandemic saw a shift from the drive for lowest price to a more complete value model (delivery, quality and price).   Delivery was especially important; suppliers that could remain operational and continued to deliver were essential.   This also drives the buy local movement and is likely to provide re-shoring opportunities. 

3. An appreciation for productivity.   Similar to the supply of materials, the supply of labour became significant.  Some businesses are already analyzing their dependence on low cost labour and looking to advanced technology to help improve productivity.  More businesses are recognizing that advanced manufacturing technology is applicable for small and medium sized businesses and this is a positive.    

I hope your business can benefit from technology to help recover from the pandemic and have a prosperous future. 

Larry Shaw

Ignite Fredericton | LinkedIn | Twitter

The pandemic shook our economy to the ground and the impact and stress that we have endured was nothing short of dramatic. Our hearts go out to those who battled the disease and the family and friends of those that lost that battle.  We still saw glimmers of opportunities and hope. We saw New Brunswickers dig deep and join forces to implement change and some of those changes are important to keep.  As with many organizations and businesses, the people made all the difference.

Looking ahead, I’m most excited for the opportunity we have in cyber security. That comes as no surprise since we invested $7M of equity and took on the financial and operational accountability for the Cyber Centre. We are proud that this is the largest capital program in Canada dedicated to cyber security. Cyber, in many ways, has similarities to other strategic initiatives in the past and has the potential for hundreds of jobs, significant investment attraction opportunities, and will be attractive to both existing citizens/labour market and that of newcomers.

Wayne Sumarah

Digital Nova Scotia | LinkedIn

Throughout this unprecedented year, Digital Nova Scotia continued to focus on advancing the growth of Nova Scotia’s tech sector, and the province’s digital economy. As we’ve seen during the pandemic, the tech sector plays a leadership role in transforming and accelerating economic growth as the digital economy gains momentum. We face a future with incredible opportunities, including increased productivity and innovation across all sectors.

 We offered great programming this year partnering with Tourism NS to offer a digital assistance program, we launched the Skills for Hire program in partnership with Bluedrop Learning Networks, we partnered with the Discovery Centre to host a series of Digital Discovery Camps for youth, and we had outstanding winners, both individuals and organizations, at our 2020 Digital Diversity Awards.

Paul Eisner

Mariner

Mariner is completing its best year ever, despite the pandemic. We focused on our services and solutions that could be marketed and delivered remotely. We assisted clients on accelerating their digital transformations that were suddenly top priority. All the great digital transformation strategies down the list, went to the top and became a priority in 2020. I believe these accelerations will lead to a seachange of productivity improvements over the next few years for both the public and private sector.

And we grew! Mariner increased our consulting base by almost 100 new team members. We hired local, we hired new Canadians, we hired grads, we hired people who had moved away from the region and we brought them home! Make no mistake, 2020 will be remembered as a difficult and tragic year from almost all perspectives. Happy Holiday’s and here’s to looking forward to 2021! 

Welcoming Newcomer Women in Tech: Driven to pursue and share knowledge with Shaimaa Abbas

For this week’s podcast post, I’m switching things up from my usual recap and show notes.

I was so thrilled to talk to two amazing newcomer women who are building tech careers and new lives here in New Brunswick, that I wanted to share THEIR stories, and celebrate the winding, at times difficult, paths they took to arrive here.

Get ready to be INSPIRED. 

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Driven to pursue and share knowledge

with Shaimaa Abbas

Shaimaa Abbas remembers how, as a girl growing up in Egypt, she’d hear people say that technical fields like engineering or IT were only for men, and how these comments made her feel disappointed and “less clever.”  

“I found this in my childhood, not from my parents but from other people,” says Shaimaa, a senior programmer analyst with the Government of New Brunswick,  where she’s part of the Digital Transformation Team that is exploring how new technology can improve government service delivery.

“We don't need to discourage people who may already love this field to step back and say, ‘I'm not enough for that.’” 

A mother to two young girls, she lets her daughters know the range of opportunities open to them. 

