Ontario government invests $2.9 million for leading-edge research at the University of TorontoToronto 28 January 2003 The Ontario government in Canada is strengthening Ontario's innovation climate by investing CA$2.9 million in research infrastructure at the University of Toronto, as Associate Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation David Turnbull announced at the opening of the university's Molecular Design and Information Technology (MDIT) Centre. The investment will make it possible for drug researchers to use the centre's state-of-the-art supercomputer to focus on biomolecular structure-based research and drug discovery. This will help researchers understand drug interactions and design before going into a laboratory for experiments.
"The new MDIT Centre is the first of its kind in Canada, and an example of the leading-edge research infrastructure that is making Ontario a leader in innovation", David Turnbull stated. "Our government is committed to investing in innovation and creating a stronger future for the people of Ontario."
The provincial investment is an Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) initiative. The announcement brings the total OIT investment in 159 projects at the University of Toronto to $123.8 million. Funding partners have added an additional $207 million, bringing the total value of investments in
research infrastructure to $330.8 million.
"I am particularly pleased that the resources and services at the MDIT are available not only to the university but also to outside researchers and companies", stated David Turnbull. "It is one of the first collaborative arrangements being put in place under the Discovery District for Medical and Related Sciences (MaRS), a unique project bringing together science and business communities within Toronto, throughout Ontario and beyond."
"Public-private collaboration is the key to maximising research expertise and resources in the design of drugs that will improve the health of people around the globe", stated Ian Spence, director, University of Toronto's Government Research Infrastructure Programmes. "This is why the government of Ontario's investment, through the Ontario Innovation Trust, is so important."
Established in 1999 by the Ontario government, the Ontario Innovation Trust is assisting the province's universities, hospitals, colleges and other non-profit research organisations to carry out scientific research and technology development by enhancing the necessary infrastructure.
The government has provided more than $1 billion to the trust. The announcement brings the trust's committed investments to more than $654.6 million, supporting 808 research projects and involving more than 1500 researchers and scientists.
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