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Key people at Centre for International Governance Innovation.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation is an independent think tank based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, that conducts peer-reviewed research and analysis on global governance challenges at the intersection of technology and international policy. The organization operates through an initial $60 million endowment, which included $20 million from Balsillie, $10 million from Lazaridis, and a matching $30 million donation from the federal government in 2003. It develops innovative policy solutions and provides strategic recommendations to national policymakers, academic scholars, practitioners, and multilateral institutions operating worldwide. The institution maintains strategic partnerships with the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University to advance its global research initiatives and operate the shared CIGI Campus. The Centre for International Governance Innovation was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank headquartered in Waterloo, Canada, focused on peer-reviewed research and analysis to influence global policy innovation, particularly at the intersection of transformative technologies like AI and international governance.[1][2][3] CIGI's mission is to build bridges from knowledge to power by advancing world-leading research on governance challenges in areas such as data, economy, society, digital security, democracy, and global cooperation, ultimately aiming to improve prosperity, sustainability, equality, human rights, and security worldwide.[2][3][4] Supported by founder Jim Balsillie, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario, CIGI collaborates with a global network of experts, partners like the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and initiatives such as the Datasphere Initiative and World Refugee Council.[1][3][6]
Unlike a traditional investment firm or startup, CIGI operates as a not-for-profit institution producing policy solutions rather than financial products or investments, with a vision to become the world's leading think tank on international governance.[2][3]
CIGI was founded in 2001 as a not-for-profit by Jim Balsillie, then co-CEO of Research In Motion (now BlackBerry), with an initial $20 million donation to establish the New Economy Institute, renamed CIGI in 2002; Mike Lazaridis, RIM's other co-CEO, added $10 million, matched by the Government of Canada in 2003.[3] Early focus centered on international relations, economy, and governance challenges like G8 innovation, which contributed to the G20's creation by 2005.[2] Research has since evolved to emphasize data governance, AI, digital technologies, security, and democracy, guided by CIGI's Strategic Plan 2025–2030.[3][4]
CIGI rides the trend of transformative technologies reshaping governance, including AI, data flows, and digitalization's effects on economy, security, democracy, and society, providing timely policy frameworks amid rising geopolitical tensions and tech risks.[3][4][8] Its timing aligns with global needs for multilateral solutions, as seen in early G20 influence and current focus on AI ethics, outer space cybersecurity, and equitable data governance, countering market forces like tech fragmentation and inequality.[2][3][6] CIGI influences the ecosystem by convening leaders, funding empirical research (e.g., MacArthur grants for internet and refugee governance), and amplifying underrepresented voices, such as African digital policy experts, fostering consensus in fragmented international forums.[6][7]
CIGI's Strategic Plan 2025–2030 positions it to deepen impact in AI governance, data economies, digital security, and global cooperation, potentially leading high-level commissions on tech sovereignty and equitable innovation.[3] Trends like AI proliferation, cyber threats in space, and digital divides in the Global South will shape its agenda, amplifying its role as a policy bridge amid U.S.-China tech rivalries and UN reforms.[4][8] Its influence may evolve toward greater convening power, with expanded partnerships driving actionable multilateral reforms that echo its founding goal: turning knowledge into global prosperity.[2][3]
Key people at Centre for International Governance Innovation.
