Ontario invests $190M to attract top researchers

Toronto—Ontario is investing $190 million over the next six years to help attract and retain top scientists, develop cutting-edge technologies, increase investment and create jobs.

The funding will be divided between the Ontario Research Fund’s (ORF) Research Excellence ($65 million) and Research Infrastructure ($125 million) programs. Since 2003, ORF projects have leveraged more than $2.9 billion.

Factoids

• The impact of Canada’s research ranks sixth in the world—ahead of other top-producing scientific countries like Australia, China, Germany and Japan, and right behind the U.S. and U.K.

• Ontario’s investment in ORF Research Excellence is leveraging at least $130 million in investment from the private sector and academic institutions.

• Since 2003, ORF Research Excellence projects have resulted in 64 spin-off companies employing 571 people.

• Since 2003, ORF Research Infrastructure projects have recruited or trained over 20,000 people, created 86 spin-off companies and helped create about 5,000 jobs.