“I am just highlighting, I'm not forcing them to choose,” she says.  

Shaimaa shares with me the story of her winding path from Egypt to Fredericton, with detours to the Middle East and Toronto, on this week’s episode of the Tech Talks Podcast, which was on the theme of newcomer women in tech. 

Shaimaa found her career path through her university’s management information system program, which blends business and technology. 

“I didn't know anything before about computer science, or software engineering, but when I entered this department I really liked it,” she says. “It introduced a lot of interesting things for me.” 

In the class of 50 or so, she was one of only 4 or 5 women, but she wasn't deterred, going on to take  graduate studies in computer science and software engineering. 

After graduation, she was offered a role at a startup that needed an iOS developer. 

“I didn't know anything about iOS, but he told me, ‘if you'd like to learn, you will be good at this job.’ So I accepted.” 

Learning is a constant theme in Shaimaa’s life, both in terms of skill-building, and in her openness to new places and possibilities. 

When she married, she and her husband moved across the Middle East for his work, while she struggled to land full-time work. 

“There was a mentality like, OK, you are a new bride. You will take a lot of vacations; you will not be concentrating too much on working. Maybe you will have leaves; you will have kids,” she says. 

Well, they were right and wrong, she says. 

She did become a mother a year into her marriage. But her career ambitions didn’t disappear. Frustrated, she left her husband and daughter temporarily to return to Egypt for work.  

“So I started a successful professional life, but I lost my personal life,'' she says. “It was a crazy two years for us.”

Her next move was to Toronto, to  study health informatics at George Brown College. 

Again, it meant leaving part of the family–this time their two young daughters–back in Egypt with their grandparents for a year. The girls joined them when they moved to New Brunswick. 

They came through the Atlantic immigration Pilot Program and Shaimaa supports initiatives that make it easier for companies to hire newcomers. 

“I got my permanent residency with my job because I got hired by the government,” she says, but startups and  other companies may not be able to sponsor someone, a lost opportunity to attract more newcomers. 

“If they find their dream here, they will not leave,” she says. “I found it here. I won't leave, I’ve got my permanent house here.”

Since arriving in 2018, Shaimaa has been busy making things happen, and creating opportunities, including founding the Fredericton chapter of the Google Developers Group, which she had been part of  in  the UAE, Dubai, Egypt and Toronto. She is also an ambassador for Women Techmakers and a mentor for a new initiative called  Technovation Girls. 

“If I see someone succeed because of me, this is the most happiness in my life,” Shaimaa says. “If someone ...finds her passion because of my help, this will be the most for me. This is one of my hopes for 2021.”

Shaimaa and I were featured in this Atlantic Business Magazine back in March Meet 15 Atlantic Canadian women in tech | Atlantic Business Magazine.  Check this out and the amazing women featured throughout all of Atlantic Canada. 

Hashtags: #innovation #techimpact #techtalks #newcomers #womenintech  

Episode Links:

Atlantic immigration Pilot Program

Google Developers Group

Women Techmakers

Technovation Girls

Meet 15 Atlantic Canadian women in tech | Atlantic Business Magazine

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Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Welcoming Newcomer Women in Tech: Finding opportunity and peace in N.B. with Deepika Thapar

For this week’s podcast post, I’m switching things up from my usual recap and show notes.

I was so thrilled to talk to two amazing newcomer women who are building tech careers and new lives here in New Brunswick, that I wanted to share THEIR stories, and celebrate the winding, at times difficult, paths they took to arrive here.

Get ready to be INSPIRED.

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Finding opportunity and peace in N.B. with Deepika Thapar

 When Deepika Thapar left her home country of India to move to the U.S., it was for her education. Her more recent relocation was for love, to be with her now-husband who had come to New Brunswick for UNB’s MBA program. 

“From there on, I got to know more about Atlantic Canada,” Deepika tells me during this week’s TechTalks Podcast, which was on the theme of newcomer women in tech. 

