George Ross

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Research and Innovation
Deputy Minister of Consumer Services
Panelist: Financing Innovation

George Ross was appointed Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation in January 2008 and Deputy Minister of Consumer Services in February 2010.

As Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, Mr. Ross has been instrumental in developing and advancing Ontario’s Innovation Agenda. He has managed key initiatives to advance Ontario’s position as a leading innovation jurisdiction, including establishing the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy and completing the review of Ontario’s Commercialization Network. Mr. Ross has also been responsible for leading major government investments crucial to enhancing Ontario’s knowledge economy, including the $205-million Ontario Venture Capital Fund, and the $250-million Ontario Emerging Technologies Fund aimed at investing in Ontario’s strong, innovative companies. Mr. Ross also oversees the government’s flagship research funding program, the Ontario Research Fund, including its new $100-million Global Leadership Round in Genomics and Life Sciences (GL2) and the $50-million Innovation Demonstration Fund aimed at building strength in Ontario’s clean technology sector.