About CAIRTO

In 2003, a group of Canada’s Provincial Research Organizations (PRO’s) met to discuss how to collaborate and structure a national association to create awareness of the importance and value of industrial research.  This meeting of leaders from the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Alberta Research Council (ARC – now Alberta InnoTech), Industrial Technology Centre (ITC) of Manitoba, and Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Québec (CRIQ) led to the founding of Innoventures Canada.

Mission

The mission of CAIRTO is to advance industrial research in Canada

Goals

Raise awareness of the importance and value of industrial research

Increase the level of industrial research in Canada

Enhance the scope and intensity of R&D undertaken by Canadian companies

Amplify Canada's capacity for applied research undertaken by enterprises and entities working in partnership with our member RTO's

Increase the capacity of RTO's to solve technical challenges, working with corporate partners

Direction

Message from the Chair

Francis Fournier

CEO, COREM

Our pan-Canadian network of Research Technology Organizations works to enable our clients to develop, adopt and adapt technical solutions to address challenges they encounter.  In cooperation with our clients we develop new products, techniques and applications that are better, faster, less expensive, more reliable, safer and can be scaled to meet demand.  Our RTOs help our clients climb the Technology Readiness ladder to develop and commercialize solutions that meet their specific requirements and satisfy the rigours of the market
 
Canada has a robust innovation system.  However, we are facing headwinds in creating value in international markets as we navigate turbulent ambient currents.  Canada’s economic vitality and future prosperity depends upon our ability to harness our collective intellectual horsepower, resource endowments, training and talents.  The member organizations of CAIRTO have a strong commitment to enable our clients to increase their return on their investments in R&D.  Increasing know-how, self-reliance and competitiveness are of fundamental importance in the building of a stronger Canada.
 
Our RTOs are committed to making a positive difference.  Through our work with clients we strive to improve productivity, increase exports and help build an environmentally sound, energy efficient and prosperous economy.
 
We invite you to contact us if you would like to discuss how we could work together.

Diane Botelho

RPC, CAIRTO Board Secretary

Francis Fournier

President and CEO, Corem, CAIRTO Board Chair

Alain Chandonnet

Alain Chandonnet

CEO, INO, Past Board Chair, CAIRTO

Françoys Labonté

CEO, CRIM

Stephane Renou

CEO, FPinnovations

Jean-François Houle

VP Engineering, NRC

Mike Crabtree

CEO, SRC, CAIRTO Board VP

Tom Whalen

InnoTech Alberta, VP of Applied Research, Engineering and Specialized Testing Services