Deepika arrived in Saint John in March. While landing in a new country during a global pandemic wasn’t ideal timing, it didn’t take her long to get oriented. In July, she landed a role at Second Spring Digital as a certified business analyst and she is a certified scrum master and product owner.  

She loves how her work bridges what are often very separate sides of an operation. She recounts her first  job experience, back in India, when she was fresh out of a bachelor’s program in engineering and IT. 

“I realized something was missing,” she says. “I really needed to pursue my higher studies because I always wanted a blend of technology and management together.” In 2015, she enrolled in the University of Florida’s master’s in management program. After graduation, she went to work in San Francisco.

Deepika says it was challenging, when she decided to make the move to Canada, to get a feel for the New Brunswick job market from the west coast. 

“But when you are here, you connect to people, you understand how the community works,” she says. 

“It was really friendly; it was easy to get a job.” 

Upon arrival, Opportunities New Brunswick connected her with an advisor to help her navigate. And she found virtual job fairs very helpful in connecting to companies and recruiters. 

“I think there needs to be a platform for newcomers, maybe a webpage or even a LinkedIn campaign,” she says, as a way to consolidate scattered job information.

“I feel like it's there, but in bits and pieces,” she says. 

Deepika  sees great potential  to recruit from outside the province or country  to work in the local tech sector. 

“Because I think people will be surprised when they start applying for a job in New Brunswick, that there is tons of opportunity out there,” she says. “There are so many startups opening up. There are so many big companies which people are not aware of.”

And part of that expanded potential is letting girls and young women know there’s a place in tech for them. 

“I didn’t know I was going to do engineering and information technology or computer science until  the age of 18,” she says. “So maybe [we need to build] an awareness at an early age that there's this thing called engineering that you can go into.” 

While she’s found a great job and life here, being so far from home is hard in ways. 

“You’re career-oriented, and you also want to be family-oriented, so it's a balance that you always try to achieve.” 

Despite the challenges of separation, she’s feeling settled and “very peaceful” here, she says. And she’s got a clear vision for 2021.

“For me, it's going to be more streamlining my current job role and also enhancing my skill set in different domains,” Deepika says. “It's all going to be about learning because I'm just starting my career in Canada.”

Hashtags: #innovation #techimpact #techtalks #newcomers #womenintech 

Episode Links:

Second Spring Digital

Opportunities New Brunswick

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Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Talking Tech In A Time Of Transformation

Sourced from Huddle - Talking Tech In A Time Of Transformation - Huddle

Cathy Simpson is the CEO of TechImpact.

Last year, TechImpact launched TechTalks, a live speaker series that would tour Atlantic Canadian campuses and businesses, hosting events to connect IT companies and students. We hosted a few, and then, well, you know the rest.

So, what to do with your live event when COVID-19 hits?

First, you hit pause. And then you pivot.

The TechTalks Podcast with Cathy Simpson (that’s me!) launched in September.

Podcasting was a natural medium for TechTalks. If we couldn’t be there live, we could still convene interesting guests for wide-ranging conversations. To be honest, it was all new for me. But in the spirit of a year in which embracing change has been necessary, I settled into the host seat and started to welcome a steady, fascinating flow of guests.

The roster has included men and women from several generations. Some were born in Canada while, for others, it’s their chosen home. We’ve had investors and inventors, veteran players and emerging talent, corporate reps and independent entrepreneurs, and academic leaders.

For our content, we didn’t want it just to be Covid-related. We wanted to talk about growth, resiliency, and what’s possible with the right investment and talent. And we needed topics that would appeal to three very different audiences: students, the business community and the tech ecosystem. So, we thought about where their interests and needs converged and went wide from there.

Students are thinking about skills, careers and their futures. Honestly, we could host an entire show just focused on this audience because the diversity and quality of jobs are staggering, as Anneke van der Laan and Darcy Wells, two New Brunswick women at the start of their careers, demonstrated in episode 2.

