An innovative organization

The Ontario Innovation Trust was created in 1999 by the Government of Ontario to help Ontario's universities, hospitals, colleges and research institutes enhance the infrastructure needed for scientific research and technology development. An integral part of its mandate, was to help build a knowledge-based economy in our province. Through the years, the Trust committed over $844 million - the entire original endowment plus earned interest - to support 1,250 projects at 44 Ontario institutions.

A partnership with the Canadian Foundation For Innovation

From its inception, the Trust worked closely with the federal government's Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which also focused on infrastructure funding. In most cases, projects approved and funded by the CFI received matching support from the Trust. The Trust, however, also provided funding for selected projects independent of CFI support.

Board of Directors

The Trust was governed by a volunteer Board of seven Directors appointed for a fixed term. Two Board members were appointed by the universities of Ontario; one by Ontario's hospitals; one by Ontario's community colleges and three by the Ontario Government, through Orders-In-Council. The final Board was comprised of Ian D. Clark, Phillip Howell, Janet Mason, Rick Miner, George Ross, Bette M. Stephenson and Calvin R. Stiller - Chairman.

Former members of the Board included Michael Gourley, Sheldon Levy, David Lindsay, Gerry McGuire, Tim McTiernan, J. Robert S. Prichard, Bryne Purchase and the late David Smith.

For more information on the Ontario Innovation Trust visit www.oit.on.ca