We will not get the benefit of technology transfer from electric vehicles just being imported. We probably wouldn't get any, even if we do joint ventures, although we can try. We should be putting a lot more resources into battery technology and other related components, such as the advanced manufacturing technology sector for vehicle manufacturing.
I would like to see the next budget be an innovation budget. It could lay the foundation across all sectors of the economy and also look at bringing in innovation in social policy. If we had an innovation theme for the next budget, that would take advantage of the infrastructure initiatives being built, which I'm 100% behind. It would lay a strong foundation for other R and D across universities. We can always do more in commercialization. This is our one big flaw in our innovation environment. We should be looking at more opportunities for commercialization.
Frankly, I do agree that EVs are the cars of the future, which is why I started the EV technology road map in 2008. We need to maximize the number of companies that can take advantage of that, grow with that and take advantage of the university research that can feed into that process.