Contact:
Barry Shell, 604.518.9690; shell@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035; cthorbes@sfu.ca


Simon Fraser University's VP, Research Mario Pinto will discuss his ideas on a brain exchange with India on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver.

He’ll speak at a workshop entitled Research Collaboration with Emerging Nations: Canada’s Experience in India & Brazil.

“My main message is very simple," he says. "Collaborations with India have to be two-way relationships where we take the best minds of both countries and combine them to exploit synergies." The goal is to advance the research agenda in a short time frame in both countries.

Pinto emphasizes that we should not be seen to be promoting an Indian brain drain by bringing their best researchers to Canada. "We have to expect that perhaps a large percentage will go back, or spend future time in both countries, and the key thing is setting up a network for future exchanges. That is the model for robust and lasting innovation."

Collaborating with emerging nations must also bring different sectors together, including both academic and industrial partners. Pinto says it has to be a joint initiative, a brain exchange.

In keeping with this philosophy, SFU, with Carleton and Ryerson, is leading a consortium of nine Canadian universities making a bid for the Canada/India Research Centre of Excellence, with the overarching theme of Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I2E). Pinto says, "We are focused on genuine exchanges that will result in social change."

Pinto will also participate in a career development workshop on communication skills entitled Communicating in a minute: reaching decision makers on Sunday, Feb. 19. He will explain to other academics how to talk to politicians and news reporters by delivering a take-home message in one minute or less.

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