• Are any more funds available from the Trust?

The Trust has committed its entire capital plus earned interest to support research infrastructure in Ontario. As the original mandate of the Trust has been accomplished, no additional applications will be entertained.


• How does the Ontario Government currently fund new research infrastructure requests?

All provincial funding for research is now handled by the Ontario Research Fund, a program of the Ministry of Research and Innovation. Inquiries regarding research infrastructure support should be directed to:
Jane Kirkwood, Manager
Research Branch,
Ministry of Research and Innovation
Telephone: 416-314-0629
Fax: 416-314-8224

• Ontario Research Fund


What is the relationship of the Trust to the Canada Foundation for Innovation?

The Ontario Innovation Trust and the CFI shared the same mandate—to increase the ability of universities, colleges, hospitals and other non-profit organizations to carry out important high-quality scientific research and technology development. Both the Trust and CFI have funded the capital costs of infrastructure. The Trust continues to work with the CFI to manage remaining jointly funded projects. The CFI is also working with the Ontario Research Fund at the Ministry of Research and Innovation.


• How much funding has the Trust committed?

The Ontario Government’s original endowment to the Trust was $750 million. Including interest earned on that amount, the Trust has committed almost $845 million to 1253 research projects.


• What is the current mandate of the Trust?

Now that all allocated capital and earned interest have been committed, the primary mandate of the Trust is to administer the staged disbursement of funds to supported projects; receive and process progress reports; and to manage any funds still awaiting disbursement.


• How is the Trust governed?

The Trust is governed by a volunteer Board of seven Directors and operates under a Trust Agreement with the Ontario Government. That Agreement sets out the Government’s purposes and objectives for the use of Trust funds. Two Board members are appointed by the universities of Ontario; one by Ontario’s hospitals, one by Ontario’s community colleges, and three by the Ontario Government, though Orders-in-Council.