The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was created by the Parliament of Canada in May 1970 “to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face.” IDRC’s work supports “creating a local research community whose work will build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.” (IDRC website)

“The 1967 celebrations surrounding Canada’s centenary as a nation — particularly Montréal’s Expo 67 and its theme of Man and His World — gave this country greater confidence about its place in the international community. It was with this spirit of internationalism that the Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson proposed that Canada establish a research centre for international development, “a new instrument concentrating more attention and resources on applying technology to the solution of… economic and social problems on a global basis.” 

IDRC was established as a Crown corporation with an innovative international dimension. The membership of the Board of Governors was an important part of the Centre’s global scope: although the chair and 11 of the 21 members of the Board of Governors were to be Canadian, the remaining positions were to be occupied by non-Canadians, ensuring that the perspective and experience of developing countries would be well represented.

Under the leadership of David Hopper, IDRC set a course that recognized the need for a partnership between North and South in the development process. The Centre also led the way in helping to build research capabilities through projects that were not only located in developing countries, but were also carried out by local researchers.  (IDRC website)

 

Source: IDRC website http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-26547-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html