Many students (and people in general) don’t realize that tech jobs aren’t just for coders. So in episode 9, I was delighted to have Shelley Rinehart, director of UNBSJ’s bold MBA program, and Marketswell Solutions founder David Alston on to talk about how their programs are nurturing sales and marketing talent.

Talent is the number one challenge for digital technology firms. Qualified candidates are quickly snapped up, and too many jobs are going unfilled. So students and the business community have a lot of common ground.

Beyond connecting students and employers and making both more aware of the opportunities, we also wanted to speak to the business community.

There are too many myths and gaps when it comes to tech, which was highlighted, sometimes painfully, this year, as the pandemic forced digital transformation upon every company, ready or not. For many, it exposed vulnerabilities. For others, it shone a spotlight on how technology can be part of positive change. And for many, the shift from in-person, office-based operations to remote work showed that big change is possible, as what was unthinkable nine months ago is now standard operating procedure.

We knew TechTalks could help companies think about their technology paths in a practical and empowering way. So I was delighted to host experts like Martin Davis of DUNELM Associates who, in episode 8, demystified advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, AI, robotics and the Internet of Things. Or episode 3, with Mirko Crevatin and Christopher Simm, on taking your business to the cloud.

For our third audience, the tech community, TechTalks has been something of a virtual meeting place. Colleagues from business, academia and beyond have had time and space to share the sorts of conversations that don’t happen often enough in the ecosystem. For instance, I’m thinking of episode 4, on innovation, with Jeff White,  CEO of NBIF, and Malcolm Fraser of Innovacorp. Or episode 7, with Dr. Luigi Benedicenti and Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin, the Deans of Computer Science at the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie University.

While they each have their unique interests and stake in the sector, these guests are aligned, united by the sense of the potential they see here and are actively engaged to grow the innovation agenda, the available capital and the talent required to make that happen.

The podcast has confirmed the stories we’re telling in these episodes need to be shared more often and more loudly. Too many people don’t know how much is happening and the implications for our economy and society. Atlantic Canada is home to more than 450 digital technology firms, ranging from local startups to global brands like IBM and Siemens, that contribute $6.1 billion to our economy. More than 43,000 Atlantic Canadians work in the digital industry labor force, and two thirds of digital employees are in industries outside of the core digital sector.

All this success is creating more opportunities. The economic and social implications of our increasingly digital world are immense. Through TechTalks,  DigitalBoost — TechImpact and other initiatives, TechImpact is working to help Atlantic Canada embrace digital technology and reap its benefits as a cornerstone to our economic future.

To catch all of these episodes (a great episode is dropping this week with two women thriving in their tech roles and have made NB their home) and many more episodes to come in 2021, subscribe in iTunes or find TechTalks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts. And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update

Tech Sales: Building the Missing Leg of the Stool

A couple of years ago, Gerry Pond, the godfather of New Brunswick's tech scene, put out a challenge with $500,000 in funding attached to increase our sector's sales capacity. A lack of expertise in sales was hurting our region's prospects.

Well, that call has been heeded.

On Episode Nine of the TechTalks podcast, I'm chatting with Shelley Rinehart and David Alston, two local leaders behind progressive programs that are building our sales and marketing capacity. After all, the best product or idea, without strategic marketing and sales, will struggle to make it to market.

Training that talent is essential. We started the show by chatting about what's going on at the university. Dr. Rinehart, MBA Director in the Faculty of Business at UNB Saint John and a marketing professor, has long been an advocate for tech and trying new things, which is fitting because the program she runs isn't a traditional MBA. Intense and cosmopolitan, it recently moved to Saint John's city centre to create more "collision" opportunities with the business community.

The time was ripe, as Greater Saint John's economic development agency's vision for reinvigorating the Uptown includes an Innovation District to capitalize upon its rapidly growing IT cluster. It's a model that's worked in places such as Waterloo, where co-location and collaboration between university and business are critical to a thriving tech scene.

