Waterloo - Electricity and magnetism were once thought to be unrelated forces – until theoretical physicist James Clerk Maxwell discovered electromagnetism, a theory that unified these two forces and led to the development of electric motors, generators and a safe electric power distribution system.

At the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, researchers led by Dr. Neil Turok are addressing today’s greatest challenges in the field of theoretical physics, with the goal of making breakthroughs equally crucial to future innovation. In the process, they’re attracting the world’s best researchers and establishing Ontario as a global leader in physics research.

In Waterloo, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) was launched in 1999 by Mike Laziridis, founder and co-CEO of Research in Motion, to promote scientific discovery in Canada. Today, the institute is expanding its state-of-the-art facility to attract and support more world- class researchers and deepen our understanding of space, time, matter and information – the foundation for the technologies that will shape our future.

The Ontario Innovation Agenda

The Perimeter Institute is one example of Ontario leading the world in the quest for knowledge and discovery. Support for this kind of work is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s $3.2-billion strategy to make innovation a driving force of Ontario’s economy. By targeting investment toward areas where Ontario already is, or is poised to become a global leader, and by building on our greatest strength – the talent and ingenuity of our people – Ontario is harnessing innovation to ensure ours is one of the winning economies of the 21st century.

Support from the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program Part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) is key to the province’s plan to move world-class research from the lab to the global marketplace. The role of the ORF is to help ensure that Ontario researchers have the tools they need to lead the world, or lead international collaborations, in their respective fields. The fund consists of two programs: the Research Excellence program funds project operating costs, such as researchers' salaries, and the Research Infrastructure program supports the acquisition of new research infrastructure, such as lab equipment. Today, through the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program, Ontario is investing more than $10 million in the Perimeter Institute to support the construction of a new wing. Construction is already underway and is expected to create more than 120 jobs.