Ministry of Research and Innovation (Ontario)

Ministry of Research and Innovation (Ontario)
Name	Ministry of Research and Innovation
Formed	2005
Dissolved	2019 (merged into Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade)
Jurisdiction	Ontario
Headquarters	Toronto
Minister	Reza Moridi; Brad Duguid
Parent agency	Government of Ontario

Ministry of Research and Innovation (Ontario) The Ministry of Research and Innovation was a provincial agency in Ontario responsible for coordinating public policy on scientific research, technological development, and innovation policy. It operated alongside provincial bodies such as Ontario Research Fund and partnered with post-secondary institutions including University of Toronto, McMaster University, and University of Waterloo. The ministry engaged with federal counterparts like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and international organizations including Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

History

The ministry was created amid policy reforms influenced by the Premier of Ontario leadership of Dalton McGuinty and later ministers such as Reza Moridi and Brad Duguid. Its formation followed debates seen in provincial cabinets similar to those during the tenure of Kathleen Wynne and tied to initiatives modeled after programs in United Kingdom and United States science policy, including comparisons with National Science Foundation priorities. Over its existence the ministry administered funds comparable to provincial programs like the Ontario Research Fund and coordinated with infrastructure projects involving institutions such as MaRS Discovery District and companies like BlackBerry Limited. In 2019 it was merged into a larger economic portfolio under an executive reorganization aligned with policies from the Ford Ministry and agencies including Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Mandate and Responsibilities

The ministry's mandate encompassed support for research commercialization, grant administration, and strategic policy aligned with provincial competitiveness goals articulated by leaders like John Tory and advisors with ties to Council of Canadian Academies. Responsibilities included managing investment instruments akin to those of Mitacs, fostering collaborations with research hospitals such as Toronto General Hospital, and advancing intellectual property strategies in coordination with entities like Canadian Intellectual Property Office. The ministry also played a role in provincial responses to innovation challenges highlighted in reports by Canadian Science Policy Centre and funded initiatives connected to labs at Queen's University, Western University, and York University.

Organizational Structure

The organizational structure incorporated program branches for commercialization, grants, and policy analysis, staffed by public servants with interactions with tribunals and agencies such as the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario for procurement compliance. It coordinated networks of research chairs and programs that interfaced with bodies like NSERC and CIHR while liaising with boards of institutions including Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and agencies like Ontario Centres of Excellence. Ministerial oversight was provided by a cabinet minister reporting within the structure of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs administered included competitive funding streams similar to the Canada Foundation for Innovation model, targeted commercialization supports comparable to Industrial Research Assistance Program, and regional cluster development paralleling MaRS and Communitech. Initiatives targeted sectors with anchors such as Vale, Magna International, and Linamar Corporation, and supported tech startups linked to accelerators like Communitech and incubators at Sheridan College and Humber College. The ministry promoted STEM workforce development alongside programs run by institutions like George Brown College and research collaborations with Perimeter Institute and Fields Institute.

Funding and Budget

Budgetary allocations were approved by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and reflected priorities similar to provincial capital investments in research infrastructure found in the Ontario Research Fund. Funding flowed to universities including University of Ottawa and University of Windsor, research hospitals such as St. Michael's Hospital, and sectoral projects in partnership with corporations like CAE Inc. and Bombardier. The ministry's financial management adhered to provincial audit standards exercised by the Auditor General of Ontario, and spending outcomes were periodically reviewed in reports comparable to analyses by the Fraser Institute and Conference Board of Canada.

Relationships with Research Institutions and Industry

The ministry maintained formal partnerships with academic institutions such as McGill University (for interprovincial projects), Dalhousie University (for national collaborations), and Ontario colleges including Conestoga College. It engaged industry stakeholders from clusters in Waterloo Region and Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, working with firms like Shopify and Sierra Wireless on commercialization pipelines. Collaboration extended to non-profit research organizations such as Perimeter Institute and policy groups like Toronto Region Board of Trade, and formal MOUs were often coordinated with federal agencies including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credited the ministry with strengthening linkages among universities like McMaster University, industry partners such as 3M Company operations in Ontario, and improving commercialization pathways akin to programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; critics argued its efforts overlapped with federal initiatives like those administered by NSERC and created bureaucratic duplication criticized in analyses by think tanks including C.D. Howe Institute. Debates also referenced provincial priorities under premiers such as Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne and raised concerns about allocation equity across regions such as Northern Ontario and Eastern Ontario. Concerns were raised about transparency by stakeholders citing audits from the Auditor General of Ontario and reviews by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Category:Former ministries of Ontario