Dr. Shelley Rinehart

"Having a university presence in your business core is a real energy boost," Shelley says. Along with formal opportunities to collaborate, there is great value in the informal connections that are made. A casual conversation while waiting in line for lunch at the market, for instance, or over coffee, can lead to internships and job opportunities.

Thanks to the prod and investment from Gerry Pond, and the business community's feedback, sales is now central to the MBA program, which takes a problem-solving approach to this business skill. Recently accredited by the Canadian Sales Professionals Association, the program is now working to establish a Research Chair in Applied Sales Research.

It’s time to let go of that old stereotype of the slimy salesman. David made me chuckle when he cited the fictional example of Herb Tarlek from the 80s sitcom WKRP. It’s this image that comes to mind for me every time too! Today, sales is about being a good listener, a problem solver, and building strong relationships.

 "These are fundamental skills, regardless of whether you have the word 'sales' in your title or not," David says. "Every CEO of every tech startup should be a great salesperson."

To him, sales and marketing are inextricably linked to strategy, weaving through the entire organization, from understanding customer pain points to product development. He speaks from the deep experience of a wildly successful career that's merged his twin loves of technology and marketing. David held leadership roles at NB Tel and iMagic TV, was CMO at Radian 6, one of the region's most significant exits, and has worked with government and non-profits to advance technology in New Brunswick.

He sees marketing as deserving of a seat at the big table. 

David Alston

And David stresses that marketing strategy needs to be there from the beginning, not an add-in a few years in, as he sees too many companies doing. But even for those founders who are alert to the need for a strong CMO early in the company, he saw a talent gap. When people asked for recommendations, he struggled to come up with candidate suggestions.

So, he did what entrepreneurs do. He set out to solve that problem.

He founded Marketswell Solutions, a CMO accelerator, earlier this year to nurture marketing leaders. He'd planned for an initial cohort of five and got ten strong applicants. The program gives them the confidence and skills they need to help lead their organizations,  and to capitalize on our region's scrappiness to go big, to think global. You can't create unicorns without a savvy marketing strategist to help get you there. It takes a team.

Today, there is so much opportunity in sales and marketing, strategic skills for every startup. And we're so fortunate to have builders like Shelley and David who are working to keep growing the talent that will, in turn, advance our tech sector.

I'm sold.

To listen to our conversation, click here to listen.

Here's a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

• [4:41]:  Shelley explains the evolution of UNB's unique program.

• [16:14]: David on how our region's deep value on relationships is advantageous when it comes to customers.

• [26:50]: Shelley talks about how sales used to have a "tarnished reputation" and how that's changed.

• [31:11]: David digs into the crossover between sales and marketing in B2B.

• [41:55]: Shelley on the role of mentorship in creating a critical mass of sales leadership.

• [48:34]:  David talks about the role of experiential learning and practical on-the-job experience.

Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Links

UNBSJ MBA Program

Economic Development Greater Saint John

Timbertop Adventures

Brilliant Labs

LivingSJ

Marketswell

Your Industry 4.0 Primer

We are in the midst of the fourth Industrial Revolution, advancing from manual manufacturing through to automation and onward into autonomous operations. 

If talking about Industry 4.0, AI, robotics and the Internet of Things makes you nervous, don’t worry. Martin Davis, my guest on Episode 8 of the TechTalks podcast, is here to demystify it all for us. A Chief Information Officer, he is the managing partner of DUNELM Associates, which provides IT strategy services with a specialty in advanced manufacturing. 

You don’t need advanced degrees in computer science or engineering to take advantage of this evolution. 

“If you think Industry 4.0 is just about the technology, you couldn't be further from the truth,” Martin says. 

What it comes down to, he explains, is using data from your machines to make better decisions, faster. 

That sounds pretty straightforward. But Martin says that data collection is a first step many organizations still haven’t taken. Without a solid base of reliable data on, say, how often a piece of equipment is idle or down for maintenance, you don’t have a clear picture of how your machines, people and overall operations are running or where the bottlenecks are. Without that, you can’t make sound business decisions, including, perhaps, to automate or invest in new technology. 

