News Release

September 25, 2006

ONTARIO RESEARCH FUND

The McGuinty government is investing $20 million to support 126 innovative projects in 12 communities across the province. The investment comes from the $550-million Ontario Research Fund (ORF), which provides operating, overhead and capital funding to support leading-edge research and development (R&D) in Ontario's universities and hospitals, and leverages support from the federal government and private industry.

The ORF is a key part of the government's plan to move research from the lab to the marketplace. Through the ORF, the McGuinty government is making sure Ontario researchers have the resources to lead our province into a new era of innovation.

The ORF is designed to provide Ontario's research community with one window for research funding.  Funding is focused on priority sectors: 

• Agriculture
• Energy systems and technologies
• Environmental technologies
• Information and communications technologies
• Life sciences
• Materials and advanced manufacturing
• Emerging technologies

The ORF is made up of two streams: the Research Excellence program funds operating costs, such as researchers' salaries; and the Research Infrastructure program supports the acquisition of new research infrastructure, such as lab equipment.

For a complete list of awards, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation.