Research advisory board names first members

Toronto, ON – The Ontario government has appointed the first members to the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) Advisory Board in what it says is a step toward building a dynamic research and innovation agenda.

The province’s premier, Dalton McGuinty, appointed Carol Stephenson, dean of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, as chair of the advisory board. Other members of the board include: Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Dr Javad Mostaghimi, Dr Brant Peppley, Dr Gord Surgeoner, and Dr Ronald Worton, who is also vice chair. The board has a capacity for 12 members, and more appointees will be announced in the future.

The board’s role is to review and assess proposals from Ontario research institutions. The board then makes recommendations to the minister of research and innovation on funding.

The new Ministry of Research and Innovation is providing nearly $1.7 billion in funding for research, commercialization and outreach programs.

The government says it is funding the Ontario Research Fund with nearly $550 million to support research and to help transform knowledge into products and services that improve people’s lives and create jobs.