Martin points to a client who did some basic data collection and was shocked to find all of their equipment was running below 50% capacity. That must have been a pretty striking discovery!

When they then looked at their operations, they discovered a process problem that was easy to address. 

If you’re new to all this, Martin suggests you start simply by gathering data, the foundation for Industry 4.0, which is the relationship between your cyber or computer assets, and your physical ones. 

Martin Davis

There are many buzzwords in this space, and we define a handful of them at the end of this post, including advanced manufacturing, machine learning, AI, big data and more.  You may have heard of the Internet of Things? In our households, this may be a smart thermostat or door locks that we can control through apps on our phones. Well, the Industrial Internet of Things is the same idea, just in a factory setting. 

Again, Martin makes it easy to understand. He points to the example of a wireless sensor on a tank to measure fuel level. With this information, an operator could build a top-up alert process for when the fuel gets low.  

As you can see, you don’t need to jump in and buy a robot or automate your entire line right away. 

While the ultimate advanced manufacturing model is an autonomous factory that needs minimal human input, this isn’t realistic for most organizations. Martin talked about the Industry 4.0 Maturity Model, a continuum to measure where companies fall in six areas: technology, supply chain, operational excellence, data, manufacturing and people.  

So, along with sensors, hardware and software, Industry 4.0 requires leadership and strong human resources. It’s governance, it’s strategy, and, crucially, it’s change management. As Martin says, if you can’t get your team on board with the shift, “then you're not going to get that far.” 

And, of course, it’s about talent. We need more deep technical skills, and the roles range from engineers, data scientists, process designers, developers, business analysts, entrepreneurs, and more. Unlocking more talent and ensuring we have a steady supply is a priority. Last week’s podcast with two deans of computer science re-iterated they are on a growth plan. It is so exciting to see the threads connecting between different episodes. What is becoming clear is the genuine potential of these emerging trends and technologies to transform our economy. The future for Atlantic Canada is looking bright. 

Terms: 

IoT, or the Internet of Things: A network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software and other technologies so they can connect to and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet.

IIoT, or the Industrial Internet of Things: A network of industrial devices connected by communications technologies to create systems to monitor, collect, exchange and analyze data. These insights can then help drive smarter business decisions. 

Machine Learning: A form of AI that uses algorithms to “learn” from data. This way of processing data can quickly draw conclusions that might take humans months or years.  

Artificial Intelligence: Machines process different pieces of data to identify patterns earlier. For instance, AI may be used for predictive analytics for machine failure. 

Big Data/Data Analytics: A field that deals with data sets that are too large or complex to be dealt with by traditional software.

Advanced Manufacturing: Using automation for minimal human intervention. May include equipment, robotics, sensors, and tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to make better decisions. 

To listen to our conversation, click here to listen.

Here’s a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

• [4:25]:  Martin explains why Industry 4.0 is not just about technology and what it actually means. 

• [9:54]: Martin unpacks some terms such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), machine learning, AI, and advanced manufacturing. 

• [23:55]: We talk about the explosion of opportunities made possible by Big Data. 

• [25:45]: Martin describes the JDI Roundtable on Manufacturing Competitiveness and the maturity model of Industry 4.0, where New Brunswick manufacturers can see where they are on the continuum and where they could improve.

• [38:36]: Cathy talks about Digital Boost, a new TechImpact program that connects local tech companies and New Brunswick organizations to accelerate their digital transformation. 

• [40:00]: The show ends on one of Cathy’s favourite subjects: careers! 
  

Don’t Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update. 

Computer Science Programs and the Jobs Pipeline

We need more talent. 

It’s a constant refrain from our region’s tech sector. I hear it from business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs, from global companies and startups. The shortfall between the demand for more skilled workers and supply is our top limiter of growth.

Our post-secondary institutions are critical to the supply challenge, as they educate and graduate so many members of our future workforce. I was thrilled to have Dr. Luigi Benedicenti and Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin, the Deans of Computer Science at the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie University, respectively, join me to talk curriculum, collaboration, and our region’s unique value proposition to students.

