TECHACTION

TechACTION, the provincial advanced technology strategy, is an initiative being facilitated by SATA, but its roots are in the advanced technology industry of Saskatchewan. SATA has developed this web site to aid in the facilitation of both understanding and awareness-raising about the Strategy, and to create a place for strategy partners to participate.

How it Started

In 2004, the Saskatchewan Advanced Technology Association (SATA) board recognized that to encourage and support the growth of the advanced technology industry in Saskatchewan, there was a need for an industry-led Provincial Advanced Technology Strategy. The board felt that this needed to be done through a process of cooperation between all stakeholders in the industry. It needed to be a strategy of action and responsibilities with tangible metrics to measure success; a way to evaluate, and a method for correcting deviations from the plan. 

Funding was acquired from Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Western Economic Diversification and SATA.

SATA's board decided that it should not be SATA’s strategy, but one owned by the stakeholders. SATA’s role would be to facilitate the stakeholders’ ability to develop a strategy, and ensure that implementation of the resulting plan would occur.

A list of stakeholders was developed including private sector firms, government, academia, economic development associations and other industry associations. A Steering Committee for the AT Strategy was formed from these stakeholders. The Steering Committee decided to find the common issues, themes and activities using all stakeholders’ existing strategies as a starting point.

A Preparation Committee was then formed, and 13 stakeholder associations were invited to present their strategies to the rest of the group. During the facilitated meeting, there was much discussions which resulted in the Preparation Committee designating eight strategic themes, which were:

1. Finance
2. Marketing
3. Networking
4. Government
5. Management
6. Culture and Environment
7. Education and Training
8. Human Resources

The AT Strategy Steering Committee then formed Strategy Creation Groups around each of these eight themes. The Finance and Marketing Groups started their activities first. The Government and Networking Groups were started next.

The following procedure was used by each of the Strategy Creation Groups to develop their focus points:

1. Additional stakeholder meetings to discuss theme topics and supporting information were used by each group.
2. Each voted on their topic list to identify the top three or four topics.
3. Sub-groups were formed for each of these topics.
4. Each sub-group developed 3-6 focus points on its topic.
5. All focus points were to include what should be done, who would do it, when it would be done and what resources would be needed.

As all of these meetings were being held it became apparent that there was significant crossover and duplication of ideas, topics and focus points between groups. The AT Strategy Steering Committee met and decided that the final four theme groups would not need to meet. It was felt that the groups had identified the majority of essential tasks and actions required to move forward with the AT strategy for Saskatchewan.

As a final step, the focus points from the Theme Groups were analyzed and the common threads were formulated into strategy actions to create the Provincial Advanced Technology Strategy Plan. (Visit the Strategy Action Rooms for details).

Why a Strategy, and Why Now?

Together with strong industry sectors and research institutions, Saskatchewan is poised to assert itself globally in Advanced Technology. This cannot happen without everyone in the Advanced Technology industry working together. While there are many organizations working independently, TechACTION was formed out of the need for a coordinated approach to growing the Saskatchewan Advanced Technology industry, and advancing common concerns.

Where We’re Headed

A visual identity has been developed for the Strategy, called TechACTION – emphasizing the active and progressive expectations of all stakeholder groups. Action steps have begun. In March, 2005, SATA began making presentations around the province to raise awareness of the strategy, and encourage stakeholders to “buy in now” to working on the 22 Strategy Actions created from the three priority areas. They launched a special section of the SATA web site to house TechACTION information and activities, with the idea that it will become a working venue for strategy implementation in the near future.

In April of 2005, SATA held a Forum event in Saskatoon and Regina to bring stakeholders together to (1) create an inventory of existing activities; (2) sign up more people to work on strategy actions; (3) contribute ideas and strategies on task completion.

To Read the updated strategy, including the results of the forum, click here.