Compute Ontario works with provincial and national partners to coordinate Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) funding, skill development, and operations. Our goal is to ensure that Ontario researchers and their industry partners have access to crucial digital resources to achieve their research and creation goals, within a thriving DRI ecosystem that is sustainably funded and technologically sound.
What is DRI?
Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) is the ecosystem of compute and data storage, high speed networks, experts and software that powers artificial intelligence, advanced research and high-tech industry. DRI-based research is being applied in every field, from the design of next-generation materials and cancer treatments to film and media creation, curation and preservation. DRI-based research fuels profitable academic-industry joint ventures, innovative tech start-ups and the transformation of sectors such as mining and manufacturing — creating significant economic benefit and building/attracting expert talent to the province.
Ontario’s DRI is funded by the provincial and federal governments, with contributions from Ontario universities. Services in Ontario are delivered by four consortia of academic and health institutions.
Advancing research, innovation and creation in Ontario
News and Announcements
Compute Ontario Summer School Survey
JANUARY 18, 2024 Every year, Compute Ontario runs a free, online Summer School on Advanced Research Computing and Research Data Management for Canadian academic researchers (including graduate and undergraduate students). In 2023, Ontario’s DRI consortia staff delivered 30 courses over 3 weeks, with more than 500 people participating. Please fill out the following anonymous survey (six questions; all questions are optional) to help us improve our Summer Schools in the future.
MCU announcement is good news for Ontario researchers who rely on DRI
FEBRUARY 26, 2024 Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, announced today that the Ontario government will invest $65.4 million to support critical Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) resources for Ontario researchers, including $47.4 million for the infrastructure refresh of Ontario’s Advanced Research Computing (ARC) systems and $18 million for their ongoing operations and maintenance.
Today’s announcement affirms the Ministry of Colleges and University’s commitment to ensuring that Ontario researchers continue to have ready access to crucial Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) including advanced computing systems, training and technical support. DRI resources are vital to computationally intensive research using artificial intelligence and machine learning, in fields such as genetics, drug design and sustainable energy.
The research and innovation potential enabled by DRI continues to generate national and international collaborations, scale high-tech businesses, develop new products, and increase Canada’s competitiveness on a global scale. In the past year alone, Ontario’s shared DRI has supported more than 6,000 users, provided skill development to nearly 4,000 trainees and supported more than 800 collaborations with industry. Ontario’s DRI ecosystem has also enabled the launch of 253 new companies and supported 338 patent applications over the last five years.
With the funding announced today, the Government of Ontario is making a strategic investment that will fuel Ontario’s ability to fully become a true global hub for technology development, commercialization, and biomanufacturing.
The full text of the announcement can be found here.
Compute Ontario Awards Funding to Create DRI Training Resources
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 We’re pleased to announce that six collaborative teams will receive funding support for projects to create new DRI training materials and resources. A total of $254,000 has been allocated for these projects, which will enhance training in DRI skills for Ontario researchers and students. The projects were selected through a call for proposals, issued in September. Responses were selected based on alignment with related regional and national priorities, as well as other criteria including feasibility and impact.
2022-23 Annual Report
JANUARY 1, 2024 Compute Ontario is pleased to share our 2022-23 Annual Report, which outlines activities in the past fiscal year and highlights the inspiring work being done by Ontario researchers using the province’s shared Digital Research Infrastructure (advanced research computing, research software and research data management).