I think this is clearly one of the areas that the research community here, the cluster, is talking about: finding ways to more effectively manage intellectual property and work with industry.
We talked earlier in my presentation about genomic networks. These networks include scientists like Dr. Keller. They include canola producers, flax producers, wheat producers, and they also include companies that are involved in the processing. When we put together projects and priorities, all of them participate in brainstorming, developing the project ideas, and prioritizing them, so the ideas that are brought forward include a full market perspective--science as well as the business perspective.
When we put together these research project teams, part of the discussion is how we manage the intellectual property, how we do it in such a way that it enables the optimization of the research so the biggest return is received from our public investment in that research. There are ways to do that. At the precompetitive stage the research can be accessible to all. Then, when individual companies invest in their own particular discoveries, they own that right. There are many different models, ways to bundle the ITs. That's done in the context of project ideas and teamwork. One of the solutions we have to managing the commercialization process and getting more private investment is having them involved from the beginning, while these project ideas are being developed.
You have the whole value chain represented in those networks. The farmers won't grow a crop if it's not going to get anywhere. They have to be able to make money. This industry has to make money.