Rising Demand

Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin

We covered a lot of ground in this episode, including the broader context. We spent some time off the top talking about the pervasiveness of technology and how computing’s changing how we live, work, and learn. Today, even the least technical among us interact with digital technology in our daily lives, from our phones and cars to how we shop and work. 

Technology touches all parts of our lives, which has vast implications for the future of computer science. “If it is going to run the infrastructure of the world, if it's going to define what an organization can accomplish, it is really the study of the moment,” Andrew says. 

And it’s not just tech companies that need computer science grads. Every organization is digital now. Even businesses and people who may have shied away from technology in the past now realize that the future is digital. 

Beyond Numbers 

Expanding talent isn't just about quantity, although we certainly need more students in computer science programs. As Luigi says, UNB’s programs have doubled since 2008, “and it's absolutely not enough. If we were to double it again, we still wouldn't be able to support the growth that is required here.”

Along with producing more computer scientists, growing talent also means increasing diversity. We need to make more room for people of different genders, races, ethnicities, ages, sexuality, languages, educational backgrounds, and more. And we also need to think more holistically about talent. The tech sector needs experts in sales, product management, project management, marketing, and more. That’s what’s so fascinating about this industry: the breadth of talent required is unbelievable.

Going Global

Dr. Luigi Benedicenti

Computer science attracts many international students. The vast majority come to study and to stay. 

“We have a great story to tell because we really have a fantastic environment, this is a great place to live,” Andrew says. “And that is hands-down something that attracts people.”

As Luigi points out, the benefits of recruiting students and workers go beyond merely filling a vacancy. These students are risk-takers, and many come from entrepreneurial backgrounds. 

“Every time we welcome an international student to our campus or to Canada, we import both cultural and technological innovations,” he says. “They enhance our competitive advantage, and they create new opportunities for all of us.” 

But there are challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles and a highly competitive global job market. It’s going to take a team effort to overcome the barriers and I know together we can and will.

Part of a Pipeline

Universities and colleges are not islands, of course.  They’re essential pieces of the talent pipeline that starts in the K-12 school system and continues into industry. The only way that we're going to build a robust supply of skilled tech workers is if the entire ecosystem has a shared vision, partnerships and collaboration.

Partnerships with business and government are critical, especially as competition is global. International students, in particular, have a lot of options. So our entire sector needs to coordinate our efforts to advance a winning value proposition.

There are many ways to bridge the school-work gap, an appealing option for students hungry to connect theory with practice. Opportunities must include more experiential learning in tech companies or IT departments and new co-op models, such as alternating work and academic terms or a hybrid model in which students spend mornings at school and afternoons at work. There are research projects, hack-a-thons, entrepreneurial training, fireside chats, and many more ways the private sector and universities can come together to help students build their skills, networks and on-the-job experience. 

And let’s drop that tired old 1980s persona of what computer science is all about. Let’s keep talking about what’s being built out of the region, meeting more role models, and celebrating the successes happening right here.

To listen to our conversation, click here. 

Here’s a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

• [9:00]:  My guests dig into why computer science matters more than ever. 

• [21:48]: Andrew on how increasing the talent supply feeds different kinds of growth, including attracting anchor companies and supporting the digital transformation of SMEs. 

• [26:52]: Luigi talks about how Atlantic Canada is fertile ground for the digital economy. 

• [30:15]: Andrew discusses the need for diversity so that computer scientists build things that reflect us “as a total society.”

• [41:12]: Luigi on how international students and immigrants bring cultural and technological innovations, enhance our competitive advantage, and create new opportunities. 

• [54:30]: We close on the idea of ditching outdated ideas about computer science. Amen to that.

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Links

UNB Faculty of Computer Science

Dalhousie University Faculty of Computer Science

Atlantic Provinces Economic Council Report on Digital Technology Firms 

Estonia Digital Citizenship Program