INO WAS OFFICIALLY CREATED ON DECEMBER 13, 1985, AT THE INSTIGATION OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICISTS, THE NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA (NSERC), VARIOUS PARTNERS IN THE QUÉBEC CITY REGION, AND LAVAL UNIVERSITY, WHICH AT THE TIME ACCOUNTED FOR HALF OF CANADA’S RESEARCHERS IN OPTICS/PHOTONICS.
From the very beginning, INO was a pioneer in optics/photonics research for industrial development purposes. Today INO is still Canada’s leading center for industrial research and commercialization and stands as a true leader in its field. Its many technological breakthroughs and innovative processes and applications combining optics and photonics have cemented its reputation both domestically and abroad.
Since its creation, INO has spun off 28 companies, made 50 technology transfers to industry, and carried out 4,500 service contracts for businesses big and small in fields like aerospace, agrifood, biomedicine, defense/security, the environment, electronics, manufacturing, optics/photonics, natural resources, IT and telecommunications, transportation, and others.
In the coming years, INO intends to remain a leader in Canadian optics/photonics while continuing to assert itself internationally. With its vast scientific resources, INO is more than ever positioned to help Canadian companies prosper and create employment, both locally and across the country. It will grow organically, not only by venturing into new fields of application, but also by increasing its presence across Canada.