This slideshow highlights how technology clusters and collaboration have enabled innovation in Canada's ICT industry. Canada has over 32,000 ICT companies gathered in regional clusters that leverage educational and research resources. Canadian researchers can easily share ideas through national networks, facilitating new commercial opportunities. Already, Canada's ICT industry generates over $137 billion annually and employs 579,000 skilled workers. Toronto is a major technology hub with over 9,000 ICT and 400 life sciences companies employing over 200,000 people across several clusters. Competition between companies drives innovation and better products/prices for consumers.

1. This slideshow is designed to show what the ICT and the technology cluster have made possible. All of the new cutting edge and innovative ideas are possible because of the competition and sharing ideas concepts of clusters.

2. Why Canada? Canada is a significant player in the global ICT industry. Canada's 32,000 ICT companies are gathered in regional clusters that provide critical mass that takes advantage of our educational and research infrastructure. Canadian researchers are connected to Canada's National Research and Innovation Network, CA*net 4, the world's premiere advanced research network, allowing for the exchange of ideas between domestic and international communities of interest, which facilitates innovation and new commercial opportunities. Already, 579,000 skilled Canadian workers generate over $137 billion in revenues for the ICT industry. This information taken from industry Canada website(http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/ict_c-g_tic.nsf/en/home)

3. A little bit about Toronto Cluster life Toronto ICT Cluster ∼ 9,000 companies (∼4,000 core), ∼200,000 people Dominated by multinational enterprises (MNEs) Little manufacturing, except local assembly Many small service providers Really 3 clusters (Downtown, Markham, Mississauga) Life Sciences Cluster ∼ 400 companies, >30,000 people Pharma dominated by MNEs MNE Manufacturing increasingly going off-shore R&D focused on emerging biotech (health) activities, mostly SMEs Diverse and unfocused medical device activities, mostly SMEs Converging Technologies Some activities in all converging technology areas but largely unfocused Sourced from: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/ict-tic.nsf/en/it07730e.html

4. Cross Cluster Comparisons Canadian Comparisons All four metropolitan areas have substantial capabilities in their clusters overall ICT clusters are larger than Life Sciences clusters by about an order of magnitude Relative critical mass ICT - Toronto strongest, followed by Montreal, Ottawa and then Vancouver Life Sciences - Montreal and Toronto are comparable & complementary Life Sciences - Vancouver is stronger than Ottawa but both are fragile Few converging technology firms and lack of focus Greatest diversity appears to be in Toronto

5. About competition The next 2 slides show come examples of popular brands which are constantly in a battle to outdo each other. This not only gives consumers better products but also creates better prices.

6. Head 2 head competition

7. Head 2 head competition

8. If AMD were not around Intel would have a monopoly and be able to charge whatever they wanted. Also we would probably not have such powerful chips because they would not have had to try so hard in order to stay on top. The same goes for ATI and Nvidia. Because of the intense competition there are new graphics cards constantly being released and prices are rapidly changing.

9. New Vs Old Hard drives have not had a major change in a long time. That is until the solid state hard drive (SSD) was introduced. Without technology clusters and the sharing of research this type of new technology would likely not even exist.

10. What's the big difference? The macbook air is a great example of the new hard drive technology. They offer models with both the standard hard drive and the SSD. Difference in price is $1300 With the help of clusters and the sharing of research this price should shrink quite quickly.

11. Intel's vision To connect cell phones to all other electronics wirelessly. All formats: Bluetooth, wifi, wimax,3g, gps, and many more! Broadcast cell phones on projectors or computer screens.

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